Chatting about the lovely and always interesting world of blogging (oh boy) at work has led me yet again to raise the question, why are there so few male bloggers?
I’m obviously deep ‘within’ the North East food blogging world and as far as I know, there is no-one else who is both male and has a current North East food blog (I’m talking about those with a website – ‘Instagram-only’ accounts, I’m coming after you in a later blog).
I’m not 100% in the lifestyle blog thing, but I think this extends way out of food blogging and right across any blog vertical/personal website in the North East. Why is that?
I understand that ‘lifestyle blogging’ (whatever the clusterfuck that is these days) has a large overlap with beauty and fashion – which are still predominantly driven by females. But that said, where are the male fashion bloggers? That’s definitely a thing. Or travel blogs, music blogs, or sports blogs?
Is it overbearing male machismo? Is it a sign of blokes not wanting to ‘write’? Is it because ‘blogs’ these days seem to be more about selfies and pretty pictures than pouring out often very personal written word? I’ve asked dozens of people about this and no-one has ever given a convincing argument. Or even pointed me in the direction of a guy with a website.
Find yourself lucky enough (ha!) to receive an invite to a blogger’s event (I cringe every time I write that) and you’ll witness the least diverse demographic. White, post/millennial, female. 99% of the time, I’ll be the only guy there. Never mind me representing the 30+ demo as well. As if blogging circles weren’t cliquey enough…
Is it almost a self-fulfilling prophecy – ‘there’s no male bloggers now, so why should I start?’ Am I just feeling isolated that I can’t really relate to blogging as a 21-year old student with a student loan to blow on Nandos?
If anyone has any idea, hit me up in the comments. Or even better, if you’re a bloke, like a proper ‘blokey’ bloke. And love your bait. Or your walking holidays in Cumbria. Or your rugby union. Or your avant-garde jazz. Or whatever you love.
Start a blog. Do some writing. You might enjoy it.