Vicki Vale And The Superficial 'Strong Female Character' Ah, I thought, as the camera panned lovingly down Vicki Vale’s high-heeled, black-pantyhose-clad legs — here she is. The Strong Female Character. The 1989 model had fluffier hair than her successors, but that’s really the only significant difference. She establishes her Totally Empowered cred early, makes eyes at the hero, then gets the hell out of the way as he and the (male, naturally) villain go about the business of advancing the plot. She snaps a photo once or twice to remind us that she’s a globe-trotting photojournalist — the kind of photojournalist with no compunction toward sleeping with her subjects, but hey, whatever. She ends the film in the hero’s arms, fulfilling her role as reward for his victory, with nary a whisper of the professional goals that drove her to him in the first place.
I can only imagine the interviews that took place upon the release of Batman, touting her modernity, her break with the damsels of the past, her ineffable 1989-ness. I hate Strong Female Characters. I hate Strong Female Characters. As someone spends a fair amount of time complaining on the internet that there aren’t enough female heroes out there, this may seem a strange and out of character thing to say. And of course, I love all sorts of female characters who exhibit great resilience and courage. I love it when Angel asks Buffy what’s left when he takes away her weapons and her friends and she grabs his sword between her palms and says “Me”.
In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I love Zhang Ziyi’s Jen sneering “He is my defeated foe” when asked if she’s related to Chow Yun-Fat's Li Mu Bai. I love Jane Eyre declaring “I care for myself” despite the world’s protracted assault on her self-esteem. But the phrase “Strong Female Character” has always set my teeth on edge, and so have many of the characters who have so plainly been written to fit the bill. I remember watching Shrek with my mother. “The Princess knew kung-fu! She rolled her eyes. Is Sherlock Holmes strong? 1. 2. Equality. No. L’objectivation sexuelle des femmes : un puissant outil du patriarcat – Introduction. Partie 2 : le regard masculin ou male gaze Partie 3 : les violences sexuelles, des actes d’objectivation extrêmes et dissociant Je vais commencer une nouvelle série d’articles sur l’objectivation sexuelle des femmes, ce que c’est, comment cela se manifeste et quelles en sont les conséquences sur la vie des femmes.
Dans cette introduction, je vais donner quelques concepts clés, faire un historique de cette notion, et résumer ce que l’on sait sur l’objectivation sexuelle. Dans les articles suivant, je vais détailler certains aspects particuliers de cette objectivation. Définition et histoire d’un concept développé en philosophie La notion d’objectivation sexuelle est une notion centrale du féminisme contemporain. L’objectivation sexuelle survient quand une personne est considérée, évaluée, réduite, et/ou traitée comme un simple corps par autrui1,2. Emmanuel Kant Le premier à avoir introduit cette notion est le philosophe Emmanuel Kant3,4. Andrea Dworkin Catharine Mackinnon Martha Nussbaum 1. 2. Fangirl Isn’t a Dirty Word. It’s not easy being a modern fan. We’re battling decades of institutionalized sexism, racism, and imperialism. We’re working on it. We may still be struggling with all of the —isms but we’re clawing our way toward second wave fandom, particularly when it comes to female fans sharing the dais.
We recognize that women really do game, read comics and geek out over all the things guys geek out over. Google “fangirl” right now; chances are, your first hit is the charming Urban Dictionary definition: A rabid breed of human female who is obsessed with either a fictional character or an actor. Hugh Jackman: ‘ello. Fangirl: SQUEEEEEE! Jackman: Security! Even enlightened fans — who would never dare “fake geek girl” a woman — use the term with barely concealed contempt.
When Peter Capaldi was recently announced as the 12th Doctor, replacing Matt Smith, Doctor Who fandom brought this point home in a particularly virulent way. So, yeah. There are a couple of issues to unpack here. I’m a fangirl. On “strong” female characters.