Avatar: The Last Airbender Girls Kick Ass.

[stillthere4me]

Okay, this was going to be part of the previous post, but ended up becoming so detailed it's basically become an entry of its own, so I'm making it one. After hearing some (what I assume to be since I have seen pictures disproving it) false information about the Kyoshi Warriors not being in the movie (or were they initially in and cut?), I began to

Comments

[paperclipchains]

Why is fighting and not needing to be rescued the be-all end-all? What about how well developed they are as people, whether or not they're written consistently, given meaningful emotional stories and character arcs? I wouldn't criticize ATLA on any of these points, but I abhor how the discussion of whether or not a woman is worthwhile in fiction always boils down to whether or not they are "stereotypically female." There is nothing wrong with being feminine, and you undermine the entire feminist point when you insist on having this discussion in terms of masculine = good and feminine = bad.

[stillthere4me]

I have nothing against girls being feminine, as I mention in my description of Ty Lee and Suki (and the Kyoshi warriors). I was trying to demonstrate how diverse the different strong girls in the series are. I'm sorry if it came off different.

And on the note of girls needing to be rescued--it happens so often in cartoon and even live action, that having a story where girls can save themselves easily is refreshing.

[paperclipchains]

Yeah, but that's pretty much all you say - Do you really think that if it were a post on the boys of Avatar it would be all "aang and zuko can beat up muscled men with ease!"?

[stillthere4me]

Well, traditionally boys are the ones beating up the muscled men in cartoons and television, so it isn't as much of a surprise. Female characters in cartoons and television are usually left either as being the damsel in distress, or if they are fighting, they are fighting the weaker enemy while the boys are fighting the muscled men.

I guess that was the point that I was trying to make, that the girls are just as strong as the boys on this show, and don't really fall into any female cartoon cliches.

[paperclipchains]

I do understand that. I just feel as though it does a disservice to the characters to leave it at "better than usual!"

[stillthere4me]

I am sorry you feel that way, and I assure you that was not my intention. What do you suggest I add to make the descriptions more fair to them? And which ones in particular, or to all of them?