Femminism and the Maeve
Let me appologize to those on my f-list that are here for SCA, pottery, and or real life stuff. You may skip this post as it details some of my opinions on a current . . . um how shall I say this . . . wank in the Firefly Fandom.
In the past I would have, if asked, described myself as a mild femminist(a mild femminist because I believe that women are capable to do everything a man does but I'm traditional enought to proudly take my husband's last name when we married.Even now, ten and a half years latter, being called "Mrs.M" makes me smile and feel giddy.). But not any more. This insane post made sure I'd never identify that way again. I think I will adopt what velevetwhip said she described herself as- a Suffergette. I believe that woman should be equal in power, money, and everything else with men. Equal not supperior. For in equality we will compliment each other and bring balance to our force.=)
I am not saying the poster didn't have a few points. She did and she made me think about things I never would have. Also the varrious conversations about this post has made me think. But what I am apalled at is the manner in which those points were made. To call a man you have never met a rapist from no evidence except fiction he has writen and produced is ludicrous. Yes art offten immitates life and some of what you are and believe will creep into your writing but it is fiction not autobiography.
Then to broaden the offense by calling all men rapists (even the ones you haven't met) is absurd. I was offended to learn that I was a rape victim because I have given in when I wasn't entirely in the mood to make my husband happy because I love him. I was offended for my husband's sake to hear him called a rapist. I was offended on behalf of real rape victims to place me on their level. The disapointment I may or maynot suffer in bed when sex doesn't go completely according to plan is nothing like the pain, anger, and feeling of violation true victims rightly feel. To compare the two is batshit insane.
As to the show itself, Firefly only had 14 episodes for character development. Inara might have eventually gotten through to Mal. Jayne may have learned to respect women. And everyone may have grown out of the flaws. In order to have an interesting show the characters have to have flaws that over the course of many seasons (hopeful five or more) they grow and change but they have to start off somewhere on their journey.
About Zoe. It is Zoe who grabs Wash and states,"Sir, I'd like you to take the helm, please. I need this man to tear all my clothes off." It is also Zoe who threatens Wash,"Remember that sex we were planing to have *ever* again?".
What about the objectifying of men? At the ball Kaylee stares at Mal and calls him "Captain tightpants." Mal is also the one we see parading around naked for an extended period of time and Inara takes in the view.
I'm not saying Firefly is perfect but it seems to be even in its handling of men and women as sex objects.
The last point I take issue with, is the point that Inara emotionally services the men of the crew without pay. That is called being there for friends because not everything is about sex. Sometimes a friendly shoulder to cry on is just that a friendly shoulder.
In the past I would have, if asked, described myself as a mild femminist(a mild femminist because I believe that women are capable to do everything a man does but I'm traditional enought to proudly take my husband's last name when we married.Even now, ten and a half years latter, being called "Mrs.M" makes me smile and feel giddy.). But not any more. This insane post made sure I'd never identify that way again. I think I will adopt what velevetwhip said she described herself as- a Suffergette. I believe that woman should be equal in power, money, and everything else with men. Equal not supperior. For in equality we will compliment each other and bring balance to our force.=)
I am not saying the poster didn't have a few points. She did and she made me think about things I never would have. Also the varrious conversations about this post has made me think. But what I am apalled at is the manner in which those points were made. To call a man you have never met a rapist from no evidence except fiction he has writen and produced is ludicrous. Yes art offten immitates life and some of what you are and believe will creep into your writing but it is fiction not autobiography.
Then to broaden the offense by calling all men rapists (even the ones you haven't met) is absurd. I was offended to learn that I was a rape victim because I have given in when I wasn't entirely in the mood to make my husband happy because I love him. I was offended for my husband's sake to hear him called a rapist. I was offended on behalf of real rape victims to place me on their level. The disapointment I may or maynot suffer in bed when sex doesn't go completely according to plan is nothing like the pain, anger, and feeling of violation true victims rightly feel. To compare the two is batshit insane.
As to the show itself, Firefly only had 14 episodes for character development. Inara might have eventually gotten through to Mal. Jayne may have learned to respect women. And everyone may have grown out of the flaws. In order to have an interesting show the characters have to have flaws that over the course of many seasons (hopeful five or more) they grow and change but they have to start off somewhere on their journey.
About Zoe. It is Zoe who grabs Wash and states,"Sir, I'd like you to take the helm, please. I need this man to tear all my clothes off." It is also Zoe who threatens Wash,"Remember that sex we were planing to have *ever* again?".
What about the objectifying of men? At the ball Kaylee stares at Mal and calls him "Captain tightpants." Mal is also the one we see parading around naked for an extended period of time and Inara takes in the view.
I'm not saying Firefly is perfect but it seems to be even in its handling of men and women as sex objects.
The last point I take issue with, is the point that Inara emotionally services the men of the crew without pay. That is called being there for friends because not everything is about sex. Sometimes a friendly shoulder to cry on is just that a friendly shoulder.