Verbal Skills?

[poke poke]

A study conducted by Washington University showed that women have better verbal skills than men. Well, duh
- Some famous guy whose name I don't remember.​

Hi, I don't know whether to put this in the miscellanous discussion or here, but I've decided that here would be appropriate. If it's not, I'd like one of the mods to close it or move it there.

I read the above quote today in my friends bathroom reader and I'm wondering if that's really true. I mean there are some very famous male writers like Shakespeare, Arthur Conan Doyle, etcetera.

But in the Fan Fiction forum, I feel that a majority of the authors are female.

Examples:
Zephyr Flare
Phsychic
Bay
Burnt Flower
Saber
Mix
Pink Parka Girl
Gardevoir Girl
Blackjack Gabbiani
FlamingRuby
purple_drake
Saffire Persian
Silawen
katiekitten
Sike Saner

And many more.

So, what do you people think. Do women have better verbal skills than men?

PS. If any of the people above are male, please forgive my lack of research.

 

[Killer Grunt]

Im not sure, i think it depends on the genre. Guys may be more adept in different areas. I am good at writing stories about war but not much else. Well i have only tried other things a couple of times which is why im writing a pokemon fic now.

In alot of surveys it shows girls naturally do better in english test and the like so i'd sya alot of them do have better verbal skills.

 

[Kacho]

I am a guy.... just busy lately to not update my fic (point sig)

Personally, I just think that not many guys would like to sit down and write.... just my opinion (JYM!)

 

[Lugia Tamer]

You can have verbal skills, we get math.

Yeah, I always kind of knew this. They don't have better verbal skills I don't think, just more woman have good verbal skills while less men have good verbal skills.

 

[Asuran]

In my oh so humble opinion it really isn't true. Guys have just as good verbal skills as girls. We are just lazy. For example: I can only be bothered to write about one thousand words a day, most of which is utter nonsense.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Ry is a guy.

And, imo, I think that fact is more related to communication and, literally, "verbal" skills, not necessarily literary.

~Chibi~;249;;448;

 

[Astinus]

I agree with Chibi. The quote says "verbal" skills, which is the actual talking between two people. And it's a common thought, and I believe there's some proof behind it, that females are better at communicating with people.

It really has nothing to do with literary skills, since both seem to be pretty equal in literary skills. Though I might just be saying that because my favorite writer is male. xP

And I also agree with Chibi on Ry's gender. XD

 

[Wondrous Sableye]

*generic agreement with above two posters*

Also, um… *cough*… Mix is no longer here…

The literary skill levels seem to be fairly evenly-distributed. From the men's side, we have Terry Pratchett. From the women's side, we have Jo Rowling. On the other hand, from the men's side, we have Paolini, and from the women's side, we have Meyer. *cough* It evens out, is what I'm saying.

 

[oRaNgE~1337]

All of those writers suck? Is that what you're saying? Yeah, humans tend to not be very good at stories.

This is a Pokémon fanfiction board, you know. You should look in other places.

 

[Killer Grunt]

Hmm maybe i just went to a school where most of the guys were, how to put it...

Dumber than a guy who applies for the job of selling doors door to door (thats very dumb by the way)

But most of the girls were good with both verbal and literacy skills, with us guys it was usually one or the other.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

I don't think verbal skills and literary skills are the same thing. You can be an incredibly stupid conversationalist in real life but be gifted when it comes to putting words on paper, or converse brilliantly and be completely stuck when it comes to writing anything down.

 

[PDL]

Historically, most of our classical literature was written by men because men tended to be better educated in the past. (Men were more likely to go to top universities and colleges then women).

It isn't really just the qualitiy of writing that's important, but also the subjects. Women tend to write about relationships between various characters while men are more likely to write about action.

 

[Wondrous Sableye]

All of those writers suck? Is that what you're saying? Yeah, humans tend to not be very good at stories.

This is a Pokémon fanfiction board, you know. You should look in other places.

The first two were examples of good writing, the second two bad. I'm saying good writing and bad writing are not gender-exclusive. Really not seeing the point of your reply since you only tangentially referred to the thread topic. Or, for that matter, why you mentioned that this is a Pokémon fanfiction board when I've visited it regularly for the last four years and can therefore be assumed to already know this.

Killer Grunt: "Door-to-door door salesman" the metaphor you were referring to?

There is the possibility that it's also a matter of interests. For example, 80% of my Creative Writing class was female, and the class in general seems to be mostly girls if the school literary magazine is any indication.

 

[Diddy]

Like almost everyone has said, verbal skills don't directly translate over to the ability to write well.

In high school in top set English, the class was thirty strong and had four guys in it, the rest were female. And I'm taking English language in college next year and I expect it to be no different.

