Man and Library
In the January issue of Library Journal, Adam Holland writes about the issue of gender bias in libraries. I don't really know what to think about his assertion of rife gender bias in libraries, but it is food for thought.
I do agree that there is difference. Look around any library and you will see a ratio of ten women to every man. Men and minority perspectives of all kinds are strengths that need to be drawn on within a library. A monocultural perspective, male or female et. al., can create a sort of back patting tunnel vision about the libraries mission. As men, we sometimes see things from a different angle and bring different ideas to the table that complement an overly female perspective. Some libraries may do well at this and some not.
As men, we often feel like cultural outsiders. We feel out of place whenever books like The Secret Life of Bees or similar ponderous emotive tomes are being discussed. Many of us do not knit, scrapbook or drink tea. I am not trying to stereotype, because many female librarians don't do these things either. I'm trying to be funny or poignant or something and maybe not quite getting there.
We sometimes feel at a loss when we can't type and talk on the phone or multitask like so many ambi-cranial female librarians. I am in awe of this skill. Lastly, we sometimes feel like our voices are not heard over the din of an overly female culture where we are sometimes looked on like foolish bulls roaming around china shops. "Don't knock anything over and don't poop on the carpet" is the feeling we sometimes get. I don't know what to think about this whole thing. What we may need to do is talk about it.
I do agree that there is difference. Look around any library and you will see a ratio of ten women to every man. Men and minority perspectives of all kinds are strengths that need to be drawn on within a library. A monocultural perspective, male or female et. al., can create a sort of back patting tunnel vision about the libraries mission. As men, we sometimes see things from a different angle and bring different ideas to the table that complement an overly female perspective. Some libraries may do well at this and some not.
As men, we often feel like cultural outsiders. We feel out of place whenever books like The Secret Life of Bees or similar ponderous emotive tomes are being discussed. Many of us do not knit, scrapbook or drink tea. I am not trying to stereotype, because many female librarians don't do these things either. I'm trying to be funny or poignant or something and maybe not quite getting there.
We sometimes feel at a loss when we can't type and talk on the phone or multitask like so many ambi-cranial female librarians. I am in awe of this skill. Lastly, we sometimes feel like our voices are not heard over the din of an overly female culture where we are sometimes looked on like foolish bulls roaming around china shops. "Don't knock anything over and don't poop on the carpet" is the feeling we sometimes get. I don't know what to think about this whole thing. What we may need to do is talk about it.
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