Uppity Women
Mar. 24th, 2007 06:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflyI'm currently reading a book called Uppity Women of the Renaissance (part of a series about Uppity Women), which is about 200+ women who Did Things. It's short and conversational but a lot of fun. I'm probably going to search out and read the rest of the books in the series.
Uppity Women is a theme that is becoming increasingly important to me. It's certainly no shock that I like such women -- nearly all of my favorite female characters are ones that upset the status quo. Lois Lane, Vala Mal Doran, Buffy Summers, and Rose Tyler are all female heroines who refuse to play the role of damsel in distress. Atia of the Julii is my favorite character in the two-season series Rome. Kara Thrace qualifies, definitely, but the darker tone of BSG's characterization makes it harder to me to simply identify with her (both of my parents are alcoholics, so she hits my hot buttons). Pointedly, for me, none of these women are afraid of their sexuality and attractiveness. As this is something that I have deep issues with myself, it helps me to find role models in women who don't have those issues.
Also, as my admiration for blatantly uppity women grows, I find my affection for the more subtle movers and shakers to be growing as well. Lana Lang, despite her damsel-in-distress roots, has become a much-loved character of mine on Smallville (she's been kicking serious ass on S6, yet her core character traits all remain in place. Very impressive).
My affection for women is at an all-time high and is still increasing. Though I still enjoy a wide variety of slash pairings, my canon-het meter is registering higher and higher numbers. Is that because of something changing in me or because I'm watching more and more shows where the female characters are being shown to be just as strong as the male ones?
I do know that I've developed more trust and affection for myself recently. That may be related. It's something to think about, regardless.
Uppity Women is a theme that is becoming increasingly important to me. It's certainly no shock that I like such women -- nearly all of my favorite female characters are ones that upset the status quo. Lois Lane, Vala Mal Doran, Buffy Summers, and Rose Tyler are all female heroines who refuse to play the role of damsel in distress. Atia of the Julii is my favorite character in the two-season series Rome. Kara Thrace qualifies, definitely, but the darker tone of BSG's characterization makes it harder to me to simply identify with her (both of my parents are alcoholics, so she hits my hot buttons). Pointedly, for me, none of these women are afraid of their sexuality and attractiveness. As this is something that I have deep issues with myself, it helps me to find role models in women who don't have those issues.
Also, as my admiration for blatantly uppity women grows, I find my affection for the more subtle movers and shakers to be growing as well. Lana Lang, despite her damsel-in-distress roots, has become a much-loved character of mine on Smallville (she's been kicking serious ass on S6, yet her core character traits all remain in place. Very impressive).
My affection for women is at an all-time high and is still increasing. Though I still enjoy a wide variety of slash pairings, my canon-het meter is registering higher and higher numbers. Is that because of something changing in me or because I'm watching more and more shows where the female characters are being shown to be just as strong as the male ones?
I do know that I've developed more trust and affection for myself recently. That may be related. It's something to think about, regardless.