The good ship I don't know what

[elaby]

(OMG two posts in one night! What madness is this?)

I've been thinking about fandom - shipping, in particular - and probably this is a fairly rudimentary conclusion to come to, but it was something of a revelation for me. I often feel guilty that, when it comes to Western-culture movies and television, I pretty much only ship guys (and the rare opposite-gender couple - I'm looking at you, Amy and Rory OTP forever). In fact, I've always favored male characters disproportionately over female characters. And I thought, god, that's awful! I'm a girl, for heaven's sake, and a lesbian at that, and my favorite characters are still all men? The sexism I show in my own entertainment preferences is disturbing.

And while it's true that this is sexist of me - I'm not trying to excuse it away - it's also a societally cultivated sexism. In mainstream TV and movies, there are far greater numbers of interesting, well-developed, central male characters than there are female. It's not fair, and we're trying to change it, but it's reality. And because of that, there are far greater numbers of meaningful relationships between two male characters than there are between two female characters.

In the end, that's what I ship for: meaningful relationships. I don't dare hope that same-sex characters will be shown in canonically romantic partnerships (lately I get frustrated and down-hearted and resentful of pairings that purposely flirt too close to that edge with no hope of actualization) but the meaningful relationships are undeniably there. Women on TV and in movies are so rarely given enough of themselves, separate and apart from the men in their lives, to develop meaningful relationships with other women. It's the Bechdel Test principle - in order to past the test, there have to be two women in the show or movie who have at least one conversion about something other than a man. This happens so rarely that female characters don't get to develop on their own, and so they don't get to develop the kind of heart-pounding, squee-inducing, shiptastic relationships with each other that men do.

I admit that I have a pretty small range of experience with Western TV and movies. The only exceptions I can think of are:

- Xena and Gabriele
- Inara and Kaylee

I've never even SEEN Xena. (I'm thinking I should remedy this.) I guess Willow and Tara should fall under this category, but they're TRAGIC and so I don't think I'd get much joy out of shipping them. LiveJournal friends, I know you've seen more TV and movies than me! What ladies do you ship, or consider shippable? I'd love to have a few more pairings to add to the list, just to prove they exist.

As an interesting side note, I have no trouble shipping girls from anime or from Western TV shows meant for kids, like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. And you know why? It's because MLP:FIM and Sailor Moon and Utena and Yuru Yuri and Madoka and the like PASS THE BECHDEL TEST. The girls in these shows are developed on their own outside of the influence of a central male naturally-more-important-than-them character.

That's it, I've got to find out if Xena is on Netflix.

Comments

[neva-butterfly.livejournal.com]

I really don't "ship" at all, but I know what you mean about predominate male characters--I often identify more with male characters than female. So often female characters are shallow characters, all style, maybe a tragic backstory, but less development.

That said, you should watch Lost Girl.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I'll have to check it out :) Thanks!

[fiery-lioness.livejournal.com]

Yes, Xena is on Netflix. No the really fun, off the wall, musical episodes are not. That being said... There is something so nice about this post. *hug*

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Oh good, I'm glad it's on Netflix! I'll have to see if I can find the musical episodes on the internets or something :) I'm really glad you enjoyed the post! <3

[willow-cabin.livejournal.com]

Super-interesting and thought provoking! And your side note in the last paragraph: SO TRUE. Honestly, I don't ship characters often. Really, only in MLP and anime, probably for the same reasons you stated. The stuff we watch is pretty limited to documentaries or movies/shows with LGBT content. I too get frustrated when same-sex characters are *almost* together but "jk, lol, not really, not ever." :/ I mean, it's fun to ship them for a while, but then it becomes sad, because you realize it's never going to happen.

But yes--Xena is amazing! :)

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *hugs*

when same-sex characters are *almost* together but "jk, lol, not really, not ever." :/ I mean, it's fun to ship them for a while, but then it becomes sad, because you realize it's never going to happen.

SERIOUSLY, THIS. Ugh, I feel like this didn't use to bother me as much, but it really does now.

I HAVE to see Xena :)

[aerialmelodies.livejournal.com]

There was Brittany and Santana in Glee, but of course Glee fell into stereotypes and common tropes while "Brittana" as it was dubbed died off (like every relationship on that show, really). It's weird because everything started out with the perfect set up then egos stepped in and the show got weird. :\ I also get the vibes that Michonne and Andrea from The Walking Dead were more than friends, but it's never stated outright so it's just what I'm reading between the lines.

