One of the discussion points led onto a wider debate about accusations of sentimentality; can a man write for his son more overtly than a woman can write for her child? Some argued that women are more likely to be accused of sentimentality, and there's a clear line of argument through literary history that would suggest this has been the case. Whether or not it still is a problem is less clear.
Others argued that the poet's sex doesn't matter, and of course it shouldn't, but do we approach the poem differently when we know who wrote it? Probably, to some extent, subconsciously.
This led to discussion about levels of women being published and reviewed. A few statistics were offered, but although I'm all in favour of a pie chart, I think statistics are difficult, not least because they often offer results as though they're conclusive. It's so easy to misinterpret and/or misrepresent data. Without all the raw data and the methodology of how information was collected and analysed, and the skills to analyse it for yourself, you should be wary. There's always a level of bias in any study, no matter how hard the researchers may have worked to limit it. That's why nothing is (should be) decided on the findings of a single study, but based on the evidence of a body of literature.
That said, here's a link that appears to show the levels of men and women authors being published/reviewed in 2010. The introduction is annoying, as it both tells you what to think ("Numbers don't lie"), while missing out key information that would allow you to think for yourself. It covers a small range of publications, and again, this is limited by everything that's not given.
Nevertheless, the consistency across these publications of more men being published and reviewed than women, does suggest there's a valid question to be asked. As with much research, its conclusions raise more questions than it answers, but that's the point.
September 7th is the next date, and we're planning to discuss Philip Levine's Stranger to Nothing.
We'd hoped to look at his new collection, News of the World, but as an American title, it would have taken too long to ship, and I've heard Amazon have sold out since his appointment as US Poet Laureate. Here's an interview with him following the announcement: http://www.npr.org/2011/08/14/139576125/new-poet-laureate-philip-levines-absolute-truth
Have a good Bank Holiday and see you on the 7th, 12pm. Bring copies of your poem to workshop.
