gender

When BPP listener Seth Bate went to his local bookstore to buy our latest selection, The God of Animals, the bookseller said she had enjoyed the book herself, but was surprised that a man would want to read it. We thought Seth's encounter with the bookseller raised some interesting questions and wanted to throw it open to you. Is there such a thing as a "woman's book?"

The results of this year’s Tiptree Award have been announced. The winner is The Carhullan Army (Daughters of the North in the U.S.) by Sarah Hall. The James Tiptree, Jr. Award is given for for science fiction or fantasy that expands or explores our understanding of gender, and is intended to reward those women and men who are bold enough to contemplate shifts and changes in gender.

This NPR article relies on a discredited book, and claims gender/language differences that aren't supported by science. I've summarized some top science journals' slams on the book:
http://www.readforpleasure.com/2007/09/why-women-read-more-than-men-or-not.html

Even now that The Myth of Mars and Venus is out [another Wordsy story], further debunking the article, NPR won't correct it!

Steven Poole discusses Deborah Cameron's new book, The Myth of Mars and Venus. Cameron debunks the idea that men and women have innately different language skills and preferences.

I've linked to some fascinating (and funny) excerpts of her book, and a BBC Radio 4 interview:
http://www.readforpleasure.com/2007/10/myth-of-mars-and-venus.html