Comments | agilebrit: On Girl Cooties in SF

agilebrit

On Girl Cooties in SF

Oct 14, 2009 13:28

You know, I'm terribly sorry for men who are threatened by the fact that the SF Clubhouse is getting bigger. I understand clinging to your guns and your religion (guilty! myownself), but to dismiss other voices out of hand simply because they're Other strikes me as being ( Read more... )

random capitalization is fun, rants

Comments 23

lady_moriel October 15 2009, 04:46:35 UTC

No no no, women in SF/F are fine and dandy--as long as they have boobs the size of basketballs barely covered by metal bikinis, which in no way inhibits their ability to use a ginormo sword. Somehow. (Yes, this is one of my big pet peeves. The only explanation for going into battle dressed like this--and I use the word "dressed" only in its very loosest sense--is that said boobies are significantly bigger than the woman's brain, because come on, don't you want a little armor or skin protection at all?)

baron_waste October 17 2009, 14:40:41 UTC

Yee, thank you - I'd forgotten how Natalia Tena as Nymphadora Tonks carbonated my hormones. I had a lady friend tell me very seriously that Nymphadora would have been good for H Potter's first sexual experience. I know I'd sure have liked to spend a weekend with her in some out-of-the-way hotel...

crayonbreakygal October 15 2009, 06:45:23 UTC

When you do have the time (which will probably be never), you have to watch some SG-1. One of the kick-ass woman characters of all time, who is beautiful, smart, etc., etc. Sam Carter is the biggest geek in all the world.

SF has always been my favorite genre. Girl Cooties. *snort*

agilebrit October 15 2009, 07:00:07 UTC

SAM CARTER IS PART OF THE PROBLEM DON'T YOU GET IT SHE IS SUPPOSED TO STAND THERE AND SCREAM AND GET RESCUED NOT KICK ASS WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU OMG.

...that was painful to type.

crayonbreakygal October 15 2009, 23:57:55 UTC

*giggle*

This!!!! neo_prodigy October 16 2009, 00:05:07 UTC

How difficult it must be to be burdened with such a small penis.

baron_waste October 16 2009, 07:06:00 UTC

…No, I'll not comment, save for this: The original Starbuck was a laid-back, amiable antihero with an eye for a good card game and an aversion to risking his neck (though he would and did if his squadron mates were involved.) The aberrantly violent, hormonally deranged freemartin played by Katie Sackhoff is a complete departure - and the basis for some stinging criticism of R Moore, who, it has been said, seems to think that “permanent PMS” is the best way to depict strong women. (He's not unique; Seaquest DSV was nicknamed “Seaquest PMS” for the same reason - the chips on the shoulders of every female character were the size of 1980s shoulderpads. Bitchy & hostile = “empowered,” you see.)

agilebrit October 17 2009, 04:42:28 UTC

Okay, yes, the new Starbuck is kind of a raging bitch. A very competent raging bitch, but a raging bitch nevertheless. Personally, I didn't much care for her.

But if you gave her a penis instead of breasts, would you think that character was an asshole?

And is it easier for a male character to get away with being an asshole than it is for a female one to get away with being a bitch?

Which, I think, is an LJ entry all its own.

baron_waste October 17 2009, 12:44:07 UTC

By 'Hollywood logic,' yes. Ask my ROTC friend expectare what would happen to a flight officer who “punches superior officers in the face.” She'd tell you what is already obvious: That no amount of DACOWITS lobbying, affirmative action double standards or “feminist jurisprudence” would keep that officer from being court-martialled, cashiered, and never setting foot in a military cockpit again.

But in Hollywood, where “all the women are strong, and all the men are good-looking,” her sex is a built-in get-out-of-jail-free card for any insubordinate or irregular behavior she chooses, up to and including striking a superior officer. And knowing this, she behaves accordingly.

agilebrit October 17 2009, 16:58:33 UTC

And I would argue that that's a function of Hollywood Logic In General rather than Starbuck getting away with that shit because she's female. That happens all the time in movies, no matter the sex of the offender. How many times have we seen the competent but rebellious junior officer in the brig because of some offense or other, only to see him released because they need him? You'd think it'd be a TVTrope. Probably is.

What's interesting is that no one says "boo" about Boomer, even though the original Boomer was also male. But, then, she's more girly, isn't she?