Not to mention there's any number of reasons they may not be ranting about how much they love Tolkein in a book club. What kind of book clubs have they been? Have they been more oriented towards classical literature and "serious" writings that investigate the toils of existence? If it's not a "fantasy book club", it's quite possible the women do not feel it is the appropriate forum for fantasy novels. I wouldn't change the channel to the History Channel in a sports bar either.

Then of course there's the ever present stereotype that this quote itself presents. Women may not feel comfortable acting outside it because society does love to judge us "nerds". So then we have the sexism of such statements perpetuating themselves. Additionally, it would not surprise me that book clubs just did not attract us "nerdy women". I know I've rarely had ANY interest in them, because I like to read my fantasy and have been told by enough English Majors that I need to pick something different.

And even if they truly do not like tolkein, martin, moore, etc... so what? Can you not see the dozens of us here on RAFO who do? The hundreds across other internet forums and the thousands across the whole internet?

Plainly those of us who like swords, gore, explosions, and other "man topics" are not a small group.

This man's statement entirely disregards many's women deep love of writers like Tolkien. It is sexist and it is offensive.


PS: I'm not ranting specifically at you, btw, so please don't feel like I'm assaulting you personally