Oxford University students on why we need feminism
“Tomboy” was a pretty popular term back when I was a kid, which has quickly disappeared. From what I recall, it caught on as a negative label. So the term vanished, thankfully, and to this day we still love girls who kick butt and we dub them strong female leads and heroines. Avatar the Last Airbender and Legend of Korra are both now famous for their strong female characters like Toph, Katara, Korra, Asami, Azula, and many more.
When I was little, the hardest thing for me to overcome was that “boyish” women were expected to also be sexually like males. I didn’t agree with that, and felt that regardless of sexual orientation, women should be able to do what any man can. Maybe that’s why I appreciate it all the more when female characters disguise themselves to prove a point.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Amanda Bynes in She’s the Man
Viola from She’s the Man – Takes on her twin brother’s identity at university in order to prove that she can play on the men’s soccer team.
A. C. Gaughen’s Scarlet – Is confused for a man as she fights beside Robin Hood in his gang after she runs from her unwanted past.
Elizabeth Swann from PotC – Disguises herself as a boy to fight alongside pirates.
Mulan – Takes her father’s place in the army to spare his life.
A. C. Gaughen’s Scarlet
What I love more than the disguise is the drive behind each of these women. The fact that they’re willing to go through innumerable hardships and risk everything to do what has been considered the “impossible,” to me, is infinitely inspiring.
On the surface, it might not seem like a big deal, but when you really think about it, stripping yourself of your gender and completely inverting your life while trying to keep a huge secret is about the biggest stake you could take on. I’d love to see more women kicking butt and excelling to prove equality. Only because I sincerely hope one day they will no longer need to, and feminism can be regarded with as much strength and power as masculinity.
-The Story Addict
My favorite female Ass kicker is Beatrix Kiddo (Black Mamba) From Kill Bill (Uma Thurman)
Nice! Haven’t seen it, but she sound like fun, haha. Thanks for getting my book, btw, really appreciate it
YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT?!!!!!!
Are you serious??
Drop everything now and go watch kill bill 1&2. It’s a mix of modern movies and vintage anime.
What are you waiting for? Go go go!!
Haha, I’m gonna have to
Great post, I love Mulan!
Thanks, Ruth!
What I love about Korra is that she’s strong but not a brat. I find that some shows create strong female characters but either make them scarred in some way (Oh, THAT’S why she’s so strong/masculine: she lost her family as a kid!) or into insufferable b–ches.
Korra, however, is strong, likable, and braver than most of the male characters on the show. She’s flawed–impulsive, stubborn, etc.–but that adds to her roundess.
Great post. Thanks for sharing, Maggie.
Thanks for the thoughts, Mike! I guess you’re right. I still think that our past shapes who we are, but I don’t think a tough girl absolutely has to have a tough past. Given what happens to those other heroines you mentioned, they could equally curl up in a shell and shake in fear. So how they respond to what happens to them, I think, is also part of their character. But that’s another story. Not sure how you’ll feel about my protagonist, haha, she’s got a fair share of issues. But she toughens up because she chooses to. She just has a lot of development ahead of her
You’re right about the cross-dressing raising the stakes. It always puts me on the edge of my seat. I’m a big fan of kickass female characters, as you might remember from my post on the subject (I think you commented, but it’s been a while ago). Great observations, Margaret!
Thanks for the thoughts, Vaughn! I do recall
I love that you mentioned Avatar/Legend of Korra! Such great shows, and such great role models for little girls (and grown up girls too!)
Love them both. It’s amazing what they did and continue to do with the female characters, they are so empowering. Thanks for the thoughts, Michelle!
Great post, Margaret.
Thanks, Emma
I love this blog post! I am writing a series about a female protagonist who finds her strength, kicks ass, and still retains her femininity not because it is socially acceptable, but because that is who she is.
Thanks! That’s awesome
I think that’s an important message for many girls. Best of luck! Hope to see it soon.