David Gilmour is "Not Interested" In Books Written By Women — So What?

Sometimes it's hard to draw a line, especially when the issues hit close to home So when a University of Toronto professor is quoted in saying "I'm not interested in teaching books by women" you can almost predict how the public is geared to react.

Novelist and University of Toronto Professor David Gilmour is allegedly only interested in things written by "serious, heterosexual guys," (and apparently no Chinese writers), and thus only focuses on teaching what he is interested in. Inherently, this really isn't an issue if it is honestly coincidental, which thus far seems to be the case. The problem arises when there is evidence of misogyny (or even racism for that matter) none of which seem evident from his earlier interviews in Hazlitt, an online magazine by Random House Canada.

In fact, the only thing the man could possibly be charged with is perhaps an overinflated ego. Earlier interviews show a some degrees of overindulgent pride: "One of my great joys is not only having read Proust but having read him twice, and having listened to the audio CD twice." 

Yet when it comes to his style of teaching, his logic seems sound. "When I was given this job I said I would only teach the people that I truly, truly love. Unfortunately, none of those happen to be Chinese, or women," Gilmour noted. While multiple articles have recently criticized the award-winning author for his schooling methods, none have yet provided any concrete indications that his curriculum is any more sinister than maybe simple poor taste. Although the man may not have his doctorate, a traditional requirement of University of Toronto professors, his proficiency in writing is clear. Not to mention he does include at least a little diversity in his teaching, with the renowned Virginia Woolf complimenting F. Scott Fitzgerald, Chekhov, Tolstoy, Henry Miller, and Philip Roth. The real guy's guy's of classic writing.

Ultimately, the concerns surrounding the new professor Gilmour have yet to support themselves with verifiable evidence. Our advice? The best course of action for students uncomfortable with his curriculum is to simply not take his class. Or maybe write a very strongly worded letter. But accusations of misogyny are not only unfounded but also likely a waste of time.