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Why Does It Seem That Girls Read More Than Guys?
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Kate
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Jul 29, 2011 08:30AM
We used to listen to audiobooks whenever we went on long car trips. My favorite are without a doubt the Harry Potter ones, because Jim Dale is so amazing, but I also remember listening to the Thief Lord, Inkheart, and a bunch of others. Now it usually ends up being an ipod, more's the pity.
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You could always put books on the ipod. My sister in law did that and would listen to them when driving or doing dishes or any other long, boring task.
This clearly must be a YA thing. Adult books are nothing like this. Most of the people I know that read are guys. Could be generational for all I know though. Maybe people in the kids generation today are just not reading as much. They certainly have books based on video games and guys that play video games enjoy reading those, at least that's what I've found. But that is probably more at the adult level.
Yes, my brothers and father both enjoy reading. As do certain friends of ours. I think it depends on your circle of friends, really. Then again, all my friends are home-schooled which might make a difference as well. The boys don't have as much pressure to be 'manly' or whatever.
I've only ever met 2 home schooled people. I don't think being "manly" has anything to do with anything really. Maybe in the context of openly reading a romance novel, but certainly not reading in general. I have never, in my entire life, ever heard of reading being called a "woman's activity". Even if you tried to claim that it's an "old stereotype" I can't see where it would come from. Historically the greatest scholars were ALL men and even women were not allowed to do scholarly work for many generations. So clearly this is a more modern idea.
I'm not going to say that I think reading is a woman's activity. I don't believe that. I'm simply saying, that in some age-groups, boys might be encouraged by their peers to do other things or to be more active. Not read books.
Way-chan (Aspiring Author) wrote: "I'm not going to say that I think reading is a woman's activity. I don't believe that. I'm simply saying, that in some age-groups, boys might be encouraged by their peers to do other things or to ..."
Right, alot of the guys i know that do read have friends that read and some of the guys i know hide the fact that they read because they are "encouraged" by peers to do other things; that has lessened (the pressuring from peers) in high school. I think that reading isn't a gender specific activity
Way-the ipod is played through the car speakers, and good luck getting my brother to listen to a book when he could be listening to music. Plus, I can't even imagine my family agreeing on a book anymore.It's definitely a YA thing, but I don't think it's the generation gap. From what I can tell, this is an issue that's been around for a long time. It's not that reading is perceived as being for girls, it's that in a time when society stereotypically revolves around its athletes, it's considered as being uncool for guys.
Rae*WrockerGirl*Ruhbacon* wrote: "As every author should. :) But it sounds different enough to be intriguing. I'll be asking my library staff to get a copy of it sometime soon. ^_^I've only actually listened to one audiobook- and..."
Well, I hope you enjoy it! :)
Some audiobooks are great, but it really depends on the narrator. There are some that speak in monotones and you can't tell when they switch characters! It's horrible! lol If you ever want to try one with a good narrator, let me know and I will recommend some good ones. You can usually get it through the library...
Yep!And that's what I've seen around- the audiobook quality really depends on who's reading the story.
Yes, the first audio book i read made me never want to hear one agian because it had a monotone narrator. I read the ocassional one but only with non monotone narrators.
I love the Harry Potter ones with Jim Dale. He does the best voices for the different characters!
My libary only has the first one on audio by him.
I think the reason it seems like that is because girl books range over a large audience. I think guys are more picky about reading. I'm a guy and sometimes I read a series for a second or third time because i can't find a good book. :)P.S. Hello Everybody
Spencer wrote: "I think the reason it seems like that is because girl books range over a large audience. I think guys are more picky about reading. I'm a guy and sometimes I read a series for a second or third tim..."I have to agree with Spencer about the wider range of books aimed at girls, there are a TON of romance/ life story books catering to girls.
No, they're not aimed at girls. They're aimed at a certain type of reader that boys are discouraged from being. I also dislike those books, but that doesn't mean I'm not a girl, does it? It's not the books that are out, it's the way they are marketed and the stereotypes surrounding them.By the way, Jim Dale is incredible. The fifth book alone has something like 500 characters and every single one has his/her own recognizable voice.
Okay, we've been over this serveral times. I'm telling you, certain books ARE aimed at girls. I've heard from the editors and publicists themselves. Now, no of course they wouldn't outright discourage boys from reading... after all, $18.99 is $18.99, regardless of who's paying. But there are certain books that are aimed and marketed to girls.For example, Maggie Stiefvater's series has been marketed repeatedly in Seventeen Magazine, which is a girl magazine.
It's not marketed to girls, it's marketed to a certain type of readership. Yes, that particular readership is mainly girls, but I'm sure that there are boys who read Seventeen Magazine, just like there are girls like me who haven't ever touched it. No, they're not the majority, but they are there.
