You gotta be fucking kidding me.

[laurashapiro]

OH FRINGE NO!!!

ETA: Spoilers in comments.

Comments

[laurashapiro]

I think it's the backlash. The further we come, the more the pendulum swings back.

[klia]

I've been really naive (or just plain dumb), but I guess I expected that sort of crap from certain factions, like the political right, but not from supposedly-liberal Hollywood types. It's been a sad and rage-inducing realization.

[laurashapiro]

I can't decide if they actually think this is romantic, themselves, or if they think their viewers will think so, or what. I mean, a certain type of man would think that this sort of storyline would appeal to women -- but then, Hollywood has consistently demonstrated that they aren't trying to appeal to women at all.

[klia]

I'm beginning to think it's me, and I'm part of a small faction of viewers who don't see this sort of stuff as romantic or appealing, or satisfying in any way. Because I've come to realize a lot of the female stereotypes we see portrayed in the media are actually true, which was a complete shock.

Like, a few weeks ago, the local paper had a piece about imagining movie versions of current TV shows that mentioned my current favorite network show, Person of Interest. And what did the female writer want to do with Taraji P. Henson's character, Det. Carter, who's awesome in her own right, and totally her own person? Shoehorn her into a romance with one of the two lead guys. And all I could think was, that's the best you can envision for Carter? Really? WTH?

It's especially sad for me when women buy into and perpetuate this crap.

[laurashapiro]

Based on the reactions I've seen to Fringe this week, I don't think it's just you. Even the people I know who are serious Peter-Olivia 'shippers were appalled at the way this was handled and what it implied about Olivia as a person.

Of course, I'm sure there's a bulk of viewers, male and female, who don't see anything wrong with it -- and wouldn't care if they did.

There are always going to be women who "fit the profile", and men too. It's pretty hard to escape the stereotypes we are raised with. My nieces love pink sparkly shit no matter how aggressively their parents push the alternatives. But they also love reading and playing soccer and doing science experiments, which helps.

But that's why media representation matters. As it is, my sister and her spouse are fighting an uphill battle against what TV tells these girls they can be. Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have that to fight against? It's not just little girls who suffer. Every woman and man is harmed by being put into a box.

Media fans tend to love romance (slash or het, whatever the flavor). That doesn't mean it's the only thing women want.