some feminist blathering
Mar. 5th, 2010 02:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
freezingrayneWhat follows is some feminist chatter that I composed in my head during my customary hour and ten minute drive to campus this morning. Just need to get some stuff off my chest.
On wednesday, I found myself killing some time between classes poking through the University Bookstore, which doubles as an overpriced Barnes and Noble. There was a book on the bestseller table which had a feminist flavor to it, so I picked it up and flipped through it a little. What the author's intent seemed to be was to outline that, though women may believe they have rights, it is all an elaborate ploy by men and the media to control us more.
I read on, and was shocked to discover that, according to the author, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not a feminist show, and Buffy herself is not a feminist character.
This, of course, got my feminist dandruff up, as well as my love for kick-ass hero chicks, and my devotion to all things Joss Whedon.
Now, I may be getting the author's point completely wrong--again, I only read a few pages--but I have come across this argument before, the one that says a character like Buffy is not a feminist figure because no 'real' woman could measure up.
If you somehow managed to miss the cultural phenomenon that was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it is a show about a California teenager who inherets an ancient power--every generation, there is one girl who is granted the strength and skill to fight the forces of darkness. She does this with the help of her (at first) normal friends and a teacher/mentor figure.
The author of the book claims, and I am paraphrasing here, that Buffy has super-powers, thus disqualifying her for being a feminist characters. This I find to be, of course, complete bullshit.
Tell me, what man could measure up to Indiana Jones? Or Captain America? Or Doctor Who? Aren't they heroes too?
This is a strange, rather non-sensical argument, and seems to me to be born more of dislike of fiction or sci-fi than a problem with strong women.
The next part of the author's argument, is really what worries me. She goes on to describe a situation where Buffy calls out her boss (or someone's boss) and tells him he's being unfair and she knows fourteen year old kid's with more human decency. Who, the author asks, could actually stand up for themselves like that?
Um. I could? And I often do, stand up for myself, daily. It's something you have to do, if you're going to be any sort of different and get by in this world. I decided years ago that I was tired of taking bullshit, and I have lived my life like that. I try not to let anyone push me around.
So, lady who wrote a feminist book, don't try to tell me that Buffy isn't a feminist icon. She is a smart, strong, capable, albeit super-strong, woman. In one of the later seasons of the show, there is an episode where she struggles against a group of suit-wearing men who tell her the Slayer needs to conform to their standars.
Buffy tells them, "See ... I've had a lot of people talking at me the last few days. Everyone just lining up to tell me how unimportant I am. And I've finally figured out why. Power. I have it. They don't. This bothers them."
And this I believe, characterizes this show, and is exactly what feminism can be. You can be strong, you do have the power. Every woman has the power, every human does, and there will always be people who try to take that away. What we have to do is flatly refuse to let them have it.
Whew. Too long. Sorry about that.
On wednesday, I found myself killing some time between classes poking through the University Bookstore, which doubles as an overpriced Barnes and Noble. There was a book on the bestseller table which had a feminist flavor to it, so I picked it up and flipped through it a little. What the author's intent seemed to be was to outline that, though women may believe they have rights, it is all an elaborate ploy by men and the media to control us more.
I read on, and was shocked to discover that, according to the author, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not a feminist show, and Buffy herself is not a feminist character.
This, of course, got my feminist dandruff up, as well as my love for kick-ass hero chicks, and my devotion to all things Joss Whedon.
Now, I may be getting the author's point completely wrong--again, I only read a few pages--but I have come across this argument before, the one that says a character like Buffy is not a feminist figure because no 'real' woman could measure up.
If you somehow managed to miss the cultural phenomenon that was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it is a show about a California teenager who inherets an ancient power--every generation, there is one girl who is granted the strength and skill to fight the forces of darkness. She does this with the help of her (at first) normal friends and a teacher/mentor figure.
The author of the book claims, and I am paraphrasing here, that Buffy has super-powers, thus disqualifying her for being a feminist characters. This I find to be, of course, complete bullshit.
Tell me, what man could measure up to Indiana Jones? Or Captain America? Or Doctor Who? Aren't they heroes too?
This is a strange, rather non-sensical argument, and seems to me to be born more of dislike of fiction or sci-fi than a problem with strong women.
The next part of the author's argument, is really what worries me. She goes on to describe a situation where Buffy calls out her boss (or someone's boss) and tells him he's being unfair and she knows fourteen year old kid's with more human decency. Who, the author asks, could actually stand up for themselves like that?
Um. I could? And I often do, stand up for myself, daily. It's something you have to do, if you're going to be any sort of different and get by in this world. I decided years ago that I was tired of taking bullshit, and I have lived my life like that. I try not to let anyone push me around.
So, lady who wrote a feminist book, don't try to tell me that Buffy isn't a feminist icon. She is a smart, strong, capable, albeit super-strong, woman. In one of the later seasons of the show, there is an episode where she struggles against a group of suit-wearing men who tell her the Slayer needs to conform to their standars.
Buffy tells them, "See ... I've had a lot of people talking at me the last few days. Everyone just lining up to tell me how unimportant I am. And I've finally figured out why. Power. I have it. They don't. This bothers them."
And this I believe, characterizes this show, and is exactly what feminism can be. You can be strong, you do have the power. Every woman has the power, every human does, and there will always be people who try to take that away. What we have to do is flatly refuse to let them have it.
Whew. Too long. Sorry about that.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-06 04:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-06 04:37 pm (UTC)Buffy isn't a feminist character. Bite me, lady.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-09 07:21 am (UTC)Out in the real world I've met a couple really weird responses to feminism though--like people want to throw it out with the bathwater because they're not quite sure what the word means, or they think it's the problem, or something. Not sure how to deal with that. Maybe I should have taken some women's studies theory along with all the engineering classes.
no subject
Date: 2010-03-09 05:19 pm (UTC)I've never been wildly interested in Women's Studies, but as a modern woman I find myself getting more increasingly irritated at a lot of things that are just accepted by the culture at large.
Madame Wholeheartedly Agrees
Date: 2010-03-11 01:49 am (UTC)Buffy = the shit. End of story. She's totally strong, smart, and sexy and still, well mostly, normal in the sense that she's got her own day-to-day stuff to deal with. But yeah. I totally agree with you. ^_^
And you stand up to the world much better than Buffy does because you don't have a script. ^_^ You just ARE that awesome. :D You're so cool, senpai! *huggggggg*