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so in the 'not like other girls' trope, a character usually eshews traditionally feminine pastimes & aesthetics because she views herself as being above said things while very much adhering to them, at least enough that she doesn't read too queer
this sucks, we know this
this sucks, we know this
when people rightfully dunk on this trope, the move seems to be emphasizing that said feminine pastimes and aesthetics are meaningful and powerful, which like, sure. i worry however that this rhetoric can and does swerve hard in a bioessentialist direction regardless of intent
& make it seem like certain things Ought to go with empowerment, that those things are the superior womanly way, and that a character who espouses nonconformity without follow thru would be better off full feminine 100% of the time, as "man" traits are framed as the issue here
i think it'd be rad if we. were as loud about the radical possibilities of writing these characters in a genuinely gender nonconforming direction? that's the other issue with this trope, it always makes sure u know she is capable of conformity if need be
this trope is damaging in multiple directions, n only defending one half can wind up making the other half (which is. vulnerable in ways that cishetero femininity is typically not) outside of representative possibility, obscured with 'man' traits, whatever those are
idk. who is in a more precarious position w/representation in fiction? girls who like embroidery in period pieces or girls who aren't fully legible as girls in period pieces? do you have the same verve for defending both categories? is this part of yr critique?
leading with your particular intervention -- 'i find X trait reductive and overdone' -- is more useful than 'i find masculine/mannish/etc traits reductive and overdone' because it makes clear u mean. idk violence or smth
and not 'i'm done w/masc women'
and not 'i'm done w/masc women'
"sapphomancer didn't u write this thread like a week ago"
unfortunately yes
god can u imagine there being so many butches running around in fiction that it was annoying people. i yearn
unfortunately yes
god can u imagine there being so many butches running around in fiction that it was annoying people. i yearn
