Been seeing this a lot in the reviews of romance novels online and in the daytime soap opera fandom - two cultural medium that predominately attract women.
The Romance genre is fascinating because it really does explore how women view both genders and how they deal with it more so than any other genre...mainly because the focus is on female relationships.
In so many reviews - female reviewers will slice female characters apart. Rip them to shreds. Particularly if the female character is not cast in a traditional female role. Subversive romance novels get a lot of criticism. There's also a lot of understated and subtle misogyny and sexism in the genre -- written by women writers. Where the male lead is worshiped and the female criticized until she bows to his will and lets him take her over.
Then...there's the daytime soap opera fandom. And oh dear. One leading actress (plays Robin on GH and has since she was well 8 years of age, now she's in her 40s) - received an email from a female fan informing her that she should look into plastic surgery for her "turkey neck". The actress has been getting ribbed for weight gain, or not looking beautiful by "female" fans. This happened in the Buffy fandom as well - female fans attacked Amber Benson, who played Tara, for being too heavy. (Not male fans, who actually liked her - female fans.) Meanwhile, Hurly on Lost, or Seth Rogan, or various heavyset male actors barely get any criticism.
no subject
The Romance genre is fascinating because it really does explore how women view both genders and how they deal with it more so than any other genre...mainly because the focus is on female relationships.
In so many reviews - female reviewers will slice female characters apart. Rip them to shreds. Particularly if the female character is not cast in a traditional female role.
Subversive romance novels get a lot of criticism. There's also a lot of understated and subtle misogyny and sexism in the genre -- written by women writers. Where the male lead is worshiped and the female criticized until she bows to his will and lets him take her over.
Then...there's the daytime soap opera fandom. And oh dear.
One leading actress (plays Robin on GH and has since she was well 8 years of age, now she's in her 40s) - received an email from a female fan informing her that she should look into plastic surgery for her "turkey neck". The actress has been getting ribbed for weight gain, or not looking beautiful by "female" fans. This happened in the Buffy fandom as well - female fans attacked Amber Benson, who played Tara, for being too heavy. (Not male fans, who actually liked her - female fans.) Meanwhile, Hurly on Lost, or Seth Rogan, or various heavyset male actors barely
get any criticism.