Here’s a handy thing to know:

If someone is writing about how females are portrayed in fiction, they are not automatically guilty of feminist diatribe.  And talking about minority portrayal is not the sole province of extremists and radicals.  These topics are worth talking about, and just because someone might feel uncomfortable with the conversation, it doesn’t mean the conversation isn’t worth happening.  In fact, it’s probably the exact opposite.

More and more, I find myself frustrated by the pushback that comes with any attempt to discuss these taboo topics.  Nobody admits to racism / sexism / bias, but those biases still exist despite that.  And there’s no better way to see this than to try to have a simple, civil conversation about them.