Dreaded Double-Standard II: Bashin’ Boogaloo

[ringing_phone]

Awhile back, I posted an essay about double standards against female characters and characters newly-introduced to a long-running series, giving examples of popular characters being praised for the same things that get them bashed. But

Comments

[parron]

As far as Yamucha goes - HIS ULTIMATE WISH WAS TO "not be afraid of girls." It boggles me.

Especially as even long after he and Bulma break up for good, Yamucha is usually seen hanging around her/Capsule Corp. I think that if your ex is a cheating asshole, you don't remain friends with him for twenty years after dumping him (Especially not for a different brand of asshole, Vegeta).

POINT BEING! I love Yamucha. Loudly and with many words. |D

[sarajayechan]

Ugh, child-bashing. D: Kid characters have a reputation as either whiny brats or cutesy moppets, and both get bashed for having flaws and shortcomings kids naturally HAVE.

And word to all that stuff about "the other man/woman". Shipping wars are LAAAAME.

[rosehiptea]

Kid characters have a reputation as either whiny brats or cutesy moppets, and both get bashed for having flaws and shortcomings kids naturally HAVE

That reminds me; someday I'm going to write a defense of Laura from Silent Hill 2 here. The bashing is constant with that poor kid. (She is bratty to be honest, but she has a reason.)

[ringing_phone]

Awesome! I liked Laura very much.

[dropsofgleam]

OMFG DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS TV SERIES OMG OMG OMG!!!! *fangirl squealing*

Oh, okay... *calms down* I love Sheila ever since I was 12 years old and use my lunch money to buy the D&D books. But I also remember Bobby being adorable, as well as a pretty well done child character. Yes, he was once a damsel in distress and that forced poor Hank to do stuff he'd never do, but it's not like that was Bobby's fault. If not him, it could've been anybody in the group.

If the series was popular now, tho? I think Sheila would take LOTS of bashing. She'd be labeled as "coward", "naive idiot", "too girly compared to Diana" (huh, Diana is an Olympic-level gymnast and Sheila is just a girl-next-door, what do you expect?), and the dreaded "Mary Sue - she's pretty, feminine, motherly, has a cool cloak, had a King at her foot and chemistry with Venger's sister... SUE, SUE, MARY SUE!"

[ringing_phone]

I know! I'm baffled- in a good way- by Sheila's popularity, because she's the sort of character who usually gets dragged through the mud first. I'm glad I don't have to slog through any of those "arguments" against her.

Yes, he was once a damsel in distress and that forced poor Hank to do stuff he'd never do, but it's not like that was Bobby's fault. If not him, it could've been anybody in the group.

Agreed. Bobby wasn't taken hostage because he was weaker or stupider than the others, he was taken hostage because he'd gotten separated in the battle and was convenient to grab - it was just plain, simple bad luck. If it had been any of the others, Hank wouldn't have been any more willing to let them die over a few measly Heartstones.

[moon_doggy]

I totally agree with you on the child rant. When has it become a crime for little kids to act... well, like little kids

[twitchytwitch]

-clapclap-

Very nice, touches on a lot of points and a very good defense, though I'm not familiar with the Bobby's series~ it's translateable to a lot of fandoms in which the 'kid' is bashed.