Women writers fighting to turn the page on inequality
NOVELS, POETRY and plays take your mind into the realm of imagination and escapism. There are no limits to what you can experience inside the pages of a good book, so why is it that the authors of these texts are still restricted by gender stereotypes?
Male authors win more literary awards, their books tend to get more attention in the media and, despite it being 2018, the industry is still somewhat male-dominated.
This year has been revolutionary in terms of visibility, the Me Too and Time’s Up movements have sparked discussion about gender inequality worldwide.
But there is still a long way to go and this year’s theme for International Women’s Day on Thursday is ‘Press for Progress’ which encourages individuals to stand together to make a difference in the fight for gender equality.
Mandy Huggins, originally from Scarborough, is author of
a collection of short stories known as ‘flash fiction’.
She wrote this book over the last five years, many of her stories have won awards and been published in the national Press. The collection includes small snippets of life that often go by unnoticed – strangers’ conversations, birds flying in the sky and the unmarked beauties that our eyes glaze over.
Huggins says the publishing world is one in which gender equality is yet to be achieved.
“Although book publishing in general is probably dominated by women, there is still strong gender bias when it comes to literary fiction. Men are taken far more seriously than women.
“I think there is a lot of truth in the claim men read more books written by male authors, thus reducing the potential readership for female writers of contemporary fiction.
“I believe literature can have a positive and empowering impact on young girls, but they need to be pushed in the right direction by teachers and parents.”
Natasha Bell will release her new book later this month, with the novel exploring themes of gender, identity and female stereotypes.
The crime thriller about a missing woman is set in York, which has had a huge impact on her inspiration for the novel, following the disappearance of chef Claudia Lawrence in the city in 2009, a case that remains unsolved.
“I don’t think there was anyone living in York at the time of the Claudia Lawrence disappearance who wasn’t affected.
“I was fascinated and heartbroken, watching the families.”
She says she wants her book to raise questions about gender dynamics, and is especially keen for young female readers to see the gender imbalances in modern relationships, and what price domestic living takes on women.
Tyra Roberts is a 19-year-old author from Doncaster, who has used her own experiences with mental health in her contribution to a new collection of stories by young women called
“I’m wanting to have an impact on, not only women but men too; to realise they can speak up and say what they want and believe.”
Roberts says her brief experience of the publishing world has been a mixed bag of enormous positives and bitter let-downs.
“One minute you think your opinions, experiences, dreams matter, and you’ve actually got a chance to help people, then you see or hear something that can completely knock you.”
With these Yorkshire authors pressing for progress within the literary world, it can only be hoped their words both on and off the page will have an impact on the industry and, even more importantly, the next generation of readers.