I should be writing something about how the week has gone so far, but I came across this just now and there are some points I’d like to say.
Glee’s Girl Problems
It’s a pretty long read so I’ll only quote the statements I either agree or disagree on.
WARNING: If by some reason, the “Read More” link doesn’t work, I’m sorry. Skip this post in your Dash if you’re not interested. I don’t mind :) Thanks!
- “There was nary an admirable female character in sight…” - Disagree. At some point I did admire Quinn, especially during her pregnancy fiasco. I’m seeing this in a Filipino context, and we all know there’s a big debate about the RH Bill. Unwanted teenage pregnancy is ballooning, and many haven’t seen the adoption option. The route most taken? Abortion. Sure both options are evil, but there’s always the lesser one and that’s what Quinn did. At least, the child has a shot at her future (she’s with Ms. Corcoran, right?) If you’re Filipino and you’re saying “not all orphanages are THAT great” then maybe you can give him/her to a family or friend you trust. I mean, come on. You’d rather kill? … Thought so.
- ”...whereas Will, Kurt, and Finn (and Artie, to a certain extent) were (and still are) portrayed as saintly.” - Disagree. Will had a “relationship” with Emma while still with Terri. Kurt’s recent douchebaggery on Mercedes. Artie not listening to Tina’s wants in their relationship (remember Tina complaining and him answering “I was playing something-something, woman”). As for Finn, I honestly couldn’t find a grave evidence for his “unsaintliness” but his character is saintly bordering on dumb. I mean, really.
- “Glee never portrays girls’ sexuality in a positive light…” - Disagree, slightly. Rachel’s still a virgin, right? (If memory serves me right, nothing happened between her and Jesse?) SO LET FINN COMPLAIN ABOUT BLUE BALLS ALL HE WANTS. That’s the whole point of Rachel not putting out - she just doesn’t want to have sex yet. Even though she knows she gets Finn all hot, she won’t budge, won’t go all the way. She’ll make out, sure. But sex? Oh no not yet. Or not now. Or not with him.
- “…it’s healthy for boys to want sex, and for girls to not give it to them. It’s not healthy for girls to want sex.” - Disagree. Girls like sex too, TRUST ME. But you HAVE to admit we’re a bit more conservative about that part of our selves. Would you admit to everyone you watch porn? And there’s the patriarchal mentality which unfortunately, is evident not just in Glee, but in the real world. Guys can crave and want sex for all they want, but us girls? We don’t have to show it to everyone, don’t have to brag it. Though there’s also a feminist in me (hello, four years exclusive girls’ school), but there are some guy things that if girls start to do (be more vocal and upfront about sex, for example) it just doesn’t seem right. JS.
- “…or they’re too promiscuous – girls who gain a reputation as “whores,…” - Agree. Which is why I don’t like Santana’s character that much. I wish she’d just shut up about the times she couldn’t keep her knees together. I hope there’s a redeeming factor to her character coming up because really, every time I see her, SEX is written all over. Come on Ryan.
- “There’s the girl no one wants to imagine in a romantic situation at all, i.e. Mercedes…” - Agree. Recent episode. Need I say more? I felt so bad for Mercedes :(
- “However, we don’t see the same respect being paid to the show’s other non-straight characters, Santana and Brittany.” - Agree. But we go back to the patriarchal mentality. Biologically, Kurt and Blaine are still MALE characters, no matter their sexual preferences.
- “How can we not read some hurt and jealousy in Santana and Brittany’s actions?” - Agree.
- “…Santana is all too willing to jump back on the Noah Puckerman Express (because you know that’s what he calls his penis).” - because baby, she’s a slut so she goes both ways. So though she gives hints on getting and being with Brittany, she OBVIOUSLY cannot and will not pass the chance of missing The Express.
- “Shut up, Rachel, you harpy shrew!” - middle ground. I have a love-hate relationship with her, actually. I sometimes love her for standing up to her opinions, but I don’t like the means she uses to get what she wants (sending Sunshine to a crack house; always the “I’m the best, clearly” attitude). I mean, if I were in the Glee Club and she’s like that, OH MAN. What makes her character confusing I think is that she’s quick to redeem herself, or others do it for her (her Defying Gravity diva-off with Kurt and he intentionally screwed the high note; her reaching out to Kurt; “What I Did For Love”). So. Rachel. No solid comment.
- “What would’ve been way more interesting would be if Quinn didn’t need a guy.” - Agree. And I’m picking up after her pregnancy. It was supposed to be “this is my year, it’s all me”, right? I loved the fact that she reclaimed her being HBIC. If she stuck to what she said when Sam started moving on her, THAT would be interesting. It would be nice to see a cheer captain not getting it on with anyone. If anything, I think Quinn would be a good springboard for “you can be pretty, popular, and have no boyfriend” mentality. Since time immemorial, American fiction has portrayed cheerleaders as everything perfect. Cheerleaders always get the jocks. The quarterback. The team captain. For once, show us a cheerleader who doesn’t fit that stereotype. That she owes her being HBIC because she’s not shallow and doesn’t need a man by her side to be popular.
- The whole Mercedes-Kurt scenario - Agree. I hated, HATED that storyline. Granted that they have valid reasons as to why they’re not giving Mercedes any love, why can’t they write a good storyline for her? There MUST be something for her. There must be a follow-up to this scenario (but then again, Glee has a knack for leaving plot holes wiiiiiiddde open).
So the point is, there’s still so much room for Glee to grow, I just wish what the Gleeks are saying in their blogs make their way to Ryan and his gang. I think the keyword is REDEEM, especially for the characters (Santana! Quinn! Wake up!)
Maybe shy away from pair-ups for a while, and focus on developing individual characters? Like maybe a couple of back stories for the unnoticed ones? (We have an idea of Kurt’s, Rachel’s…well, who else’s?) I’d also love to see how Will and Terri will work out.
Don’t stop believing; hold on to that feeling that Glee will work this out. In the meantime, there’s the songs to distract you from all this. LOL.
*WOW. A semi-content analysis?? Starved the hell out of me, so I’m heading to dinner. :)*
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This is Lai. She's 24 and is currently consuming Glee in doses you can't imagine. Her love for purple is unconditional, but so is for writing, malling and eating.
This is her brain's alternate universe. Welcome.
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