If you factor that in, I think the male-female balance comes closer to even.

Really? I always got the impression that fanfic was much more of a woman fan phenomenon. But I don't really have a sense of how big male written fan porn is to compare.

the fanfiction that men write is often posted to porn sites, not fanfic archives.

Huh. But is it fanfic, or porn? I mean, the PWP in fanfic is at least intended to be read as those particular characters. Most of the time, anyway. And it's provided to the rest of the fandom as part of the fannish experience.

I'm not explaining my question very well, am I? Sigh.I

Oh, no, I'm not saying women aren't writing porn! Just that when women write it, it gets shared as fanfic that's also porn, not as porn that's also fanfic. I think I'm not having a very articulate evening. Let me try this: it's posted on lists geared to fans rather than alt.sex.stories or whatever.

I don't really have a sense of how big male written fan porn is to compare.

Archives like Literotica.com have a big "celebrities" section, which includes, uh, real-person whatever and fanfic. (I don't know all the terms.) I find it personally squicksome, but...yeah. It's harder to identify the author's sex, but there's a lot more f/f stuff, which makes me suspect it might veer toward male writers.

it's posted on lists geared to fans rather than alt.sex.stories or whatever.

Because we like community!

Although -- circle jerk -- that's a commitment to community few women can match.

Oh, no, I'm not saying women aren't writing porn!

No, I know. I was trying to ask what you explained -- that what women write is shared as NC-17 fic, whereas what these guys write is shared as porn that happens to be about tv characters. That's what's going on?

Huh.

Although -- circle jerk -- that's a commitment to community few women can match.

Heh.

There's a lot of fairly gen male-written fic in comics fandom. (There's also a lot of really, really bad femslash, but that falls more under the porn point, I suppose.) It's probably still safe to say that comics fic is mainly a male-written area.

Because we like community!

Heh. But honestly, yeah. It's an accepted part of the female fandom.

Consuela, I edited the last post as you were replying, I think. Y'all are too speedy for me. So that might answer you. (And this is all totally subjective, obviously. I have this great fear that I'm going to step on toes, which I truly don't want to do.) My impression is that a woman who writes a m/m story gets validated for being taboo-breaking and airing subtext and undermining the patriarchy, and a man who writes an f/f story is seen as creepy by female fans, so it's taken to other venues.

ETA: I have the sinking sensation that Minear will pop in now all, "So Strega, what kind of porn are you reading?" at which point I will curl up and die.

I really have nothing further to add, but I'd like you all to know that I like ALL of you, mostly because you're all so skilled at being well-behaved and articulate, and I like being on your fandom team.

Also, if you like me back, you're free to share cupcakes and/or girl scout cookies with me, as I am accepting those at this time. Thank you.

Fandom could skew female because men might keep a low profile because they are universally painted as fat, thirty year old virgins living with their parents.

And there's just a point where you either move on or you just buy yourself a Klingon costume and go with it.