tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207735679333163794.post6562176872205403437..comments2023-09-02T09:32:41.827-04:00Comments on Reading to Penguins: Miscellaneous Mondays: Is This Sexist?TheReadingPenguinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09732545193031333377noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207735679333163794.post-5588641202821734552012-03-01T08:11:27.199-05:002012-03-01T08:11:27.199-05:00I do think the context of judging a book is differ...I do think the context of judging a book is different. I guess my thoughts were: you have way more time in a book to have your characters interact with loads of people. So you'd think more would pass. But they don't, and not because they're sexist, but because of the restrictions of the narrative--Harry Potter is told with Harry always at the center, Kate Daniel's is too busy killing stuff to sit down to tea and crumpets, Mercy was on her honeymoon....So for movies that generally have less time, fewer characters, and more restrictions built into their plot/story telling, I do think the test is unfair.<br /><br />But YES, Hollywood does love to use female characters as props. This is positively maddening, and needs to stop.TheReadingPenguinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09732545193031333377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4207735679333163794.post-33775540373885249452012-02-29T23:40:58.189-05:002012-02-29T23:40:58.189-05:00I think it's a really fascinating acid test......I think it's a really fascinating acid test... but I'm with you. I think it's inherently flawed. Maybe... in the context of a movie, it's slightly different. It's a shorter period of time, and women are so often used as props... in a novel... I mean, you have so much more character development, growth, and... hmm... you mentioned Kate Daniels, right? I don't think they could be considered remotely sexist, even the first one (the only one I've read). And Harry Potter? Could NEVER be considered sexist. One of the most kickass characters is a female bookworm who NEVER allows herself to objectified, never backs down, and saves the day almost more than the boys. Then you have Molly Weasely, the AMAZING Ginny Weasley, Professor McGonagall, Tonks, and etc etc etc on and on... but by this test, you're right, it'd be a fail. Because it's from a guy's POV. That doesn't mean it's sexist, it just means you're not going to see two girls having a conversation THEMSELVES, because, well, one of the participants is always gonna be a dude.<br /><br />Also: Hunger Games I give a pass. She speaks with NUMEROUS other female characters... though they're not all likable, some are brilliant. Rue broke my heart. ANYWAY.<br /><br />This is SO INTERESTING. Because I don't often think about, and I think the test has serious merit... but I also think it's flawed.<br /><br />And what you said at the start? <em>"I don't consider myself a feminist. I consider myself an equalist of sorts, because I firmly believe that everyone should have the same rights across all genders, races, and sexualities."</em> THANK YOU. THIS! It's all about <em>equality</em>, and, back 'in the day', this was what feminism was about. I think, to the people who have it <em>right</em>, it's still what it's about... it makes me kind of sad 'feminist' has become a dirty word because of people's misconceptionson both sides. It's all, like you said about equality. It alwyas has been. I don't want my fiction, entertainment, my WORLD to be pro-female, I want it to be EQUAL. Thank you for saying what I'd like to so elequently ;DSarah (saz101)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08936602748682093150noreply@blogger.com