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
Entry tags:
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.
no subject
Giles: Spike be dangerous. Especially now he doesn't have his chip.
Buffy: Whatevs, Giles, I got it covered. No worries, k?
Robin: Dude, she's off the wall. I think we should kill Spike for her.
Giles: Fab idea, chap. I'll provide a diversion while you do the dirty deed.
Robin: We're gonna fight now.
Spike: Bollocks.
Giles: Hai, Buffy. Let me give you 20 questions about leadership.
(Break for actual lines from the show:
BUFFY
Hi, Rich. (punches the vampire again, knocking him down) Giles, we had this conversation when I told you that I wouldn't sacrifice Dawn to stop Glory from destroying the world.
GILES
Ah, yes, but things are different, aren't they? After what you've been through, faced with the same choice now, (paces) you'd let her die.
BUFFY
If I had to...to save the world. Yes.
The vampire gets up and attacks Buffy from behind. They continue to fight.
BUFFY
(the vampire tries to strangle her; to Giles) Can I kill this guy yet?
GILES
No. (Buffy and the vampire continue to fight) So, you really do understand the difficult decisions you'll have to make? That anyone of us is expendable in this war?
BUFFY
Have you heard my speeches?
GILES
That we cannot allow any threat that would jeopardize our chances at winning?
BUFFY
Yes, I get it.
GILES
And yet there is Spike.)
Giles: Obviously, you don't understand how to fight.
Buffy: Wat? Dude, I'd totes sacrifice Dawn now. I got my head on straight. No probs.
Giles: But there's a man that appears to be muddling your mind up.
Buffy: Hamnoo?
(GILES
You want Spike here even after what he's done to you in the past?
BUFFY
It's different now. He has a soul.
GILES
And the First is exploiting that to his advantage.
BUFFY
Oh, my God. (stakes the vampire) You're stalling me. You're keeping me away—
GILES
It's time to stop playing the role of general, and start being one. (Buffy runs off; Giles calls after her) This is the way wars are won.)
Giles: Obviously, you're all wrong and you're not thinking straight. I am, though. So I've taken the decision away from you since your brain is so addled.
Buffy: Hold on. This be a diversion, you prick!
*
It's pretty basic, dude. Giles doesn't trust Buffy's judgment. He doesn't trust her judgment specifically about Spike because he doesn't think she can think clearly where he's concerned. That's pretty damn well canon.
So, a man thinks a woman's can't think rationally because of her feelings for a man...this is text. This is pretty explicitly text. And it's further explicitly text that Giles believes he is more rational and unbiased than she is (otherwise he wouldn't go to the drastic length of helping to kill Spike). Not only does Giles believe he is more rational, he goes along with Wood who is decidedly not rational about Spike. But Men Bias > Women's Bias, apparently.
That's my Official Proposal of Sexism. It gets a pass from me. I don't give a fuck if it gets a pass from you anymore. In fact, the best thing for you to do is stop fucking commenting on this whole thing.