The implicit assumption behind every call for 50/50 gender equality in all things (including representation in anthologies) is that men and women are ESSENTIALLY identical, and all observed differences in behaviour or inclination are merely the product of social forces.
That is, if the effects of social conditioning could be entirely eliminated, then men and women would be submitting poetry (and workshopping) in equal numbers.
And, presumably, among all other areas, also incarcerated in the same proportions, rather than the 85/15 ratio at present.
But what if men and women are NOT essentially identical, but TEND towards different patterns of behaviour?
N.B. - please note TEND - not biologically programed.
It always seems to come to this reaction: "So, we have no choice but to follow our genetic program, eh?" Which is absurd.
I am NOT saying that we are meat-puppets of Nature, but merely that Nature sways the sexes in different ways. Not controls or forces, but sways, in discernible patterns of tendencies.
Of course there will always be individual exceptions to all gender TENDENCIES, but the wider statistical patterns will highlight the differences.
So please don't mention the "dangers of biological explanations, as in recent history", etc. I am not talking about biological determinism, but biological tendencies to behaviour.
As an example, take my previously posted link on the statistics for
housework in the U.K
Given that women (for e.g.) have done the bulk of clothes washing for millennia, and, especially now with so many other options open, would have every reason in the world to despise the job, why do the stats show that women say they actively "like" washing clothes at nearly three times the rate for men? About 42% compared to 18%?
If clothes washing has been inflicted on women throughout history when they really don't like it any more than men do, why these figures? They "should" (we might think) at least be equal today.
And I do not buy the explanation of "false consciousness", that these women who "say" they like washing clothes have somehow been brain-washed into believing they do when they really don't. This argument is an insult to the intelligence of women, that they can be so easily manipulated.
And why (for another e.g.) do nearly 50% of men say they "like" doing D.I.Y jobs compared with around 20% for women?
I believe that these stats highlight the existence of ESSENTIAL DIFFERENCES (in terms of tendencies, at least) between men and women.
And if these gender tendencies exist, they MIGHT also account for poetry submission and publication figures.
I realize that this is not a popular hypothesis, but it MUST be considered if all possibilities are to be covered.
The "Blank Slate" hypothesis is being systematically refuted by current science, and to rely on it as a viable model is becoming increasingly difficult.