The Reader

The Reader
"The Reader," Fragonard

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Can Gender Be Detected in Writing Style?

In 2011, The Guardian posted this interesting online challenge -read a number of writing samples and guess the author's gender:

http://www.theguardian.com/books/quiz/2011/jun/02/naipaul-test-author-s-sex-quiz

Then, cut and paste a sample of your own writing into Hacker Factor's "Gender Guesser":

www.hackerfactor.com/GenderGuesser.php

 
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7 comments:

  1. UnknownJune 9, 2015 at 2:31 PM

    Scene of Reading-Northanger Abbey
    Informal 59.73 Formal 64.86 Verdicts: MALE

    Austen Heroines, Yesteryears Traits
    Informal 93.9 Formal 75.07 Verdicts: MALE

    Tobias Wolff-Company Man
    Informal 89.5 Formal 67.1 Verdicts: MALE

    Tobias Wolff-Blog Response
    Informal 82.92 Formal 80.95 Verdicts: MALE

    ReplyDelete
  2. bixJune 10, 2015 at 5:10 AM

    From Behind a Black Veil: The Unbearable Politeness of Isabella Thorpe
    Informal: 85.34% Formal: 64.33% Verdicts: MALE

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EHAJune 10, 2015 at 3:11 PM

      I love this title, by the way…"the unbearable politeness" indeed.

      Delete
  3. UnknownJune 10, 2015 at 10:29 AM

    Jane Austen and History
    Informal: 74.45% Formal: 68.15% Verdict: Male

    The Need for Answers
    Informal: 67.84% Formal: 53.09%
    Verdict: Weak MALE--weak emphasis could indicate European (this distinction I find hilarious)

    ReplyDelete
  4. EHAJune 10, 2015 at 11:52 AM

    you guys all write like…guys?

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJune 10, 2015 at 1:03 PM

    What I want to know is if perhaps there's something in the algorithm that predisposes it to read more academic writing as MALE--that would certainly support these results.

    ReplyDelete
  6. MichaelJune 10, 2015 at 5:52 PM

    It guessed that I am female.

    ReplyDelete

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