What is it then that makes girls averse to science fiction? Could it be the pronounced boyness of the covers — the same signal that deters girls from switching to Superman after their Betty and Veronica days have passed? Science-fiction books, whether technologically elaborate, intergalactic stories by the likes of Arthur C. Clarke and Hal Clement or the so-called “soft” science fiction of Ray Bradbury and Philip K. Dick, often wear dark washes of black and navy blue with 3-D fonts and brutal images of fire and destruction.

Yet there isn’t anything inherently unfeminine about science fiction. Some might say the dystopic fantasy, apocalyptic tales and paranormal romance so popular with today’s teenage girls are actually couched “girl-friendly” variants of science fiction. Perhaps. But why should science fiction proper be any less welcoming to girls?

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‘A Wrinkle in Time’ and Its Sci-Fi Heroine - NYTimes.com

Nearly everything about this article makes my eye twitch. 

What makes girls averse to science fiction? You. You do. You with your gendering of everything, and assuming that girls act and think in concert, making girls who like sf/f feel like they should hide it or stop liking it because it’s “for boys.”

And books don’t need to be welcoming. People, however, people need to stop worrying about little girls and little boys and why they read what they read. Just let them have their books.

(Also, who reads Archie anymore?)