I've read this in Tumblr about Xander and feminism written by rrrambleon. Here's the link to the original post. I've really enjoyed it because it says exactly what I feel about Xander's character and what Joss' goal was when creating him. I do think that Joss missed a little in the execution of Xander's journey, but overall, he created a good character in a feminist story.
"Let's talk Buffy and feminism for just half-a-sec. Besides the more obvious reasons why Buffy can be considered a positive feminist-friendly television show such as the actual female characters, can I just mention Xander?
Why Xander? Because he wasn't your typical macho-man character. He wasn't about mystery or money or even obvious good-looks (although I think Xander was a cutie). Xander was the only one in the group who, basically, was your ordinary person. He didn't have magic, extreme book smarts, computer-hacking skills or super human strength. So what was he to the Scoobies? He was the emotional glue. He was the glue that held the group together. He was a well-rounded male character, allowing him to be emotional and sensitive, not just one-note funny man or macho man.
He was there as a shoulder to cry on. He helped Dawn when she was feeling rejected and insignificant. He was the emotional anchor that was able to pull the humanity back out of Dark Willow when it seemed like she was completely gone. He didn't have strength or any powers to stop Dark Willow ending the world, he just had words. He just had love. And he wasn't afraid to show it and be sensitive. He showed strength so different from the physical, he showed extreme courage to continue to be there for someone who was basically trying to kill him, he showed love even when there was not love being showed to him. Xander's strength as a man came not from his muscles but from his heart (well the heart is a muscle if you wanna get all technical here but y'know what I mean).
Also, after Faith used him for sex, he felt, well"¦used. His feelings were hurt. Which highlights the fact that men can find emotion and meaning in sex, ignoring the harmful thinking that men are all "horn-dogs". Again, Xander was sensitive but well-rounded, so that it didn't become a one-note thing but represented a man as a complete person, a complete, emotional, loving person.
I dunno, it's just refreshing to see a show where the action heroes are the women and the male characters roles are not just to flex their muscles and look burly. Compare it to other action-hero/super-hero-esk shows and movies and see why Xander is unique and actually representative of real men.
Women are often reduced to one-note character traits in movies, why would we want that to happen to the men? Remember, sexism and gender expectations hurt all genders. And as a feminist, I get sick of the uber-butch, macho, tough guy persona men are expected to embody. It hurts me as a woman for the way I'm treated and it hurts men too.
Xander redefines the masculinity we're used to seeing in mainstream media, in my opinion."
"Let's talk Buffy and feminism for just half-a-sec. Besides the more obvious reasons why Buffy can be considered a positive feminist-friendly television show such as the actual female characters, can I just mention Xander?
Why Xander? Because he wasn't your typical macho-man character. He wasn't about mystery or money or even obvious good-looks (although I think Xander was a cutie). Xander was the only one in the group who, basically, was your ordinary person. He didn't have magic, extreme book smarts, computer-hacking skills or super human strength. So what was he to the Scoobies? He was the emotional glue. He was the glue that held the group together. He was a well-rounded male character, allowing him to be emotional and sensitive, not just one-note funny man or macho man.
He was there as a shoulder to cry on. He helped Dawn when she was feeling rejected and insignificant. He was the emotional anchor that was able to pull the humanity back out of Dark Willow when it seemed like she was completely gone. He didn't have strength or any powers to stop Dark Willow ending the world, he just had words. He just had love. And he wasn't afraid to show it and be sensitive. He showed strength so different from the physical, he showed extreme courage to continue to be there for someone who was basically trying to kill him, he showed love even when there was not love being showed to him. Xander's strength as a man came not from his muscles but from his heart (well the heart is a muscle if you wanna get all technical here but y'know what I mean).
Also, after Faith used him for sex, he felt, well"¦used. His feelings were hurt. Which highlights the fact that men can find emotion and meaning in sex, ignoring the harmful thinking that men are all "horn-dogs". Again, Xander was sensitive but well-rounded, so that it didn't become a one-note thing but represented a man as a complete person, a complete, emotional, loving person.
I dunno, it's just refreshing to see a show where the action heroes are the women and the male characters roles are not just to flex their muscles and look burly. Compare it to other action-hero/super-hero-esk shows and movies and see why Xander is unique and actually representative of real men.
Women are often reduced to one-note character traits in movies, why would we want that to happen to the men? Remember, sexism and gender expectations hurt all genders. And as a feminist, I get sick of the uber-butch, macho, tough guy persona men are expected to embody. It hurts me as a woman for the way I'm treated and it hurts men too.
Xander redefines the masculinity we're used to seeing in mainstream media, in my opinion."
