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Larp: The Battle for Verona
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Archive > Why are women often cast as weak in Geek lit?

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message 1: by Justin (new) - added it

Justin Calderone My novel LARP: The Battle for Verona (available on amazon and bn.com) is a YA fantasy novel that deals with the topic of social acceptance and bullying.

Unlike novels like Twilight and The Hunger Games, the women in my novel are strong, decisive characters. Jen is a LARPer who is well respected, sexy and a force on the battlefield. Alyssa is smart, sexy and a well respected career woman.

As I am sure you know, people with interests or hobbies that are different than the norm are often treated badly in society. Labels like "geek" "nerd" and "dork" are often applied, in a negative way, to people with unique interests.

So, my two questions to everyone are...why does society as a whole judge and mistreat people with unique interests...and, why are women often portrayed as weak (Twilight, Hunger Games) in Geek lit?


message 2: by Stefani - SpelingExpirt, White Rabbit (new)

Stefani - SpelingExpirt (speling_expirt) | 305 comments Mod
First of all - I don't think women in the Hunger Games are weak. They are strong and thankfully never portrayed as sexy.

Your description of your strong female leads as sexy objectifies them within a predominately male gaze and therefore prevents them from representing this strong independence that you supposedly seek. These women may fight well on the battlefields but if they are as objectifies as your description makes out then you are yet another male author promoting female dominance in the sexual space rather than promoting strong women across all fields. I find your description offensive and somewhat misogynistic.

May I remind you that she-geeks is a group made of predominately women to celebrate the books, graphic novels and manga that promote women in a positive light that is neither weak nor sexually objectified nor in strong positions only in relation to men. I'd appreciate it if your future posts and indeed your future publications respect the members of this group.

You're obviously reading the wrong YA and fantasy books if you see the women in them as weak and if your only examples are Twilight and the Hunger Games.

I also hope that you started this to generate an actual discussion and not promote your book as promoting your book is frowned upon here.


message 3: by Justin (new) - added it

Justin Calderone Sorry but I disagree. Katniss is extremely weak. Physically she's strong, but emotionally she is a stereotypical woman. She loves Gail...wait, no it's Peeta...but it's really Gale! Again, stereotype.

Misogynistic? So it's abusive toward women? Again, I disagree. In fantasy action literature, you usually see one of two types of women: 1) A woman who is sexy, but can't take care of herself 2) A woman who is unattractive, or butch, and is physically aggressive. The women in my novel are true, and show that a woman can be BOTH attractive and competent. In essence, the women in my novel are progressive 21st century women, not a stereotype.

Finally, this discussion was generated to promote my novel through thoughtful discussion. It is my belief that an artist has a responsibility to address controversial issues, in an attempt to add a fresh perspective.


message 4: by Stefani - SpelingExpirt, White Rabbit (new)

Stefani - SpelingExpirt (speling_expirt) | 305 comments Mod
The fact that you even use the words stereotypical woman are offensive. And you clearly are reading the wrong YA fic if you think that is all women are in stories. Please check your male privilege at the door and understand the she-geek rules regarding self-promotion.


message 5: by Anna (Bananas) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 757 comments I'm more annoyed by the blatant self promotion and attention grabbing of this thread title. What is it with GR and incessant author self promotion? Ugh


message 6: by Anna (Bananas) (new)

Anna (Bananas) | 757 comments Imo this thread should be deleted due to our rules about promotion in the group.


message 7: by Stefani - SpelingExpirt, White Rabbit (new)

Stefani - SpelingExpirt (speling_expirt) | 305 comments Mod
Agreed, I just couldn't get off my ranty feminist high horse long enough to do it. Damn authors and their rule breaking.


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