A double-nested irony. I've always thought that you, James, went out of your way to find female links for the Traffic Jams. (I think it's important to distinguish the links you select from the trackback opt-ins.) But I've also always put that partially down to your flirtatious nature.

You can't get no respect!

On the other hand, I'm doing what I want to do: writing because I enjoy it. I refuse to spend time sending posts to other bloggers because traffic and linkage, in and of themselves, aren't important to me.

A great example of this in action is that the two greatest spike in traffic I've had have resulted from MALE READERS sending my posts to other bloggers.

I also think there are fewer women writing about politics. Although it grated on me a bit, I can't argue with Tig's observation. I rarely write on those subjects, but then I don't write about what I had for lunch or my last hairdressing appt. either. I don't run a personal blog, but if I did I'd expect only those interested in personal journal-type blogs to tune in.

And yes, I think there's a bit of chauvinism on the part of male bloggers, but for every one who never links to female writers even when they turn out great content, there is one who actively promotes good writing when he sees it, regardless of the writer's gender.

I wouldn't have half the traffic I do have if it weren't for John Hawkins of Right Wing News, and I've never sent him a single post or email asking for his help. Frankly, I consider it a greater compliment if someone - reader or other blogger - finds you on their own and voluntarily reads or links you.

But that attitude is mystifying to most male bloggers I've talked to: they point out that people won't read or link what they can't find. And almost to a man, they are more competitive than I am - they are actively trying to increase their readership.

Perhaps to some extent women's relatively smaller market share in the blogosphere reflects their own internal priorities?

I still think the disparity in 'celebrity' is mainly because female bloggers (including me) don't push for links. I have put e-mail spam blocks on 8 blog sites for little annoyances like signing me up for 'notifications' without my cooperation. I'm considering doing the same for several more. Not ONE of those sites is run by a female. Oh yeah, and several of them are now 'large mammals' or above, so the 'spam the other blogs' technique they used did work.