Check out Jezebel's list of the Top 20 Feminist TV Characters of All Time.
A little on their commonalities (that reflect mainstream American feminism's ongoing race and class biases):
In doing research for this, we noticed that a lot of these women had characteristics in common. Almost all of them are middle class. Many of them are educated and somewhat socially awkward. A lot of them are either nerdy, or have nerdy pasts, and can be annoying. But unfortunately, all of them — including the animated ones — are Caucasian. Worse still, only three of the females listed below are characters on shows currently on air. It's sad that in the past 30 years, feminism hasn't even managed to get two dozen recurring characters on television to admit to being part of the movement.
It's also important to note that their criteria for this list is that the characters "openly flew their feminist flags," i.e. they're not just looking for strong women here. They're looking for women who "spoke openly about being feminists or feminism."
Who do you think should or shouldn't have made the list? I'm a little shaky on the choice of Jessie from Saved by the Bell...
Posts
En İyi Kaçak Bahis Siteleri
9 months ago
2 comments:
We are so synchronized! I have a quote from the Simpsons that I've been keeping to show you. Perfect moment! It's from the episode "Four Great Women and a Manicure" from this season (the 20th). So, from the title, you already get the feminist theme. At the beginning Marge is taking Lisa to get her first manicure, something Lisa finds way to feminine. To prove her point, she says "Isn't it more important for a woman to be smart and powerful than beautiful?" Marge, in her homely way rebuts with "Oh...a woman can be smart, beautiful, AND powerful....like Queen Elizabeth the First. She had it all except the most important thing." Lisa: "Please don't say "a man."" Marge: "Nooooooo...a husband!" Lisa smacks forehead!
Love it!
This is tough. I don't like the limitations to only women who spoke about being a feminist or feminism. That's lazy. It negates the core question anytime feminism comes up and that should be: What does feminism mean (to you)? And I know for me it isn't a one sentence answer. So I'll say this in relationship to the theme of this post...
A part of feminism (or being a feminist which I put in parathesis because it is a term one has the liberties to declare for themselves or not) is the *challange* or *struggle* or *questioning* of patriarchal limitations placed on women in conjunction with their race, class, sexual orientation, ability (mental and physical) status, and so forth... what it means to be a woman and your *self identification and determination with the common denominator being your sex.
A little girl simply asking the question of 'why do must everyone dress me in pink when I would rather wear green?' is an inherent, feminist act. To try to answer that question and take it a step further with reading, social observation, and your own thought processes is where things because layered and there is no right, wrong, or even whole answer. Feminism is a woman's navigation in the world.
I think every, single one of their picks can be debated. Some less than others.
The problem with the inclusivity of race and ethnicity is that there are so few roles that women of color occupy in television, historically and present. In addition it seems most are marginalized stereotypes that don't allow much room for feminist overtones but give me a minute, I may think of some ;)
Post a Comment