I have never read a romance book and I plan on Never reading one.And I agree with the aimed and the marketed theories. It is in the middle.
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What stops boys from reading them is the way they are marketed and how publishers feel they should be advertised. Like Amelia said, in certain magazines and with certain covers.
For example, a boy would be more likely to pick up "The Replacement" and read the blurb in a bookstore if it has this cover:
, rather than this cover
. Im not saying certain stories weren't written with a female audience in mind, but that doesnt mean boys cant cash in on them to. They way they are presented with covers/blurbs is what defines which genders read. If 'The Hunger Games' blurb focuses on the Katniss-Peeta-Gale love triangle rather than the actual games, do you think as many boys would have read them?
Kate wrote: "No, they're not aimed at girls. They're aimed at a certain type of reader that boys are discouraged from being. I also dislike those books, but that doesn't mean I'm not a girl, does it? It's not t..."I didn't mean it like that, i guess that's what i get for not being specific. Sorry if i have offended anyone. I ment it in the way yoi worded it Kate but wasn't quite sure how to say it. I'm not a fan of those books either, actually i like adventure better than anything else. As for Kate's later comment i have to agree too. I have never read the magazine and don't plan to. Books marketed to girls are marketed to the kind if readership that Kate mentions and i guess you could call it a sterotype.
You're definitely right about the marketing, Jess, but they're not marketing to girls/boys. They're marketing to readers of a certain mindframe. If the Hunger Games blurb focused more on the love triangle, I wouldn't have read them either. It's clearly aimed at a certain audience, but that audience is not really based on gender, it's based on personal preference.It's when we start to say that these types of readers can only be girls or only be boys that we come across the problem of boys not reading.
Sorry if I offended you too, Irene, or anyone else. I have a very set, strong opinion on this topic.
It's one thing to have a strong opinion, Kate. It's another thing to pass off your opinion as fact, and I guess I'm still not quite sure what your point is. You're adamant about disagreeing with me and the others who say that there are certain books that are aimed/marketed to girls over boys, then you turn around and say that marketing has to do with it. It also seems like your main argument about girl-aimed books is that because you specifically don't read certain books (like ones with major romantic angles), that means that they can't be aimed at girls, because you are a girl. That's a pretty fallacious argument. The fact that the target audience of many books (i.e. Twilight, Shiver) is girls is a generalization. Publishers don't hope to reach EVERY girl, or no boys at all, but they have to market their book to a specific audience. Similarly, when Harry Potter came out back in 1997, it was marketed primarily as a children's book, though a lot of us would maybe not consider the HP series "childrens lit." These arguments are starting to sound like we're splitting hairs, because we're not outright disagreeing with each other, just enough to make it confusing. And really...I'm getting tired of saying the same thing over and over again, so I'm pretty much done.
And PS - saying "oh I'm sure there are some guys who read SEVENTEEN" is rather facetious. Yes, out of the 90 million or so teenagers in this country, I'm sure there are a few guys who read Seventeen. Sometimes I read Time magazine, even though most of their readership is leftist intellectualists. Doesn't mean they aim their magazine at folks like me (and really, haha, they REALLY dont). The primary audience of readers and how books are marketed is a very GENERAL practice. Like I said before, publishers don't care who buys their books in the long run, but initially there has to be a "target audience" just to get people interested in the product. And like I said a way long time ago, sometimes the audience is obvious because authors write to a certain audience, like teen girls. Sometimes they don't even do it deliberately. However, one of my WIPs I'm working on is deliberately being written with guy middle schoolers in mind. Does that mean I don't want girls reading my book? Heavens no, but there are way more explosions and sword-fights than kissy scenes. Generally, girls tend to favor one, and guys tend to favor another. Emphasis on the generally.
Kate wrote: "You're definitely right about the marketing, Jess, but they're not marketing to girls/boys. They're marketing to readers of a certain mindframe. If the Hunger Games blurb focused more on the love t..."You didn't offend me, i have strong oppions about stuff too. I get what you mean about the mindframe deal, it makes sense to me. (No offense ment to others oppions I get where you guys are comming from)
Spencer wrote: "This argument is getting nowhere. Kate and you are both right. You opinions are blended together. Neither one of you is wrong. It is targeted to certain readers, not just girls. The Hunger Games ha..."I agree wholeheartedly!
Spencer does have a point, because everyone has thier oppions.
