Femminism and the Maeve

[maevebran]

Let me appologize to those on my f-list that are here for SCA, pottery, and or real life stuff. You may skip this post as it details some of my opinions on a current . . . um how shall I say this . . . wank in the Firefly Fandom.



In the past I would have, if asked, described myself as a mild femminist(a mild femminist because I believe that women are capable to do everything a man does but I'm traditional enought to proudly take my husband's last name when we married.Even now, ten and a half years latter, being called "Mrs.M" makes me smile and feel giddy.). But not any more. This insane post made sure I'd never identify that way again. I think I will adopt what velevetwhip said she described herself as- a Suffergette. I believe that woman should be equal in power, money, and everything else with men. Equal not supperior. For in equality we will compliment each other and bring balance to our force.=)

I am not saying the poster didn't have a few points. She did and she made me think about things I never would have. Also the varrious conversations about this post has made me think. But what I am apalled at is the manner in which those points were made. To call a man you have never met a rapist from no evidence except fiction he has writen and produced is ludicrous. Yes art offten immitates life and some of what you are and believe will creep into your writing but it is fiction not autobiography.

Then to broaden the offense by calling all men rapists (even the ones you haven't met) is absurd. I was offended to learn that I was a rape victim because I have given in when I wasn't entirely in the mood to make my husband happy because I love him. I was offended for my husband's sake to hear him called a rapist. I was offended on behalf of real rape victims to place me on their level. The disapointment I may or maynot suffer in bed when sex doesn't go completely according to plan is nothing like the pain, anger, and feeling of violation true victims rightly feel. To compare the two is batshit insane.

As to the show itself, Firefly only had 14 episodes for character development. Inara might have eventually gotten through to Mal. Jayne may have learned to respect women. And everyone may have grown out of the flaws. In order to have an interesting show the characters have to have flaws that over the course of many seasons (hopeful five or more) they grow and change but they have to start off somewhere on their journey.

About Zoe. It is Zoe who grabs Wash and states,"Sir, I'd like you to take the helm, please. I need this man to tear all my clothes off." It is also Zoe who threatens Wash,"Remember that sex we were planing to have *ever* again?".

What about the objectifying of men? At the ball Kaylee stares at Mal and calls him "Captain tightpants." Mal is also the one we see parading around naked for an extended period of time and Inara takes in the view.

I'm not saying Firefly is perfect but it seems to be even in its handling of men and women as sex objects.

The last point I take issue with, is the point that Inara emotionally services the men of the crew without pay. That is called being there for friends because not everything is about sex. Sometimes a friendly shoulder to cry on is just that a friendly shoulder.

Comments

[jdsmith-gfu.livejournal.com]

Ignore her. Really.

It is clear from the start that she approached it with lenses dripping in loathing for anything written by a man.

You can find rampant misogyny anywhere if you look hard for it.

Or... if you remember our college days enough, think back to Noordquist. You can find phallic imagery and Christ symbology in everything if you look hard enough. Usually skipping hand in hand.

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

I want to ignore her but she made a few points burried in the insanity.

Somehow I thought it was Higgins who found sex in everything. I took a couple of Chris Nordquist classes and don't remember her harping on the phalic imagery.=)

[little-giddy.livejournal.com]

I've seen that and please don't apologise for calling it wank; it's quite simple, that's exactly what it is. The Inara and Zoe points particularly annoyed me. More than that, the speculation by the OP into Joss Whedon's private life is frankly disgusting.

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

I wasn't apologizing for calling it wank I was apologizing to the non fans on my flist for bringing up the wank.=)

I was discussd and angery and slightly amussed at her comments.=)

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

Hi. Welcome to the insanity.=)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I have seen references to the kerfuffle, buthave stayed away for my sanity and my blood pressure - I feel more or less exactly as you do, though.

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

Yeah it is probably best to avoid it. Thought the post that parodies the insainity to show how Joss hates men in Firefly is pretty funny.=)

[poundpuppy-29.livejournal.com]

I think that she has issues with sex in general, sex is not a dirty thing and she makes it sounds like it is. Prostitution has been around for a long long time and in Firefly it is regulated for safety I mean I would never do it but there are some that do I don't know if I am making sense what pretend it doesn't exist. I really don't agree with her when it comes to Zoe it was clear to me in watching the series they Zoe and Wash loved each other very much and showed them having normal marital issues but they loved each other. I really don't get it with her she has issues.

My Great Grandmother was a Suffragette and had a lovely marriage her and my great grandfather were known as the lovebirds on a our old street and took walks together. She is giving Suffragette a bad name because my great grandmother was a strong woman who loved her husband and took his name proudly. I am like you I do think of myself as a feminist but equal not Superior

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

I wasn't calling the original poster a Sufferagette since she clearly is a Radical!!Feminist. I was calling myself one as a more moderete position. I agree that we owe much to the Sufferegettes and should emulate them not this kind of insanity.

[ignavus.livejournal.com]

You know, I was going to try to write a response, but I realized that as amusing to me as it would be, she's oblivious to everything except what she wants to see; it wouldn't actually help her any.

She's an angry racist and feminist who feels the entire world is simultaneously out to get her and owes her something. You can't reason with someone - I don't care if they're white, black, male, female or a talking push-pin - when they are so enthralled with their own pain and anger.

[maevebran.livejournal.com]

That's why I posted here rather than on her journal where I'd just get deleted.

I just hate it when people think their pain entitles them to spew unmittigated hatered at half the world's population. All men are not responsible for what a group of them may have inflicted on her.=)

I hope she gets help but I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't think she needed any.=)