Buffy a girly show?

[hitnrun017]

Ok, so I'm making my friend watch the series because she was convinced it was just like Yugioh (idiot). So anyways, last week we got to Phases and when it ended she said Buffy was probably the most girly show she's ever seen, and she watches shows like The Hills and stuff. I was surprised because I never thought of Buffy as a girly show. I mean sure there are lots of things girls can relate to but I find there are also many things guys can relate to. Does anyone think of Buffy as a girly show, or does anyone else think my friend is crazy?

[xmadxscientistx]

Buffy is very multifaceted. On one hand, yes, it is very girly, particularly in the early seasons. On the other hand, it's also got a lot of themes that anyone of any gender can relate to.

[sunnydaler]

I never thought it was girly...

[airgirl]

I would say definitely not girly

Most of the big shows where the main character or characters are female, most recently desperate housewives or sex and the city have a mostly female audience. But then, their themes are girly.

I think Buffy transcends all that and anyone can relate to it, male or female. Also, I think in the sci-fi/fantasy genre, men are a bit more used to having positive female role models, than in regular drama or comedy.

[taraswizard]

Your friend is not necessarily crazy. However, on another bulletin board we had a discussion about the definition of a 'chick flick', and the best definition we could come up with was chick flick films are movies without car chases and without big damn explosions. Buffy only occassionally blows stuff up (Sunnydale HS, the Judge, Sunnydale) and IIRC no car chases. (IIRC the discussion concluded that both were necessary for the definition of 'non' chick flick).

HOw does my discussion relate to the original message, if your friend meant by calling BtVS girly that it was like a chick flick, then I guess the definition from the other bulletin board would apply.

[Lukee]

I would say Buffy wasn't a girly show. It has girl themes but it also has male themes too.

Like taraswizard said about about the blowing of the things up and such, you wouldn't really find that in a girly show.
What girl show do you see vampires, demons, keys. Etc being killed, fighting etc. I would say there more male themed then female.
However the show i think is not set to one gender, i think its a clash between them both.

[henzINNIT]

I think it's a girly show. Not as girly as it was perceived and often marketed, but it's quite girly.

[spikeluv13]

i dont think its girly at all. I mean you got the eye candy for everyone ( really...these people are pretty!!) and theres action, humor, as well as emotional stuff. My husband loves it and he is far from girly. He loves the action flicks, but also loves buffy.
I dont find it girly, unless enpowering women is girly

[chasmatic]

I think the earlier seasons of Buffy got a little girly at times, but that's because it's about a teenage girl and her teenage friends, some of which were girls!

But, there is definitely a balance. The show was an equal-opportunity-devastator, crushing the hopes, dreams, and relationships of all genders on the Hellmouth. And it's got thrills, chills, and gut-spills for everyone as well.

[angelvsspike]

I don't think it was girly . Like other people have said, the earlier seasons were a bit girly(themes for young girls )but since when has killing vampires and demons been girly . Your friend must be delusional if she thinks that Buffy is the most girly show ever.

[CowboyGuy]

The title of the show sounds "girly". But that's the trick! If you watch the show, and actually comprehend what is going on...you would see that it is anything BUT girly.

I wouldn't even say there are girly themes in the show. Just one aspect was Buffy herself wanting to do normal girl stuff. But she still didn't!

[Firecracker]

rofl The show is definitely girly. It centers around a straight female growing up. OF COURSE IT'S GONNA BE GIRLY.

Buffy fans need to get over themselves. The show was geared towards women, especially younger women. Helloooo -- girl power?

Just look at the fans; they're either girls or gay males (at least bi)...though there are the occasional straight male fans, it's rare.

Unfortunately, I'm one of those gay males...

[Lukee]

I hardly think we need to get over our selfs and all.
The theme of the show may be girl (the whole one girl in the whole world and so forth) but the show in a whole was not girl.
What girly shows have you seen that have monsters and fighting in it? Buffy is based around a girl yes which leads people to think it is but they have male themes too. Its not just girl this and girly that.

I mean hello Xander i would hardly call him girly. He's had a few storylines which i wouldnt call Girly.

