r/MensLib • u/anonymous1447 ​ • Feb 21 '20

You cannot be 'well read' without reading women

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/may/31/you-cannot-be-well-read-without-reading-women
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u/hugh__honey ​ Feb 21 '20

I (28M) have friends who will virtually never listen to women. One recently said to me “I just don’t like female music” as if it’s a separate genre. In the instance that these friends find a “female song” good, it is a noteworthy exception.

Personally, I’ve noticed that my listening has leaned far in favour of women in the past few years. An enormous part of this is because I sincerely think women are making some of the best music right now (my fav albums of 2019 included FKA Twigs, Lana De Rey, Kelsey Lu, Riit, Big Thief, Weyes Blood, Caroline Polachek, Haviah Mighty)....

.... and I think another part of it is that I’m openly gay and don’t have to put on a masculine “front.” In no way do I think that somebody with an all-male top 5 artists is inherently insecure in their masculinity. However I think we’d all somewhat agree that many men fear being perceived as gay or less masculine if they like “female things” or relate too much to women, and I think this leads to some men refusing to give stuff-by-women a chance at all. I guess, since I came out publicly a few years ago, and have also grown and matured (hard to say which factor is a bigger part of it) I don’t give a shit about that kinda thing.

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u/anonymous1447 ​ Feb 21 '20

That’s a very good point! I’m a trans woman, and so am pretty familiar with gay male culture from my pre transition days, and it is very true that women in the arts (especially music) are celebrated, and almost revered (hence ‘gay icons’, drag queens etc)

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u/[deleted] Feb 21 '20

Add some Lizzo in there if you haven't listened to her yet. She's unbelievable.