Like the original poster said, and I've noticed it aswell, there does seem to be a larger number of good writers that are female compared to that of male writers. That saying there are lots of male writers just not many of them are good.

And the fact that there are prodominantly male writers in history, the fact remains that back in those days, women weren't allowed to be educated and only a few, from very rich families actually were educated. No, this isn't a personal dig at women, its an explanation as to why the fact is, in fact the female writer I can think of at the moment from those times is Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the first 'feminists'

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

I think we all know about all the sociatal differences that lead to there being more male writers historically, but what about *now*? Why does fanfiction tend to skew more female? Pretty much every study I've read can't figure it out, since no one can think of a reason why, what with all the types of series out there.

 

[Yami Ryu]

Because most men are to busy looking at porn?

just kidding just kidding.

But I think I know why; as was already said. Women write more emotion and men just write more action.

But it's a bit more than that, Emotion = depth = character development = better plot. Action = drivel that usually dries up after the second chapter and is blown away with the wind. I could give an example with an author Alan Dean Foster, if I spelt it right. He created a unique series that was a nice blend of emotion and action, about a boy named Flinx and his minidrag named Pip.

But then over the last few books it started to turn sour; Flinx went from a somewhat caring individual to this stark creature that was such an *******, in two books. Not caring to find out or understand why one of the 'dreaded' aliens that are nearly xenophobes, was dead, and evidently protecting him was the cause of it. Not caring that, it could have been the answer as to why he suddenly can't remember what happened after he fell and hit his head badly.

And he also ignores the fact he has friends, something equal to family, has encoutered two sentient species that are friendly, has a girlfriend even, and you know his Asplinian mini dragon- yet Flinx decides, he will not try and save the world! No!

He will instead go to the worst planet in the worst solar system, land, moan and groan about corrupt people in a corrupt place as he looks for a decent excuse as to why he should risk himself to save the world ignoring the reasons he has already and it's just, when did Flinx, sign up for a position as Gods angel of death or whatever?

But there you see, the emotional development that Flinx could do, had hit the wall and there was no attempts to just finish the series in one go, but instead, drag it out for action and adventure! Sullying my view of the characters and authors, even more so.

But outside of my rant-slash-example, I don't see any other reason why there are more women writing then men. It is.. perplexing.

 

[Irith_Locke]

I second the idea of women writing more emotion and men writing action. That's how our minds work, right?

And I don't know about women having better verbal skills than men. Of course, those are averages, there's always a bunch of near-illiterate girls and verbally strong men.

As for fanfic authors being girls...I dunno, girls just like fanfiction more in my experience. Also, I think at least early on, girls put more attention into writing than guys. *Most* of the best fanfictions I've read (here and elsewhere) have been by girls. I think it's because girls tend to focus more on character development.

But not all the fanfic writers here are girls...*raises puny male hand* Of course, I've written like...one...fic here...and it's not even complete, so I'd hardly expect to be thought of.

 

[Bay]

I think more woman do fanfiction because of shipping. (gets shot) I'm joking!

In all seriousness though, I guess the reason there's more girls here doing fanfiction because we have ideas on how to make those game characters more indepth and thus we tend to focus more on emotions and such.

On the men writing more action and woman writing more emotion, I too agree. I have more books written by males and most of it are of action. Then again, I'm a girl but I quite like action, more notably things that dealt with police/detective work...XD;

As for the verbal skills relating to writing skills, I think it relates in a way. Not a whole lot, but just a bit. Me and my dad actually talked about the relationship between writing and speaking and we agreed that people tend to write how they speak. The only difference is with writing, we can correct our grammar mistakes. XD

 

[Ms. Mime]

As said by other people, verbal and literacy is two different things... just a little. In my school, most of the girls were good in English, and the boys were good at math, and the rest just stunk. (Not to be mean... >.>) But there ARE men who write interesting novels, and some women too. They can be equally good. I have tons of novels written by women, but that doesn't mean they're better.

I actually like books by men... lotsa action!

 

[Dilasc]

Because most men are to busy looking at porn?

Poor arguement! People can still type with one hand occupied. I'm not even going to make the joke about Sticky Keys... or fingers.


On a more serious note, I think it's irrelevant. That's right: Besides looking much prettier, women and men are and should always remain equals.

Let's face it, claiming all women write splendiferously like a Shakespearette and all men write like Ooga-booga Voodoo Trolls is a very poor arguement. There are different qualities of writing for both genders and thusly, methinks they could be seen as near equals.

As such, this whole arguement is, for a lack of a straighter term, Sillybuns!


I am a strange person. I talk a lot like how I write: In spherical riddles that tend to lead to answers that can't be found... and thusly aren't found.

Would this be different if I were a woman? The only way I see how is if I refer to the joke I made at the top and realize I'd need both hand... ya know what, I'd rather not even make the joke. Mad propz to all the ladies!