One thing I would like to add is that guys in 6th grade don't really go for reading. I am one of the few. Heck, I wrote a book. That shows that I like reading a lot, to go home and write. I have gotten guys at my school interested in reading by showing them it. Guys now don't want to read, but you look at 40 year old men and women, there is about an equal amount of readers. Kids at my school don't want to be nerdy I guess :)
Amelia, the pragmatic idealist wrote: "It's one thing to have a strong opinion, Kate. It's another thing to pass off your opinion as fact, and I guess I'm still not quite sure what your point is. You're adamant about disagreeing with me..."I am not trying to disagree with you. What I'm saying, and I'm sorry if it isn't clear, is that they are marketing to a specific audience, yes, but that audience is not as clear cut as boys or girls. They are marketing to a certain type of reader, say the type of reader who likes Seventeen Magazine. I don't read Seventeen, some boys do. Therefore, they are the target audience and I am not. Yes, that specific target audience probably includes more girls than boys, but it is not the fact that they are girls that the marketers are aiming at, it's that they read Seventeen Magazine.
Personally, I see it as proving my point when you talk about how your WIP has more sword fights and explosions than kissy scenes, so it must be aimed at boys not girls. To me, that means that it is aimed at my type of reader. I hate kissy scenes and love swordfights/explosions, while still being a girl, just as there are boys who think the opposite way. It is not aimed at boys, it is aimed at people who like action.
(when I use myself as an example, it's because I know it's true. I try not to do it when I don't believe that it encompasses a wider range than just me)
This is really starting to get personally annoying.. You're saying "not as clear cut as boys or girls" but then you talk about certain readers. Girls as a generalization CAN BE certain readers. So can guys. I used the illustration to show that my book is aimed more at GUYS. I'm writing it with THEM in mind. Does it mean that I'm trying to alienate girls? Maybe, I don't know. I just am not writing with them in mind. And I would say that SEVENTEEN is a pretty specific market-driven magazine. Yeah, some guys may read it (which I personally find a bit creepy, but that's neither here nor there), but it is aimed at girls. Particularly teen girls. And really, neither one of us works for publishers, or AD/PR for magazines, so maybe we can't specify for sure. But you don't seem to get that certain readerships can be girls, generally, or boys, generally, and I'm getting tired of arguing about it. Everything I say (and some other people too), you come back with "yeah, but ____" or you outright disagree, so I'm going to just not debate this anymore. After all, the topic is "Why Does It Seem That Girls Read More Than Guys?" and everybody who's posted has been giving their opinion. That's all, just opinions, because this is really the kind of question that can't be answered in a definite, fact-based way. I've attempted to submit my answer, and now I'm opting out.
I'm really not trying to start an argument here. I'm not purposely disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing. I was trying to explain my opinion, because I obviously am not doing a good job at making it clear.I'm not saying you're trying to alienate girls. I'm not saying I'm an expert. But I can tell you what I know from experience and from listening to experts.
I am tired of being told that certain books are for boys or for girls (and no, I'm not accusing anyone here. I am just expressing a long harbored feeling that has driven a lot of what I've said). Why does it matter if I'm a girl? I don't like romance, I do like adventure, yippee. Does that mean I can't read adventure? No, it doesn't, and few people would tell me that it does. But when you flip it the other way around, many people will tell a boy that he can't read romance. There's an answer to the question. Of course it's an opinion, that's why there's even a discussion about it.
I know that this doesn't even sound like it supports a lot of what I was saying. It's another view I have, that I personally think does, but I'm not even going to try to connect it at the moment. I'm so tired I'll just make a mess and offend more people.
I'm sorry Amelia, I really wasn't trying to argue, or put down your opinions. I was trying to express my own and I'm sorry it came out that way.
I believe it is because at school reading is simply "not cool"! (Not that I agree).I had a crush on a boy in highschool who read comic books and was considered "a huge nerd" and I never asked him out because of it. All the while, I was an avid reader and never really talked about it. My closest friends would lovingly joke, "your such a nerd" and I would trying to convince them to try reading, they never did. You never see "popular" kids in the library...
I remember sitting at the front of the class reading The Hobbit in grade 6 and copping a lot of flak for it! I dont think I read in class again.
My Dad had a love for reading and would read to me when I was young, my grandparents took me to the book store rather then a toy store. Interestingly, my sister got a game boy when they came out and received lots of games. She is not a reader.
Once you get out of school and people grow up you realise reading is "cool" and to hell to everyone else who doesn't get it.
On asking my Fiance why he never reads he said he was never brought up with reading in his household, he was introduced to video games, computer games at a young age and so in comparision finds reading boring. He is 26 and has sadly never read a book. (I have tried many times). He said, "Why would I want to look at words on a page when I can look at a screen with explosions, action and awesomeness". He lovingly always calls me a nerd as well. I think some stereotypes just don't fade.
