?> Comments on: Sexism and the Single Writer http://www.burnzpost.com/2007/05/31/sexism-and-the-single-writer/ burning passions, burning opinions, simply juicy Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:53:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Burning Tree http://www.burnzpost.com/2007/05/31/sexism-and-the-single-writer/#comment-211 Burning Tree Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:37:14 +0000 http://www.burnzpost.com/2007/05/31/sexism-and-the-single-writer/#comment-211 I think that brutalization and objectification of women is part of this reality that we're dealing with, and it *needs* to be addressed in fiction. The problem is when female characters are, as you say, victimized just to give the male characters an excuse to be heroic. If you've got a female character who has no personality or character concept...and she's just a victim, then this is a problem. I didn't mind "Grindhouse", because I didn't see violence against women as a form of entertainment. If anything, the villian was set up as an excuse to make the *women* look heroic. He was portrayed, not just as a bad person, but as a complete baffoon. There's a qualitative difference between using violence against women as a theme to be dealt with and using it for entertainment. Your awareness of these issues is probably going to prevent you from making "mary sues" and "straw men". Especially since you know what it's like to be a woman. At least you're asking the questions. I don't really buy into the idea that men and women envy each other's reproductive organs...unless they're transgendered or just curious about how the other half lives. I don't have any answers as to where sexism started. I've met a lot of women who are sexist against women. I've run into more of these than women who have trouble getting along with men. I think it's an example of internalized oppression to view members of one's own sex with disdain and mistrust. When I look at how women are portrayed in the media, I can see why women have been trained to see themselves and other women as inferior. I think that brutalization and objectification of women is part of this reality that we’re dealing with, and it *needs* to be addressed in fiction.

The problem is when female characters are, as you say, victimized just to give the male characters an excuse to be heroic. If you’ve got a female character who has no personality or character concept…and she’s just a victim, then this is a problem.

I didn’t mind “Grindhouse”, because I didn’t see violence against women as a form of entertainment. If anything, the villian was set up as an excuse to make the *women* look heroic. He was portrayed, not just as a bad person, but as a complete baffoon. There’s a qualitative difference between using violence against women as a theme to be dealt with and using it for entertainment.

Your awareness of these issues is probably going to prevent you from making “mary sues” and “straw men”. Especially since you know what it’s like to be a woman. At least you’re asking the questions.

I don’t really buy into the idea that men and women envy each other’s reproductive organs…unless they’re transgendered or just curious about how the other half lives. I don’t have any answers as to where sexism started.

I’ve met a lot of women who are sexist against women. I’ve run into more of these than women who have trouble getting along with men. I think it’s an example of internalized oppression to view members of one’s own sex with disdain and mistrust. When I look at how women are portrayed in the media, I can see why women have been trained to see themselves and other women as inferior.

]]> By: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little http://www.burnzpost.com/2007/05/31/sexism-and-the-single-writer/#comment-217 Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little Thu, 07 Jun 2007 06:50:41 +0000 http://www.burnzpost.com/2007/05/31/sexism-and-the-single-writer/#comment-217 <em>The problem is when female characters are, as you say, victimized just to give the male characters an excuse to be heroic.</em> On that note, I can't believe I forgot to link "Women In Refrigerators." <a href="http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/04/09/comic-book-dictionary-women-in-refrigerators/" rel="nofollow">I have now linked it.</a> It's a complex issue, and I take comfort from your response. However, awareness of these issues didn't keep me from writing a leading lady in <em>The Drowning Boy</em> (draft 1 going on 30) who comes to Seattle in order to wait and wait and wait around for the leading man. Her functions then comprise A) backstory and B) attempted assault target for the antagonist. Urgh. What was I thinking? The problem is when female characters are, as you say, victimized just to give the male characters an excuse to be heroic.

On that note, I can’t believe I forgot to link “Women In Refrigerators.” I have now linked it.

It’s a complex issue, and I take comfort from your response. However, awareness of these issues didn’t keep me from writing a leading lady in The Drowning Boy (draft 1 going on 30) who comes to Seattle in order to wait and wait and wait around for the leading man. Her functions then comprise A) backstory and B) attempted assault target for the antagonist. Urgh. What was I thinking?

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