Granted I don't really ship at random but rather infer from clues presented in the show, but you are correct that it's hard to find women of any sexual preference being strong without a man in a lead or supporting role. Xena definitely bucked that trend as well as Buffy, but it's hard to find anything in recent years that is similar. Doctor Who comes close in that it's the Doctor (currrently a man) who is more in need of a companion who is to date nearly always a woman, but sometimes the women on the show cling to him in return like a bad boyfriend they can't shake. I love that the entire show treats all sexual preferences as the norm and no one bats an eye, but despite having strong females there is still some cliche happenings going on. Oh, Vastra and Jenny! They are a married lesbian couple and have one of the best scenes ever in the 2012 Christmas episode of Doctor Who. They rarely show up, though, so I almost forgot about them, which is tragic because they are witty and awesome together.

It's rare that I watch movies these days so I really don't know which ones would have strong female leads. I can think of some movies with strong female leads and zero romantic interludes for that female lead, but none would make a couple because, well, there's very little to pull two and two together if that makes sense. Anyway, you're right, and all I could really think of at first were a ton of anime characters from the 90s. Even ones who shared the lead role with a male were often very smart, witty, and could hold their own if the male role were removed. Would be nice if our TV shows were the same. :(

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I forgot about Brittany and Santana! I liked what I saw of them, but I knew the drama was too extravagant for them to last. I don't ship at random either, which is why I need meaningful relationships to ship two characters... and that's why it's so hard to find female pairings that have any canon precedent. I definitely have to see Xena!

I love Doctor Who, and I like to think it can do no wrong, but I know it has its problems (including the "clingy companion" thing you mentioned). Rachel mentioned Vastra and Jenny to me when I was talking to her about this, and I'd forgotten about them - I'll have to go rewatch their scenes again :) Thank you for commenting! I loved reading all your thoughts <3

[avocado-wish.livejournal.com]

I think you said it -- there simply aren't many good female characters that aren't confined to the narrowly accepted tropes. They all have to look and act in ways that are sexually appealing to a male audience, or they aren't allowed to exist. I'm generally much more interested in male characters. Then again, if I actually had options ...

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's really frustrating that so many women are looking for compelling female characters but there are so few that we all end up liking male characters better. I don't think preferring male characters is BAD, it's just, like you said, we need options, and in order for women to be treated equally, we need to be seen as equal in media.

off-topic; saw this and thought you might like

[med_cat]

Thought you and caitirin might like to see this knit pattern:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62587530/adorable-sherlock-holmes-girly-doll-pdf?ref=sr_gallery_21&ga_search_query=sherlock+holmes&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=19&ga_search_type=all

:)

Re: off-topic; saw this and thought you might like

[elaby.livejournal.com]

That is ADORABLE! Thank you for showing me!

Re: off-topic; saw this and thought you might like

[med_cat]

My pleasure ;) Think either one of you will try making one? ;)

[hak42.livejournal.com]

Deep Space Nine and Voyager are two shows that immediately came to mind. Kira/Dax and Janeway/Seven were popular ships.

Hmmm...I haven't seen Cagney and Lacey in years, so memory might be skewing the show, but I recall quite liking it.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

OMG, Janeway and Seven. Now that you point that out, I bet I could see it - we just need to re-watch Voyager! I haven't seen any episodes since I was in high school, if not earlier... I don't know if I could ship Kira/Dax as I'm all for Kira and Odo ^^;; I'd have to see some episodes with them interacting, though.

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

Grey's Anatomy has a lot of strong female characters, as well as a married lesbian couple. The main problem with the show is that it's basically a soap opera - a well-written one most of the time, but still, a soap. Callie and Arizona (the lesbian couple) are quite realistically portrayed, as far as any of the characters are, IMO. If I was inclined to do a non-canon ship, I'd ship Christina and Meredith, because they have a much deeper and stronger bond than they do with their (male) significant others.

Criminal Minds also has strong female leads, and although I don't personally ship any of them, I think it could be done.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thank you for recommending those! I'm glad to hear those shows have good female characters. And THANK GOODNESS for some lesbians in a normal relationship that aren't "issue" characters!