April 20, 2008 at 9:09 am · Filed under Digital Culture, Extended, Feminism
Interesting post at the xkcd blog about films with 2 female leads (or rather, the lack of such films).
There were about 110 movies with a male lead and 5 with a female lead. Of the second-billed females, nearly all are written as love interests of the first-billed man.
The analysis is fascinating, but the comments are what really illustrate the issues at stake. Especially given that xkcd has a history of challenging the status quo as far as gender and science/math are concerned, I found it odd that so many fans are so quick to dismiss the analysis and say things like this:
Yay! Now we can end up with more movies like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sweetest_Thing ! O frabjous day!
Hard to believe. Almost as hard to believe as the recent brou-ha-ha over at feministing that erupted after the public relations officer (yes, public relations) of Southern Illinois University’s College Republicans (yes, Republicans!) sent hatemail to the tune of “Men are smarter than women! Science! Cunts!!”
Link to xkcd blog on films with two female leads.
Link to feministing smackdown of sexist pig.
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TChem wrote @ April 20th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I found that XKCD entry really interesting too. My experience with male nerds has mostly been that they’re more willing to consider, er, “outsider” viewpoints than your standard fit-in-ski. I find them more likely to be openly feminist or doing non-male-normative things. But when I see really strong negative responses like that from people I have something in common with (here, just a webcomic, but one that involves having a lot of shared cultural knowledge), it does make me get a little paranoid about what the men at the anime club or in the lab are *really* thinking when I chat with them, y’know? Or do those guys think that female geeks are an entirely different species, some third gender that neither watch corny romantic comedies nor pee standing up?
firepile wrote @ April 20th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Yeah, it’s really baffling to me. This response made me a little queasy:
Since men buy most of the movie tickets (either for themselves, or their dates, or their wives), the industry has to cater to the men, or at least to the relationship the men are investing in by buying the tickets. Action, thriller and sci-fi movies will make money by mainly catering to male audiences. Romantic (and to a lesser extent horror) movies tend to cater to couples, and again the man pays. However, all-girl movies (Ya-Ya Sisterhood, ugh) won’t make as much money, because women don’t want to go to the movies alone, and don’t want to pay for the tickets themselves if they can get a guy to pay instead.
Maybe the female geeks are “the exception that proves the rule” to these guys? I don’t know. I’d like to think this isn’t the STANDARD thought on the matter, but given how many responses on xkcd, of all places, are of this particular sickening flavor, it really doesn’t give me much hope.
AnneC wrote @ April 21st, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Funny you should mention the “exception” thing. Of all the other females I tend to associate with, most are geeks. And basically ALL of us have been told a zillion times how “rare” we are and what “exceptions” we are.
Seriously, I would love to see the day when we DON’T get that reaction. Yes, we exist. Yes, there’s more than one of us. I know it’s a terrible shock and all, but the boys *really* need to get over it already. It’s like there’s some kind of memory wipe that occurs between encountering one geekgirl and the next, or something. I’m perfectly willing to be a data point, but not someone’s whole damn data set. 
firepile wrote @ April 21st, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Most of the girls that I know are VERY MUCH like me – I just don’t know where all of these “typical” girls are supposed to be!
AnneC wrote @ April 21st, 2008 at 8:51 pm
“Typical” girls? I’m pretty sure they live on MySpace, or something.
firepile wrote @ April 21st, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Yeah, the idea of being the “exception that proves the rule” was meant sarcastically – I know I have a skewed sample set, but I really think more girls are like us than not!
TChem wrote @ April 22nd, 2008 at 4:54 am
Yeah, the constant shock gets old. I’m never even the only female in the room when it happens.
Randall wrote @ April 22nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
It has come to our attention that this thread has exceeded its allotted female perspective. Please wait passively hold while the men begin shouting prepare a rebuttal. Ha! Re. Butt. Al. Ha!
-The Cabal
firepile wrote @ April 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I was getting worried – all our discussion doesn’t count until it’s validated by the male perspective! Especially on the internet!! Thank goodness the Cabal is here! 
Butt.
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