[piecesofme]

Hmph. Interesting question!

Considering the earlier, high school, seasons of Buffy, I would have to agree that the show was somewhat on the more girly side. Though it did address teenage struggles for both genders, I just think they were more exclusively explored from a girl's perspective. Buffy, especially in the first season, was all about cute boys, going on dates, clothes, etc.

I mean, is it all bad that people classify a show as girly? In fact, when did "girly" take on this negative connotation? I think it's more offensive to women's empowerment when we're acting like girly themes are weak or otherwise lesser than the other above mentioned qualities.

Just my thoughts.

[dane5by5]

I don't think Buffy is "girly" in a traditional sense, I think it transcends the stereotypical television/movie formula like airgirl mentioned. It does deal with "girly" issues (I think womens issues would be a more accurate description), but I really think Buffy found a niche in television that had not existed beforehand. It was an eclectic mix of so many genres and themes that calling it a "girly" show would be quite derisive, which funnily enough was the response it recieved (originally) from the industry. But I think in retrospect most people with a understanding of film, art or even literature can appreciate Buffy on many different levels. That's what made it such a phenomenon.

piecesofme:

In my opinion the word "girly" in the context of television and film carries the connotations of the subject being immature, frivolous and superficial, not that it's negative. I think Buffy stood for the opposite, it was meaningful and profound, the only time it involved aspects of the aforementioned was when it was highlighting a theme or futhering character development. But then again, words carry many different connotations for different people. So if someone calls Buffy "girly" to them, that might be their way of expressing that the themes are empowering to girls. To me, it's quite demeaning.

[henzINNIT]

firecracker said:

rofl The show is definitely girly. It centers around a straight female growing up. OF COURSE IT'S GONNA BE GIRLY.

Buffy fans need to get over themselves. The show was geared towards women, especially younger women. Helloooo -- girl power?

Just look at the fans; they're either girls or gay males (at least bi)...though there are the occasional straight male fans, it's rare.

Unfortunately, I'm one of those gay males...

I agree with everything you said (I'm straight though, and totally cool with being a rarity hehe)

piecesofme said:

Hmph. Interesting question!

Considering the earlier, high school, seasons of Buffy, I would have to agree that the show was somewhat on the more girly side. Though it did address teenage struggles for both genders, I just think they were more exclusively explored from a girl's perspective. Buffy, especially in the first season, was all about cute boys, going on dates, clothes, etc.

I mean, is it all bad that people classify a show as girly? In fact, when did "girly" take on this negative connotation? I think it's more offensive to women's empowerment when we're acting like girly themes are weak or otherwise lesser than the other above mentioned qualities.

Just my thoughts.

What they said. And to all you ney-sayers. Just try to tell me that it's a manly show, lol

[Spartan:M-80]

your friend is crazy

[Dave the Vampire Slayer]

firecracker said:

Just look at the fans; they're either girls or gay males (at least bi)...though there are the occasional straight male fans, it's rare.

Hey! No fair.

[Ferg]

ctvampslayer said:

firecracker said:

Just look at the fans; they're either girls or gay males (at least bi)...though there are the occasional straight male fans, it's rare.

Hey! No fair.

Double no fair, my two best (straight and male) friends love the show, and of course I do too

[buffysmglover]

hitnrun017 said:

Ok, so I'm making my friend watch the series because she was convinced it was just like Yugioh (idiot). So anyways, last week we got to Phases and when it ended she said Buffy was probably the most girly show she's ever seen, and she watches shows like The Hills and stuff. I was surprised because I never thought of Buffy as a girly show. I mean sure there are lots of things girls can relate to but I find there are also many things guys can relate to. Does anyone think of Buffy as a girly show, or does anyone else think my friend is crazy?

Wow, I wish I would have looked at this thread sooner. Yugioh?! Jeez, some people are nutz. The only way Buffy is a girly show is if every man in it suddenly died. I relate to Xander. Few friends, trouble with girls, in the past crazy about one. I'm sure most males on the board can relate to one male character, and maybe learn something from them. If that makes Buffy a girly show, I'm out of the business.