next_to_normal (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
next_to_normal) wrote2010-07-31 07:23 pm
next_to_normal) wrote2010-07-31 07:23 pm
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Male Feminists?
So, the other day, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
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 includinggingerwall'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.
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
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.
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3. Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) from Dirty Dancing. This may be controversial. But whatever. He was attracted to Baby because she was self possessed, and she wanted to do important things. He encouraged her to not be squashed into a box (or a corner)--pulling her out to allow her to show off all of her abilities to the world--doing so meant he wouldn't get his bonus check. So, he personally took a financial loss (and probably lost any employer recommendations) in order to help empower Baby. In addition, he supported Penny emotionally, never slut shaming her, and supporting her right to choose what to do with her own body (despite what the law allowed).
Anyway, his firm anit-slut-shaming, pro-choice, and pro-strong women stances are enough for me to consider him a feminist icon.
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Seriously. I think that my early obsession with Dirty Dancing may actually be the reason I'm a feminist. And there's dancing! And pretty dresses.
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Sylvia?
Yes, Mickey?
How do you call your loverboy?
I say c'mere, loverboy?
And if he doesn't answer?
Oh, loverboy . . .
And if he still doesn't answer?
I simply say baby, oh, baby, my sweet baby, you're the one!
(Okay, got that out of my system.)
But yes, very, very good example. Bucking the heteronormative, supporting self-possessed women and avoidin slut bashing while being there for his friends who he isn't even sleeping with? Empowering.
I love you for this one, too.
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ETA: And thanks for helping me decide on a sunday afternoon movie! :D
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