Women Bloggers Throw Off Your Chains

Tonight’s
Takeaway Topic from the Berkman
Blogger’s meeting was "Are Women’s Blogs
Different?". The discussion grew out of a proposal from the lovely Lisa
Williams for a session on Women
and Blogging at the Blogger
II next
month.

In an adorably clever blurb, which reads in part: "Chick Blogs!
A Roundtable on Women and Blogs: This session will attempt
to be the pajama-party of the blogosphere — a lively and welcoming
exchange on the best of
blogs
by women" Lisa outlines a number of pertinent points, like that over half
of all bloggers are women, but the number of women at conferences
like BloggerCon is insignificant.

Inevitably, she was attacked from all sides.  Many women objected
to the word "chick" and the girly-girl sensibility reflected in the "pajama
party" comment.  Others objected to the whole categorization
thing, saying they preferred to be thought of as just "bloggers". Then
there were the men who wondered if they would be welcome at a session
of this sort, or whether the conference should even be presenting session
at which some attendees might not feel comfortable.

At some point the idea was floated of combining the "women’s session"
and the "gripe session". People started telling stories about weak ties
and strong women. By this stage the Dowbrigade was grinning like a hog
in a synagogue, and the discussion
leader asked
why.
Because,
we
answered, the whole area of "gender studies" is such an intellectual
minefield that one must be constantly careful where one steps or the
whole thing could
blow up in ones face.

Dave Winer was being sensibly cautious
about committing to a session on such thin ice, or shifting sand, or
slippery slope, pick your metaphor.
He seemed to instinctively grasp that a session of this nature could
distract from what we see as the main usefulness of events like
BloggerCon; to deal with the sociological and implementation issues around
blogging, and to act as an interface between a new generation of blogging
software users and the designers who are in the process of creating the
NEXT generation of blogging tools.

Still, we are rooting for Lisa and her session on Women and Blogging.  We
are fascinated by the question "Are Women’s Blogs Different", and would
love to attend. From the brief discussion tonight it seems that there
is an emerging consensus that
a) women’s blogs tend to be more eclectic, less about politics,
or if they are, to mix it in with posts on a wide variety of other topics,
b) women
tend to be more personal in their blogs, to mention their families, emotions
and events in their personal lives, and c) women are less concerned with
ranking and flow, and more with creating a sense of community with their
readers.

Sounds like a description of the Dowbrigade News! Whether this proves
the inherent flaw in stereotyping or that the Dowbrigade is in touch with
his feminine side, we know not. But the personal touch is part and parcel
of our signature style, and if that is feminine, so be it. By the same
measure, we really enjoy reading some women writers, like Halley
Suitt for example, because her writing has BALLS. She can juke and
move with the best of them, and when she cuts loose, she can kick like
a mule.

Speaking of Halley and her gang of misbehaving molls, we would be very
interested in what THEY think of the topic. Are women’s blogs different?
If so, how?

Could we
arrange a blind taste test? Ten anonymous blogs, five male and five
female. Who could tell the difference?

We are sure this is merely the first of many great session topics the
Dowbrigade will have to miss this time, as we will be somewhere in South
America at that time.