Fiction, Nonfiction, and Sex

[WillJ]

Almost every male I know reads much more nonfiction than fiction, and almost every female I know reads much more fiction than nonfiction. (Of course, most writers of either genre are male.)

Also, when a male does read fiction, he is usually drawn more into elements that could be considered nonfictional --- history, social/political commentary, science (in science fiction), etc. And when a female does reads nonfiction, she is usually drawn more into elements that sort of parallel with fiction --- characterization, drama, etc.

Maybe you could take this and even go so far as to say that males have more of an interest in reality than females do, as absurd as that sounds. Then again, that's resting under the assumption that fiction is simply escapist, which isn't necessarily the case. It's tempting to chalk this up to a divide between the sciences and the humanities, but no, that division doesn't exactly parallel the division between fiction and nonfiction. It's also tempting to say this has something to do with females being more emotional than men, but I'm not sure that's actually true.

So my question here is, why exactly is this? (Of course, it's possible that I'm wrong that this is even the case in the first place. Are there any statistics about it?)

 

[Synobun]

While males may read the more "serious" things, both women and men tend to be serious. Of course, there are always the Hooligans of both genders who will never be serious in their life, but generally women read drama as a gateway to a different world from their problems. Men however, they try to make their life stand out more, most of the time. But, men can string the Fiction in such a manner, that they are in another world too. Studying psychology and the such teaches you these things. But if you talk about psychology in a school, no one understands you, even the teachers (I learnt this the hard way).

EDIT: Sorry if it doesn't make sense.

 

[scipian]

I'm a male and the whole non-fiction thing works very much. I read mostly history and politics with some historical and political fiction (Clancy, for example), and then some fictional series (Harry Potter, Eragon, LOTR, Foundation, couple others), Still, the vast majority of my stuff is real or convincingly real.

From what I've talked to with some female friends, they mostly just like fictional fantasy stuff.

Conversely, my male friends either don't read, read "manly stuff" (cars, guns, violence) or written anime stuff (manja?). So I can't really judge from them.

In my family, my older brother and dad read just non-fiction politics stuff (my dad was a sci-fi fanatic though in his early years), I read what I've already said, my sister reads selected topics of politics (Iraq War, feminism, animal rights, whatever), my Mom reads social stuff/alarmist stuff (population bomb, and other such stuff I can't remember) and my brother reads manja, manja, manja. So, again, I can't really tell from my family.

In short, I have no idea about the general reading habits of a particular gender. I would be interested in a wider view. Could you possibly add a poll? I'd be interested to see the reading habits of the different sexes and how they perceive the other one. Edit: Just realized. not too many females here. So it'd have to be mostly personal male habits and perceived habits of females.

 

[Whomp]

I believe only 1% of men read romance novels. This is a distinct difference between men and women and I think the concern with this is that women tend to have parasocial relationships with the characters, but the novels influence their "real life" relationships.

The fact that women are reluctant to acknowledge the adverse effect of these novels is evidence in and of itself of the influence of patriarchy.

 

[sonorakitch]

Women have to immerse themselves in romance novels to depart from the normal everyday activities of cooking for us, cleaning after us, and all their other normal duties.



~Chris

 

[History_Buff]

I've always been intrigued by the society in question, regardless of whether it was Fiction or Non-Fiction. From Ancient Rome to Medieval Europe to Star Wars and LotR, it was always the various action that shaped societies that piqued my interests.

 

[Tee Kay]

I would say women have more pressure in their lives and they need to relax by reading fiction, whereas men is the opposite that is they feel they haven't accomplish enough and want to learn more, so they read more non-fiction.

As usual, I'm wrong, but I just want to post something.

 

[Perfection]

When I read stuff I want info, when I want to fantasize give me some damn eye candy.

 

[Gladi]

Bright day
I don't technical texts, though I do read them fairly often when I want to educate myself. Though if I wanted to be entertained I read fiction with solid writing and characterization- realism, Balzac, de Maupassant, Dickens... Or just some tromp with sci/fi or fantasy.

 

[mrtn]

I mostly read "escapist" litterature. My gf reads more non-fiction than I do.

 

[Mise]

For me, it's a case of fact being stranger than fishing. Life imitating art.

 

[Brighteye]

If women focus more on relationships, all they need to escape the real world is a different set of relationships, so women read romance novels set either now or in history.
Men focus more on physical things, so their escapism is Sci-Fi and fantasy, or perhaps history. I really haven't a clue about the reading habits of anyone I know. They don't seem to read at all, except for work.

 

[Elrohir]

I am a male, and I generally read more fiction than non-fiction. However, "escapism" or wanting to get lost in some fake, but interesting world is only part of it. I think there is, quite seriously, nearly as much to be learned about humanity and our societies in fiction as in non-fiction. I don't read Crime and Punishment to escape into a Russia of the past - I read it to learn, and think about who we are as people, and what makes us tick.

Admittedly, some books are pure fluff, and I read them just to relax and have fun with. But there is a great deal of fiction that is very interesting and valuable not just in an entertaining way, but in an educational way. Fiction is art, and art is the baring of the soul.

 

[Swedishguy]

All of this could be considered putting a stereotype stamp on every species that has gender in the universe. Just sayin'.

 

[Xanikk999]

I dont know why it is, but i think the statistic is true at least to some degree.

I hate reading fiction books but i read non fiction all the time.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Wow, it is true. I have read a lot of both in my life, but the fiction tends to be historical-fiction, geographically-themed, or science-fiction (with themes of humanity and civilization in general). The non-fiction is almost never biographical or character-driven.

 

[Babbler]

Almost every male I know reads much more nonfiction than fiction, and almost every female I know reads much more fiction than nonfiction. (Of course, most writers of either genre are male.)

Also, when a male does read fiction, he is usually drawn more into elements that could be considered nonfictional --- history, social/political commentary, science (in science fiction), etc. And when a female does reads nonfiction, she is usually drawn more into elements that sort of parallel with fiction --- characterization, drama, etc.

That describes me to a T. I cannot think

Maybe you could take this and even go so far as to say that males have more of an interest in reality than females do, as absurd as that sounds. Then again, that's resting under the assumption that fiction is simply escapist, which isn't necessarily the case. It's tempting to chalk this up to a divide between the sciences and the humanities, but no, that division doesn't exactly parallel the division between fiction and nonfiction. It's also tempting to say this has something to do with females being more emotional than men, but I'm not sure that's actually true.

So my question here is, why exactly is this? (Of course, it's possible that I'm wrong that this is even the case in the first place. Are there any statistics about it?)

Most likely, both sexes read both nonfiction & fiction in the same proportions.

 

[Mirc]

I wrote and read a lot of SF. And it can be very serious. I do not agree with this theory. The huge majority of the women I met either don't read anything at all or read crappy romantic BS.

 

[Nylan]

I read half-decent semi-believeable fiction. If I read something that seems like "wait a sec, that makes absolutely NO sense and they're not bothering to make up some sort of explanation" i'll probably put it down.

That's probably why I like L.E. Modesitt Jr. so much

 

[b etor]

i read everything