Thing: Gender Gap: Gender Discussion/Expression in (Fan)Fiction

[chasingtides]

So, I'm writing a story and I'm unsure of how to label it. Because I came up with this idea in church, I'm going to call it divinely inspired, but I'm mostly exploring boundaries in fiction that I am curious about in real life. And the purpose of exploring these boundaries, is, in part, exploring them as a dialogue, so I will be doing it through

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[littledarkvoice]

And when it's Talk Like a Pirate Day (tomorrow) and post-colonial feminism day at the same time, we dress up like Anne Bonny and go around hitting folks with our copies of Said!

I really, really like the idea of presenting as male as part of a sort of... survival tactic, thing. I mean, since Jack can pass for male in the early 21st century, it only makes sense to stay male. But at the same time, as not-exactly-male but passing for it, it should give him insight into modern gender dynamics that folks within 21st century humanity wouldn't exactly have.

It's also interesting to think about in terms of historical examples of a similar phenomenon. For instance, one of the Emperor Nero's eunuch courtiers, called Sporus, bore such a strong resemblance to Nero's late wife that he was dressed as her and called Sabina. Even after Nero's death, he went on living as "Sabina"--you get the sense it's because he has more power as the ghost of an imperial woman than he has as a castrated dude, if that makes sense. Or you have stories of women who dress as men to join the army/avoid marriage/whatever. I think you could definitely play off Jack as presenting as male in a similar light, if not exactly the same.

[chasingtides]

That's actually the general idea. He's talked about how he's the first person from Boeshane to be recruited, that he was sort of a poster boy for the community he was coming from - could be interesting to do "presenting male/human as survival/safety/ensuring goodness for community." IIRC, I've got some good sources on some medieval saints doing that (IDing as, for example, female and born female, but passing as male, with the aid of their community, for a specific purpose, sometimes then living out lives as men.)

[una__sola]

I demand citations and evidence. (Mostly because this sounds awesome.) I wonder how long/how much he'd be willing to change how he presents if it were advantageous for him. (Jack being Jack, I'm pretty sure he'd be willing to do that to some extent.)

[chasingtides]

Damn it! Maude was the one who told me about them. She at least used to have the links on it on her webpage.

[una__sola]

Do you still have Love, Sex and Marriage in the Middle Ages? There's probably something in there.

[chasingtides]

Here's a link to one of the sites: http://www.otkenyer.hu/halsall/lgbh-gaysts.html

Maybe? Damn it. I need to open boxes or something.

[una__sola]

I know where mine is. I can get it out.

[una__sola]

Oh, what about the thing where Anselm of Canterbury and Julian of Norwich referred to Jesus as a "mother"? That's certainly got a fair dose of genderbending.

[chasingtides]

Oh! Like the art where Jesus was breast feeding children?

That's actually what gave me the idea. Don't ask about my brain. I can only say I was in church and genderbending Son of God who breastfeeds is way more interesting than whatever the homily was about.

[una__sola]

Jesus - so hardcore he breast feeds you his BLOOD. Maude showed us one of those in class.

...I now have an image of this painting in my head while heavy metal plays in the background. WTF, brain?

[chasingtides]

That's okay. I jumped from "crucifix over altar" to "Jesus breastfeeds his saints" alongside "this Torchwood fic is too fucking long and needs more Mickey" to "I bet Jack would breastfeed; Jack's Jesus" to "If Jack had Ianto's baby while they're in a triad with Gwen, it'd be awesome. And scar all of their families."

[fabluelous]

*butts in*

I kinda love your brain.

That's all. :D

[una__sola]

And when it's Talk Like a Pirate Day (tomorrow) and post-colonial feminism day at the same time, we dress up like Anne Bonny and go around hitting folks with our copies of Said!

I like this plan. Excuse me while I go track down an appropriate outfit.