[mrsmith]

“back in the era when the genre was believed to be consumed almost entirely by young males”

ALL sci-fi is for young males.
Or it isn’t sci-fi.
The better sci-fi expands that audience but mustn’t lose it’s defining audience.
Sci-fi films are most often ruined by Hollywood’s desire to appeal to the ‘dumb sluts’ advertising demographic.

[Nepeta]

ALL sci-fi is for young males.
Or it isn’t sci-fi.

Hogwash.

Even when the genre was aimed at young males, many of the writers were women hiding behind male pen names.

Twilight Zone was certainly NOT aimed at young males exclusively, nor was Outer Limits, but on balance both presented some good science fiction.