October Question Meme: Day Sixteen

[rogueslayer452]

Asked by wheatear:

Do you consider yourself a feminist? How does this affect how you relate to fandom?

Yes, I consider myself a feminist. I have always understood the basic concept about women's rights growing up, I just didn't realize just how vast the movement was, especially with intersectional feminism, until these recent years of being a young adult.

Going with that, in these recent years I'm definitely seeing things with a different perspective and a more critical eye than I originally did when it comes to fandom. For example, the common mistreatment of women characters and the tropes that follow in the writing, even the mishandling of the women behind the scenes as well. And it's not a bad thing to become aware of these things, because it is important to point out the faults and flaws in something and how it can be changed. There has to be acknowledgement of these issues in order for there to be improvement. Unfortunately there is a downside, because the more you become aware of these particular issues the more exhausting it can be dealing with certain things happening in fandom and in the media and society overall, from the endless arguments and debates that keep going around in circles. Again, it's not a bad thing because some good does come out from out, thankfully, but it also becomes apparent that there's still a lot more work to be done with educating people on these particular topics instead of the misinformation being spread from ignorance. Does that make sense?

Keep in mind that I'm no expert on the subject, I'm still educating myself as I go along. I just know that the fandom space, while it has its negatives, it also has its positives too, and the latter is where most of these discussions come from and that I've been exposed to in these last several years of being part of the online community and I'm grateful of that.

Comments

[nemophilist.livejournal.com]

I was also fairly aware of it but not aware of its true depth and scope and such until I got older, and I'm learning more every day. Though, to be quite honest, it wasn't until I experienced first hand harassment and sexism that I truly began to take notice. :/

[giallarhorn.livejournal.com]

I think at this point, the definition of feminist has largely broadened to be anyone who happens to be in favor for treating women as full human beings.

But yeah, a lot of fandoms are...kind of really problematic when you actually step back and ask a few questions, ie the Bechdel test. And it does get exhausting because it does raise a sort of hypercritical awareness, but then the argument is that is that such a bad thing? It means that if we're aware of the problem, we can make better source material instead of the continual repeat of problematic tropes.

Feminist theory and gender studies are a fascinating subject, and a bonus is that a lot of educative material is sourced online in discussions or articles. Like, I wouldn't claim to be any expert but it does provide a pretty good basic grasp of a lot of the more general ideas floating around.

[stellicidio.livejournal.com]

Loved reading this :) I actually research gender stereotypes in literature and it made me much more aware of how women are represented in all kinds of media and yes unfortunately there's still a lot to be done...

[wheatear.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately there is a downside, because the more you become aware of these particular issues the more exhausting it can be dealing with certain things happening in fandom and in the media and society overall, from the endless arguments and debates that keep going around in circles.

I completely agree. It does get exhausting after a while. I think it's okay to switch my feminist brain off for a while and just enjoy something, but at the same time I also agree that it's good to be aware of these issues.

Interesting post, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Yes, I consider myself a feminist.

*claps*

Thank you. I flinched before I read your answer, because I have know WAY TOO MANY people (women! smart women! women who seem to get it!) who have told me no when they've been asked.

For example, the common mistreatment of women characters and the tropes that follow in the writing, even the mishandling of the women behind the scenes as well. And it's not a bad thing to become aware of these things, because it is important to point out the faults and flaws in something and how it can be changed. There has to be acknowledgement of these issues in order for there to be improvement.

PREACH.