[fandom] Supernatural and Bones

Supernatural, "Time is on My Side"

( spoilers )

The season finale isn't up yet, of course, and I'm not sure I'm even looking forward to it. Supernatural continues to frustrate me to no end.

And there are lots of reasons why, which other people are saying so much better than I can right now!

trollprincess has analyzed gendered insults used in the series.

Season One | Season Two | Season Three

Here's the summary.

But basically here's what it looks like:

Season one -- Dean or Sam refer to a woman by a pejorative three times in twenty-two episodes.
Season two -- Dean or Sam refer to a woman by a pejorative three times in twenty-two episodes.
Season three -- Dean or Sam refer to a woman by a pejorative eighteen times in sixteen episodes.

People, there is some serious women-hating going on in Supernatural, and it has gotten so much worse this season. The first two look practically wonderful in comparison. I've always disliked the treatment of women in Supernatural, but it's so bad now it makes me sick.

Yes, I realize often the gendered insults are aimed at demons (and when fans say this, it seems to carry the implication that they deserve it), but that doesn't make a difference to me. What it does, over all, between the language and the way women are so often only allowed to be either victims or villains (and often virgin victims or whore villains), is make me feel like Supernatural doesn't want me. Like I am not welcome as a fan because I am a woman, and I am a woman who dislikes to hear gendered insults.

I don't think fans need to love all the women on the show (though it would be nice if certain vocal subsets of fandom [and not just Supernatural fandom] would deal with their issues with women), but I do think there is a serious problem.

medie has a response post to the numbers I found interesting.

cereta has a response to the responses to the numbers.

marinarusalka looks at the one-shot female characters in Supernatural.

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As for Bones, "The Wannabe in the Weeds" was also frustrating, and lostakasha has a good post on why Fat Pam bothered me so much.

[fandom] misogyny in Supernatural

Okay, I am disengaging with the discussion about misogyny in Supernatural (except maybe to link entries here) because I am about to start cursing at people. I am enfuriated, and at this point it is because so many fans who either don't see or don't care about the misogyny are telling us to sit down and shut the hell up, stop being whiny women, stop being PC, etc. and to stop watching the show and ruining it with our complaints.

You know what? It is my goddamn show too and if my complaints bother you so much, maybe it is because there is actually a problem with the show which you don't want to face. Even if there really isn't a problem (which there is, you'll never change my mind on that) how about you just stop reading the discussion instead of attacking us?

I love Supernatural. I loved it from the first moment I heard about it, because it deals with my favorite things: horror, complicated family relationships, road trips, good music, a hot car, attractive people, and on and on. I love Supernatural.

I am not some nebulous person who might be offended by the possible misogyny. I AM A WOMAN AND I AM OFFENDED. By the gendered insults, the presentation of women as victims or villains, virgins or whores, and other things.

I am offended and angry because I love this show, I am invested in it, and as a woman, I often feel hated and disrespected by it.

Goddamn fandom. Disengage now, Carla.