Buffy's Gender

[wiccawhowonta]

So obviously Buffy's a girl but-

The other day I was introducing one friend to another. Both Buffy fans one a guy and one a girl. We started talking about which Buffy character we identified with most. I said Buffy, She said Tara, and he said Buffy. She called him out because Buffy's a girl and she thought it was weird that he identified with her most, basically insinuating that he was wrong, "like how could you possibly identify with this symbol of feminism?" or like he was automatically gay or effeminate.

He said that there really weren't any men he could identify with on the show. Giles- too fatherly, Xander- too unmotivated/willing to follow, Angel- too broody, Oz- not enough character development, Spike- Closest, but no cigar. Buffy to him is an inter-gendered character with almost equal masculine and feminine characteristics - thought process, interactions, problem solving and that he thinks of her less as a woman and more of a person. Because of her complexities and astereotypical tendencies he sees her as one of the most if not the most realistic hero every depicted. I couldn't help but add fuel to his fire and pointed out that she was created and written by Joss Whedon an man and brought to life by Sarah Michelle a woman. We knew we had changed her perspective when she abruptly changed the subject.

I don't know I just thought it was an interesting discussion. I don't completely agree with him either, just that it's possible for people of any gender and orientation to identify with any character on the show. Any thoughts on this?

[CourtneyDax]

That's a really interesting topic actually. I mean, what effect does gender have on relating to the Buffy characters? I don't know about everyone else, but I find some emotional aspects of Buffy's life to be relatable, but not as much as the other female characters on the show.
Honestly, I'm really interested to hear from our Super Scholar SlayAlivers here. ;D

[tkts]

Jun 13, 2010 4:13:39 GMT -5 wiccawhowonta said:

Buffy to him is an inter-gendered character with almost equal masculine and feminine characteristics - thought process, interactions, problem solving and that he thinks of her less as a woman and more of a person.

Whoa there! I think if a person can leave seven seasons of Buffy thinking "Buffy's more like a man because she's a good thinker and she's good at problem-solving," they've largely missed the point. Which is that problem-solving, strategic thinking and all-around ass-kicking are not inherently masculine characteristics and can be exhibited by anyone.

The statement "less of a woman and more of a person" can be quite disturbing as well, depending on how you take it...

[wiccawhowonta]

I knew I didn't get his wording correct... I really think he meant typically/historically masculine and feminine traits. Like in the Tarot deck you got swords- masculine, thrusting, phallic, violent, strong, decisive, and cups- feminine, womblike, protective, maternal, yet also strong. Everyone has swords and cups in them (not literally of course-painful), but not all heroes and heroines have a good balance of the two. ie: Wolverine - too swordy, Strawberry Shortcake - too cuppy.

[Silver]

Alway thought of Buffy as pure female, admittedly that she has butch powers but then she is the 'Chosen One, the one girl in all the world yadda yadda yadda!'

[sosa lola]

It's not surprising. I'm a woman who identifies with Xander the most. I guess gender shouldn't really matter. I know a guy from another forum who identifies with Buffy as well.

[rufio]

Of course it doesn't matter. I identify with buffy in her societal role; male or female- she was an outcast and felt unable to change herself or her circumstance.
& i love her because she's so spunky & good hearted deep down & can kick ASS

[AngelFaith]

I don't think gender neccessarily plays a role in identifying/empathising with a character. In my experience and from talking with my friends, I figure we identify with the characters who have similar traits/experiences to us, regardless of gender.

[dusk3333]

Now this is my Kind of Topic. I spent all last summer doing research on Gender and Power Relations in the Realm of the Female Action Hero, which was published a few weeks ago in a scholarly Journal at the University I just graduated from. If it wasn't for the fact that the thing is so long, I would post it on here, because I talk about Buffy and Faith and Kendra in my paper, along with Alice from Resident Evil, The Halliwell Sisters of Charmed, Sarah Connor, Cameron (Summer Glau) on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The more recent short-lived Bionic Woman Series, Ripley from Aliens, and I think a couple more. I may go home and pull some stuff from it to post here, if anyone is interested in reading tidbits of my research on the subject.

And I promise, I'm not trying to self promote myself. I just love talking about this subject.

[Billie Erin]

I don't think this is unique to Buffy I don't think gender is a factor when considering who you relate to really, just personality and maybe age

[dusk3333]

exactly. Gender is a social construct. Nothing more.

[buffyfan21]

Given that I am a woman, I can obviously relate to Buffy a great deal. That being said, however, I think that Buffy transcends gender lines, just as Joss intended her to.

[dusk3333]

Yes, I agree. And one thing I especially loved was the way they handled Buffy (Sarah) with the camera. The never fragmented her to boost sex appeal like so many other movies and shows featuring a strong female lead do. They never showed just bits and pieces of her all chopped up (scantily clad legs, breasts, etc.) They kept her whole and woman. Yes, Buffy dressed highly feminine and sometimes sexual, but they never emphasized that aspect of her.