The algorithm simply favours tub thumpers - I don't think it has a race or sex component necessarily, writers like Marley K and Rebecca Stevens were very popular a few years back when race was a hotter topic than it is now. Before that there was Jessica Valenti in the 'I hate Trump' category. If what you have to say is popular, and if it is agreed with by a vast majority of those who read on Medium, then the initial flood of support seemingly convinces the algorithm that what you have to say is profound.

At the moment its tilting to Katie Jgln, but before that it was Shannon Ashley in the 'mums against adversity' niche. As Medium generally sways left, I would argue in the social sense it also sways female.... there's lots of male hustle porn, crypto babble and tech things.... but social and political issues seem largely female led. Lauren Elizabeth came from nowhere and essentially does Umair-lite.

I don't think it's necessarily rigged against race and gender. I think it's rigged towards concordance.... lots of people showing up in one place. I have a reputation for independent writing (and independent thinking I hope) but there's no way I'm getting anywhere near the amount of followers that people like Jgln are getting - when Medium starts curating for quality of writing rather than popularity of subject matter (and I think it will eventually) then I hope to do a little better.

Until then, I shall remain an outspoken yet affable Penguin with whom it is possible to disagree and still enjoy. Thanks for the shout out - and as Michelle correctly points out, I don't identify with any sex, race, gender or sexuality on Medium - people just make their own assumptions and that's entirely fine. I won't confirm or deny any assumptions one way or the other. :o)