That's interesting. but it seems really hard to tell a writer's gender. It's much easier to determine a speaker's gender (if you were to read a transcript). But sociolinguistics is for nerds... and girls don't want to be nerds, we want to just have fun!
I don't think it's so much an AC/DC thing, but more like we really want to appeal to the ladies and not get stuck in the bicycle patriarchy morass that dominates the cycling world.
Why must all the women cyclocrossers ride in the same class while the men get a choice??!!!?? Unfair! (I'm serious!)
Brendan ... I see your point, however trying to make biking appealing to the ladies when it's largely a male dominated sport/activity can be tough, I think.
I think if you were actually trying to do that then you would have more women and biking related content or for that matter add a woman to your team and get her perspective on cycling in Hartford and the rest of CT.
Check out the Bike Chic blog or Boston Bike Chic in which the content is almost entirely female oriented, which is cool. We need more of that.
BTW...check out Punk Rock Cycling in Iowa, which I found when googling "Cranksgiving." Apparently that's the name of their Alley Cat. 12 shopping items in 12 stores in the Des Moines area. This list has some decent wit.
@mark - I don't think we have a particularly misogynistic blog. you'll notice that back when actually used to take pictures there are pictures of girls on bikes along with us. also, as I mostly view cycling as a solitary pursuit, it makes it hard to do it with a feminine perspective as I don't have one. though, I do often ride with my girlfriend. she doesn't like to blog.
maybe we need to get a structural feminist up in here and asses us.
or, the fact that while being written by all dudes, it comes out only at 50% speaks volumes about our magnanimity when it comes to the inherent gender discrepancies of cycling.
We're overthinking this. Cycling can be a solitary pursuit, but it is emphatically one whose charms are accessible to both sexes. Pretty much all we do is sing the praises of bikes, and, as musegal points out, we do a damn fine job of it.
Plus, we subvert the dominant paradigm and the patriarchy, like, all the time.
And for what it's worth, I say to all of our female readers: If you have some woman-oriented cycling material or topics we should post or know about, let us know!
Check out our response to Typealyzer (http://www.typealyzer.com):
"ESTP - The Doers
The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.
The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time."
Whatever. I'm going to take a nap and sit on my couch.
I entered my blog information and it said that it was 64% written by a man.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to know what constitutes a man's voice over a woman's voice.
That's interesting. but it seems really hard to tell a writer's gender. It's much easier to determine a speaker's gender (if you were to read a transcript). But sociolinguistics is for nerds... and girls don't want to be nerds, we want to just have fun!
ReplyDeleteI checked out the Snack and it came in as 67% male.
ReplyDeleteIf the Beat came in at 50% which is like 50/50 then does that mean it's kind of AC/DC? Or just Bike-Sexual? :)
I don't think it's so much an AC/DC thing, but more like we really want to appeal to the ladies and not get stuck in the bicycle patriarchy morass that dominates the cycling world.
ReplyDeleteWhy must all the women cyclocrossers ride in the same class while the men get a choice??!!!?? Unfair!
(I'm serious!)
ultimate has three gender classes. Men can play in two, women can play in all of them. Women's, mixed, and open.
ReplyDeletemixed is when they have to have a certain number of women on the field at all times, right?
ReplyDeleteMusegal: Generally, but not always, men blog in a lower register and our prose is somewhat more muscular.
ReplyDeleteBrendan ... I see your point, however trying to make biking appealing to the ladies when it's largely a male dominated sport/activity can be tough, I think.
ReplyDeleteI think if you were actually trying to do that then you would have more women and biking related content or for that matter add a woman to your team and get her perspective on cycling in Hartford and the rest of CT.
Check out the Bike Chic blog or Boston Bike Chic in which the content is almost entirely female oriented, which is cool. We need more of that.
Testosterone! Football! Hot Rod! Prostate Exam!
ReplyDeleteThere. I just tipped it to 51% male.
BTW...check out Punk Rock Cycling in Iowa, which I found when googling "Cranksgiving." Apparently that's the name of their Alley Cat. 12 shopping items in 12 stores in the Des Moines area. This list has some decent wit.
@mark - I don't think we have a particularly misogynistic blog. you'll notice that back when actually used to take pictures there are pictures of girls on bikes along with us. also, as I mostly view cycling as a solitary pursuit, it makes it hard to do it with a feminine perspective as I don't have one. though, I do often ride with my girlfriend. she doesn't like to blog.
ReplyDeletemaybe we need to get a structural feminist up in here and asses us.
or, the fact that while being written by all dudes, it comes out only at 50% speaks volumes about our magnanimity when it comes to the inherent gender discrepancies of cycling.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't pat yourself of your back because that stupid sexist website says you blog at 50%.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as a female who follows this site, I think you guys do an amazing job and I wouldn't worry about changing the tone.
We're overthinking this. Cycling can be a solitary pursuit, but it is emphatically one whose charms are accessible to both sexes. Pretty much all we do is sing the praises of bikes, and, as musegal points out, we do a damn fine job of it.
ReplyDeletePlus, we subvert the dominant paradigm and the patriarchy, like, all the time.
And for what it's worth, I say to all of our female readers: If you have some woman-oriented cycling material or topics we should post or know about, let us know!
Check out our response to Typealyzer (http://www.typealyzer.com):
ReplyDelete"ESTP - The Doers
The active and play-ful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.
The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time."
Whatever. I'm going to take a nap and sit on my couch.
so, I guess that's a more accurate tool, seeing how they rated a bike blog as "doer".
ReplyDelete