Qhyrrae Michaelieu wrote:
"I also identified with the male protagonists. I wonder how that affects
one's sense of being a woman, when the positive role models you have are
almost all male. Does it lead to a rejection of the female or a
transcendence of gender?"
Excellent question! In speaking with women about childhood and teen
reading habits and the lack of female models, some say they never ID'd with
male "heroes." They rejected those stories and instead sought out fiction
with strong female characters. I always identified with the male
characters, and recall becoming disoriented when the protagonist formed
relationships with women, or weak female characters appeared. One could do
both--reject the female stereotype AND transcend gender (the first doesn't
preclude the second)--and view oneself and others as humans first, females
or males second. At least, some of us appear to be much better than men
generally are at acknowledging and emphasizing the commonalities among
humans, rather than focusing on the differences (gender, race, class,
sexual orientation). Perhaps having few female role models contributes to
this attitude. Or, it could be a matter of developing the skills necessary
to survive as a member of a subordinate class--know your oppressors! Or
simply fulfilling the mediator role expected of females?
Qhyrrae Michaelieu wrote:
"But now almost all of what I read is written about women characters and
written by women. I see it as the need to redress all the old imbalances
of what was available when I was a kid."
I too read mostly female authors now, although for a different reason. The
works of many male authors bore me or infuriate me.
Judith
*************************************************************************
Dr. Judith Ann Little Philosophy Department SUNY-Potsdam
Potsdam, NY 13676-2294 littleja@potsdam.edu
***********************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu May 25 2000 - 19:05:56 PDT