next_to_normal: (feminazi)
next_to_normal ([personal profile] next_to_normal) wrote2010-07-31 07:23 pm
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Male Feminists?

So, the other day, [livejournal.com profile] gabrielleabelle made a post questioning the labeling of Angel as a feminist icon. The general consensus, not surprisingly, is that Angel is NOT the feminist icon we are looking for. But it did make me wonder - are there ANY male feminist icons in popular culture? I can't think of any.

Okay. "Icon" is a pretty high bar. How about just a portrayal of a male feminist character? Any medium. How many can you think of?

I'm also including [livejournal.com profile] gingerwall's list of criteria from the same post, just for reference. Your criteria may be different (I expect the third one is particularly difficult to find in pop culture, which might eliminate everybody, lol), but I thought it might be helpful for people who want guidelines.

Here would be my qualifications for the Best Male Feminist Role Model in All of Everything Ever:
- Let the women in his life be autonomous agents and make their own decisions.
- Listen to and carefully consider what women have to say about issues that affect both of them.
- Be aware of how organizations that he is a part of contribute to the oppression of the women in his life and work to change or protest those cultures, all the while getting feedback from those women to make sure he is accurately reflecting their lived experience.
- Encourage the women in his life to defy traditional gender roles and take on powerful positions, even at the expense of his own control and power.

[identity profile] angearia.livejournal.com 2010-07-31 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Uuuuhh... *thinks*

Season 7 Xander. He definitely qualifies for #1, #2, and #4. And I think in the Buffyverse context where oppression of women is about fighting the First Evil, he's following Buffy's lead in protesting this and fighting it.

For the life of me, I'm having trouble thinking of any other male character who fits this.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2010-08-01 02:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Agreed. I pretty much dislike Xander for the bulk of the show (a few moments of awesome aside), and he definitely starts out as a Nice Guy. But! I really do appreciate him a lot in S7.

[identity profile] pocochina.livejournal.com 2010-08-01 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
Agreed. I think becoming a feminist is a big part of Xander's later-season character development. He learns from his S6 mistakes to become more respectful and supportive.