The Feminist Filter: The Dark Age

[gabrielleabelle]

Firefox spellcheck doesn't recognize "Eyghon". How strange.

I'm a bit on the tired side of things, but I look forward to see what people make of this episode. Jenny Calendar! ♥

Mission Statement:This series is intended to outline the feminist text of each episode so as to provoke and encourage open discussion. It's not so much about making value

Comments

[angearia]

Giles refuses and protests against this.I think it's interesting to note how Eyghon!Jenny is verbalizing having Giles take advantage of Jenny, but the demon is very much in control and is the one taking advantage of both Giles and Jenny. Jenny herself would be taken advantage of if Giles had sex with her while she was possessed. Just like how Buffy felt violated by Faith in "Who Are You". So on the one hand, the demon-as-woman is goading the man into taking advantage (almost like the societal myth of Eve, tempting man to sin) while the woman, Jenny, is being violated, her will suborned

[gabrielleabelle]

So on the one hand, the demon-as-woman is goading the man into taking advantage (almost like the societal myth of Eve, tempting man to sin) while the woman, Jenny, is being violated, her will suborned.

Oh, nifty. I like that thought.

I think the problem comes from taking action for a woman's "own good" rather than also heavily weighting other significant factors. I think often using "I'm doing this for your own good" with woman is a means of control, obviously, but also a means of disavowing oneself from selfish motivations and responsibility. That line allows the man to claim moral superiority while also infantalizing the woman for not knowing what's best. Instead of acting on the woman's behalf, how about the hypothetical guy simply recognize that he doesn't want to sleep with someone who might be physically/mentally compromises because he feels uncomfortable about it?

Agreed. I often think people come at these situations from the wrong angle. You nailed it.

One thing I wanted to add, when the possessed Philip starts attacking

[angearia]

Ethan quaking behind Buffy makes me laugh, too! That visual power of the tall adult male hiding behind the short blond teenager. It's that foundational subversion of the show, how Buffy's image and the value society places on her ~image doesn't--and yet still does--fit with society's view of her. She's the powerful one, yet still the victim.

Which, okay, this observation is obvious, but when you consider how women's abilities are constantly underestimated because society places so much importance on their ~looks -- well, Buffy serves as the overblown example of inner worth that can go hand-in-hand with conventional feminine beauty.

Agreed. I often think people come at these situations from the wrong angle. You nailed it.

Oh! Another thought. Maybe this male disavowal also stems from men being socialized to not admit to vulnerabilities and also that they should be virile and always want sex -- so if there's to be no sex, it has to be because of the women, not because of the man's own feelings which he's certainly not going to

[gabrielleabelle]

Which, okay, this observation is obvious, but when you consider how women's abilities are constantly underestimated because society places so much importance on their ~looks -- well, Buffy serves as the overblown example of inner worth that can go hand-in-hand with conventional feminine beauty.

Hey, sometimes the seemingly obvious observations are the most essential. People often miss what's right in front of them. :)

Oh! Another thought. Maybe this male disavowal also stems from men being socialized to not admit to vulnerabilities and also that they should be virile and always want sex -- so if there's to be no sex, it has to be because of the women, not because of the man's own feelings which he's certainly not going to express. (Speaking in a generalized way of course!)

I think you're probably right. It isn't very manly to admit to not wanting to have sex. It especially isn't manly to be "particular" about the circumstances surrounding sex. After all, dudes will take it any way they can get it, right? What guy's gonna fess up to

[angearia]

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