I've been pondering all the ways girls and women are seeing female protagonists they can relate to: strong, capable and accepting their call to adventure, and how often boys and men are treated as set-pieces in those stories.
I get that this is correcting an imbalance. I celebrate stories that are giving women glimmers of their potential.
But if women know the cost of hollow, cardboard-cut-out representation, are they really comfortable with boys and men being treated this way?
Where are the stories of men which complicate simplistic narratives, which dig into extrinsically-imposed expectations, limitations and obligations, and which deeply challenge social/societal masculine stereotypes?
I mean, why are we so comfortable with masculine gender essentialism, after feminine gender essentialism has been so successfully deconstructed?
I believe that for men to flourish as complex humans, we need to stop telling them they're simple.
@sumpnlikefaith I am really straining to see your argument here. I am all about desconstructing gender essentialism and challenging stereotypes, but how is this women’s sole responsibility? Last time I checked, male hegemony in arts and culture was still pretty firmly in place. If you want better stories, tell better stories 🤷🏻♀️
@Satchelpooch Sorry, it's definitely not women's sole responsibility.
Indeed, responsibility probably isn't the right word.
I see an opportunity for mutuality in this cultural pivot-point. And I'm seeing it being missed. I'm not trying to impose blame or fault. Mine is more of a lament.