How the Women’s Prize Reshaped Literature 

Excellent video, Scott. I remember the 90s and the debate over whether men were simply better at writing. I’ve been supportive of the Women’s (Orange/Bailey) Prize since its inception. I’m glad that the concept has spread to Australia (Stella) and North America (Carol Shields) and I’m glad that stats show an improvement in bestselling novels written by women. 🎉

When I was 11 or 12 my main teacher asked me, during parent evening, what my favourite subject was. He was so astonished when I said maths that my mother became worried that there was a problem. There wasn't. He just expected me to pick a language subject. But he didn't ask me what I thought I was best at, he asked me what I enjoyed the most. And I enjoyed the challenge and problem solving in maths. You'd think he'd want to encourage my love of maths but he made sure I knew that several of the boys in my class were better than me and that my strength was in languages. He was always hovering around the boys giving them encouragement and hints and tips. It kind of took the fun out of it for me. I think about that whenever someone says anything about what kind of people are good at particular things, because yes, there's innate ability and personal interest, but external influences sure make a difference. (This was a long time ago now, and I'm pleased to say that my kids have both had female maths teachers most years and that there's a lot more encouragement all round.) I think when it comes to the publishing world it's been a thing that "men don't read women" but women read both men and women. (And white people don't read POCs etc) So publishers put more resources into white male authors because they would have the broadest appeal. I don't have the numbers to back this up though, it's just how it seems to me. And fortunately that perception and practice has changed now.

I love it when you do this sort of analytical video. Thank you.

Brilliant! Thank you for giving me ammunition for arguments with people who think we don’t need a “womens” prize when prizes should just be for the “best writer” *eye roll*

What an impressive change and a great video - thanks!

Brilliant video! Thanks for sharing 😀

This was brilliant!

This was a fantastic video! 🎉

thanks scott.

Wonderful, thank you!

Fantastic video, Scott ❤

very interesting video. Thanks

In the Goodreads Choice awards... a popularity contest more than a literary prize.... the winners have almost all been women...

Loved this video. Math and science geek here. 🙋‍♀️ Thought I would teach math, but ended up in medical laboratory science which I loved. Also, I read>50% female authors these days. I better check my math on that. And, I know it should be maths😊

Great video and I appreciate everything you bring up in it, and the fact that you made it at all. I love that there are women’s prizes, but I also think it kind of negates the idea that women are “as good as men”. Don’t get me wrong, I obviously think women are fantastic and brilliant. But having a separate prize that only women can win doesn’t show that women are as good as men. Having prizes that anyone can win because of the merit of the book and the writing, judged objectively (so I guess anonymously) by a diverse group of judges, and having women win that, that would show that the winner won over everyone, not just the little special group on the side. Again, I’m exaggerating to make a point. Women are awesome and I love what they write. I just think that role models, like you mentioned, representation, is more important than a prize on the side of the “real” one that the men win. Kind of like having women’s days or months (or any other group) when it should be all of our days all year round. That’s just my spontaneous thoughts and opinions as a little woman without any sort of data to back it up except for my life, my education, and my brain, thank you 😊

Not maths!!! I don’t know about men or women but I am bad at maths. 😂

1. The nineties sure was A Time. 2. Maths degree? I am shook 😂

I’m not good at maths. That could have been how it was taught in an all girls school.

I would argue that the Women’s Prize is a very UK-centered prize and, worldwide, is not as big as the Pulitzer or even the National Book Award or Hugo Award (which has their yearly conference in a different country every year). Here in the US, even Women’s Prize winning books are not always marked as such on the covers. Some of the longlisted books don’t even get published in the US and if they do, it’s a year or more later. I didn’t even know the prize existed until I started watching UK-based booktubers and I’ve always been a reader. Which is not to say I don’t agree with you about its impact, but I just don’t think it has reached the status of worldwide popularity or prestige like the Pulitzer or the Booker.