Article About Feminism on "BUFFY"

[LadyLavinia]

I found this interesting article about feminism on "BUFFY" from the SlayageOnline.com site - http://slayageonline.com/PDF/St._Louis_Riggs.pdf

 

[Wishing Oceans]

... I, granted, haven't finished reading at ALL yet, but so far I feel as though the writer missed the point.

The 'Older Women' in Btvs weren't as integrated into the plot because Buffy is a show about surviving adolescence.

Btvs is not a feminist's show because you can only be a 'Slayer' if you have ovaries, it's a feminist's show because it reverses the gender roles and supports the common belief of feminism- That both sexes are equal.

I'll write more, later.

 

[mrrout]

interesting article...
so, Buffy is not feminist, because it doesn't talk about menstruation, and because adolescent boys are not physically interested in overweight elderly women!


adolescent girls (in the show and in real life) are not usually attracted to overweight elderly men, and i don't see what a episode about menstruation would add to the show (is there an episode about voice change in adolescent boys? or growing of body hair?)

 

[DoughnutHole]

... I, granted, haven't finished reading at ALL yet, but so far I feel as though the writer missed the point.

The 'Older Women' in Btvs weren't as integrated into the plot because Buffy is a show about surviving adolescence.

Btvs is not a feminist's show because you can only be a 'Slayer' if you have ovaries, it's a feminist's show because it reverses the gender roles and supports the common belief of feminism- That both sexes are equal.

I'll write more, later.

Very well said.

Feminism comes in many forms. BtVS is only representative of some of those forms... but, as a feminist, I do consider it a feminist series.

It started out very much in the same vein as the Girl-Power movement. Empowered women. I think the fact that a character like Buffy, who found strength in her emotions, is a huge factor in that. Women are discredited for being over-emotional, and here were have a leading girl who not only greatly benefits from her emotions, but also uses them to her advantage. That is a HUGE deal, IMO.

I really appreciate Joss. There's often a belief that only women can be feminists, but I think Joss is living proof that that is not necessarily a truth. He also surrounds himself with intelligent women. I think that, as far as feminist icons go, Buffy is a fantastic example. And as a woman who grew up with the show, it's been an empowering force in my life.