If readers discount certain topics as unworthy of their attention, if readers are going to judge a book by its cover or feel excluded from a certain kind of book because the cover is, say, pink, the failure is with the reader, not the writer. To read narrowly and shallowly is to read from a place of ignorance, and women writers can't fix that ignorance no matter what kind of books we write or how those books are marketed.
Roxane Gay, in her book "Bad Feminist: Essays," discusses the limitations readers impose on themselves when they dismiss certain topics or judge books by their covers. She emphasizes that if a reader overlooks a book simply because of its aesthetic, such as color, the responsibility lies with the reader rather than the author. Such behavior reflects a narrow and shallow approach to reading, which stems from ignorance.
Gay further asserts that women writers face challenges in combating this ignorance because no matter how they write or promote their works, they cannot change the outlook of readers who are unwilling to embrace diverse narratives. This highlights the importance of openness and willingness to explore various perspectives in literature.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
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