Nikki wrote: "I believe it is because at school reading is simply "not cool"! (Not that I agree).
I had a crush on a boy in highschool who read comic books and was considered "a huge nerd" and I never asked him..."
Nikki!
LOL I totally understand the culture change from school to uni or the workforce while in school is was "uncool" to read as soon as your out of school its "uncool" not to read hard to keep up lol.
Personally any man that reads goes way up in my opinion.
I also agree with jess on the cover Ideas, but I dont think its the market that has caused the trend in more girls reading, I think because there are more girls reading the marketing of books changed to accommodate.
When I was primary school aged it was pretty even between guys and girls reading and we got the HP books
and Eragon and His dark materials which all have very ambiguous covers (not marketed to either).
I just think its the culture. every generation is different.
like I said when I was young (young young, Im not old lol) no one wanted to read at fear of being a "nerd".
I guess this is just the new trend
I had a crush on a boy in highschool who read comic books and was considered "a huge nerd" and I never asked him..."
Nikki!
LOL I totally understand the culture change from school to uni or the workforce while in school is was "uncool" to read as soon as your out of school its "uncool" not to read hard to keep up lol.
Personally any man that reads goes way up in my opinion.
I also agree with jess on the cover Ideas, but I dont think its the market that has caused the trend in more girls reading, I think because there are more girls reading the marketing of books changed to accommodate.
When I was primary school aged it was pretty even between guys and girls reading and we got the HP books
and Eragon and His dark materials which all have very ambiguous covers (not marketed to either).
I just think its the culture. every generation is different.
like I said when I was young (young young, Im not old lol) no one wanted to read at fear of being a "nerd".
I guess this is just the new trend
Nikki wrote: "I believe it is because at school reading is simply "not cool"! (Not that I agree).I had a crush on a boy in highschool who read comic books and was considered "a huge nerd" and I never asked him..."
Well, the stereotype never will fade if a person is flat out unwilling to try reading a book. Books have explosions in them too, and many video games have novels associated with them that are NEW adventures. There are loads of Halo books now, for example.
I don't understand how reading makes you a complete nerd, yet playing video games is okay? When I grew up the opposite was much more true.
I dont think Ill ever get over the knowledge that Halo has books lol
Hell, tons of games have books! Gears of War, Mass Effect, Starcraft, Magic the Gathering, Diablo, Resistance, Bioshock, Dead Space, World of Warcraft, Eve.Even TV Shows have launched novel series like 24 and Lost. Albeit, Lost's books were not very good.
wait wait wait
Bioshock has books!?! when playing I was thinking man this would have been an awesome book!
Bioshock has books!?! when playing I was thinking man this would have been an awesome book!
Yeah, they JUST put the first one out last month or so. I haven't gotten it yet, but I really want to. I haven't seen any reviews for it yet... then again I haven't really looked.
I'm a little excited (and hear I was scoffing Halo (even tho I love halo too..just not in book form))
It really depends on the Halo book, they are not all very good. I thought "The Fall of Reach" was a great book and it really felt like I was "reading" a video game. The book that actually novelized Halo wasn't very good though, to me at least. The Diablo books are far superior, since most of them were very good.
Splinter Cell is also a book and it's a video game. Psych and Burn Notice have books.Assassin's Creeds book are very good too.
The detective show, Monk, has books as well.I like video game books, but that's because I am a hardcore gamer as well as a reader. There are also plenty of comic-books based off of video games. I have read things like Uncharted, Metal Gear Solid, Killzone, etc. All pretty interesting the read if you are a fan of the game.
Oh yeah, and Assassin's Creed, and inFAMOUS both have comic-books.
Yes they do, USA network has almost all of there shows in book format :)
Frank B wrote: "The detective show, Monk, has books as well.I like video game books, but that's because I am a hardcore gamer as well as a reader. There are also plenty of comic-books based off of video games..."
Mass Effect, Gears of War, Starcraft and Halo also have comics
Lets get back to the question, this could be a whole nother thread :)
Very interesting thread everyone! All my girl friends read while all the boys I know mostly read manga. Myself and a few of my other girl friends read manga too but I stopped when I found it hard to keep up w/ my fave series being released weekly.I know for one thing I barely ever see boys in the middle grade/youth section of the book store where I usually hang out! However a lot of guys I've talked to over the internet read Stephen King, Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. ^_^
Ava wrote: "Very interesting thread everyone! All my girl friends read while all the boys I know mostly read manga. Myself and a few of my other girl friends read manga too but I stopped when I found it hard t..."I really like manga, personally. But then, I like a lot of that kind of thing.
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