10 Most Kickass Female Television Characters of All Time

[joans_journal]

FEM has listed Buffy as the top most kickass female television character of all time. Here's what they had to say about our favorite femme Slayer:

TV’s ultimate feminist. Badass in every conceivable way, Buffy fights demons by night, tackles the SAT by day, and continually battles an overactive hellmouth. Oh, and she still makes time for friends,

Comments

[ever_neutral]

I don't remember Buffy ever explicitly referring to herself as a feminist or anything, but I would say by her actions she is? She is CERTAINLY anti-patriarchy.

tbh I'm kind of side-eyeing "the best part is she was created by a man". So Buffy wouldn't be as influential a character if the creator were female? I see how it is.

[joans_journal]

Exactly. There is a lot of talk about Joss being a feminist, but I can't recall a conversation about Buffy being one...which is interesting. For a show that's constantly heralded as being so "feminist", it's interesting that most agree the heroine isn't one. Just some food for thought.

[red_satin_doll]

I'm kind of side-eyeing "the best part is she was created by a man". So Buffy wouldn't be as influential a character if the creator were female? I see how it is.

Yes. I noticed that comment and I thought it was gross for exactly the reason you name.

That said, have I occasionally fallen victim to giving guys "special treatment" when I've found out they are feminists (and by this I mean are genuinely aware of the issues, not "lip-service feminists".) There are a couple of men on my flist that I believed were women until they identified as such - which overlooks the fact that a lot of women are not feminists, and therefore, further assumes that it's more difficult for a man to be a feminist and deserves acknowledgement for going "the extra mile". All of which is bullshit, but it's something I have to watch for in my own thinking.

[joans_journal]

I think this a great point you'd made (about Buffy being a role model, not a feminist), and I agree to an extent. But, doesn't her agency perhaps make her an "indirect" feminist, if there is such a thing? You're right that there is no proof that she self-identifies as a feminist, but her actions, the way she lives her life - is certainly feminist, don't you think? For example, she's never explicitly stated that she is concerned about woman's equality, yet what does she do in the end? She gives every girl the strength to stand up to their oppressors, and fight alongside men. If that's not standing up for equality, I don't know what is.

[joans_journal]

I fixed it. Thanks for the heads-up!