When Boys Write Girls: A Lesson in Gender Appropriation

February 14th, 2019

There’s been much ado on the topic of CULTURAL APPROPRIATION in storytelling –often regarding the debate, “should a White person write a story about a Black person’s experience?” In a similar vein we might question the issue of gender appropriation, i.e. should a man write a story about a woman’s experience?

There are strong arguments on both sides, but my preferred take on the subject hails from author AMINATA FORNA, who counters the old adage: “Write what you know” with a new, improved version: “Write what you want to know.”

I appreciate how this approach implies the need to conduct research. Here’s where many accused of cultural and gender appropriation malpractice fall down on the job. If one simply makes assumptions about what s/he doesn’t know, the lack of truth will distance those members of the audience who know better— maybe even insult them. Due diligence can prevent this problem.

Let’s consider the following examples:

In ELI ROTH’s CABIN FEVER, three couples go to a cabin in the woods and, to quote IMDB, “fall victim to a horrifying flesh-eating virus.” It’s a fabulous premise for a horror film, and I was especially excited when I first heard about it because Roth himself had purportedly been plagued by this very disease. Twice. Talk about writing what you know.

Alas, the movie lost me early on thanks to the unnatural behavior of the women. And I wasn’t alone. Ask just about any woman who’s seen this film if she had issues with it and be prepared to hear an earful.

The most oft cited offense occurs when a female, struck by the flesh-eating virus, reacts by taking a bubble bath and shaving her legs. I kid you not. Now, bad enough that a character would show such poor judgment as to scrape a razor against flesh that’s already peeling away on its own, but assuming Roth’s not intending to suggest women are so stupid and shallow they’re more concerned about the stigma of hairy legs than their own well-being, let’s focus on a more mundane, but significant cultural reality.

Knowing nothing more about this woman than the fact that she a) regularly shaves her legs and b) intends to engage in sex with a guy also on this trip (not to mention go swimming and wear short shorts), any leg-shaving woman will be quick to tell you this woman already shaved prior to going on the trip (and definitely prior to having sex—in the movie she shaves just after—weird.)

Now, had Roth conferred with a woman or two about the script, chances are she would have been quick to point out this absurd oversight. And had she, Roth might have become frustrated and said something like, “Well, I need this scene because it’s such a great gore effect—a woman shaving her legs and her skin peeling off.”

To which said woman might respond, “Oh, in that case, here’s what you do: on the ride to the cabin, have her discover that in her hurry to get ready, she’s forgotten to shave her second leg, which she only realizes when her fellow’s about to run his hand along the still fuzzy one—d’oh! She panics. And now we have a great motivation for stopping at that creepy drugstore a few scenes later. She needs a razor and shaving cream so she can fix this embarrassing situation before her fellow’s any the wiser.”

Sure, freaking out about an accidentally unshaved leg is silly and shallow, but it happens, and most Western women, whether they shave or not, would recognize such a moment as genuine. What’s more, it’s humorous and justifies a scene that otherwise seems insulting and exploitative.

Now let’s examine a positive example of gender appropriation, courtesy of the collaboration between director Patrick Lussier and thespian BETSY RUE in MY BLOODY VALENTINE (2009).

There’s a SCENE where Rue’s character is having sex with her lover in a hotel. She’s on top, staring at a mirror on the ceiling, admiring her naked body (naked save for high heels, that is). She says, “I look so hot” sans irony. She’s unapologetically enjoying her sexuality. Her partner, a trucker, basically just has at it. Post-coitus, he’s quick to get dressed and pack up his stuff. She takes a moment to reflect. It’s about to be Valentine’s Day, and she asks if he knows the holiday’s origin story. He doesn’t so she shares it as he gets dressed and prepares to leave. But, through the mirror, she sees him pull out a camcorder and slip it into his bag. She protests this violation upon which he offers to pay her. She declines, declaring, “I’m not a hooker.” He tosses a bill at her and says, “You are now” then rushes out.

Now, here’s where it gets really good.

She grabs a gun from her purse and runs out into the parking lot after him—stark naked, save for her heels.

Inevitably, when I show this scene in a horror film class I teach, somebody, usually a male, will proclaim it sexist on the grounds of it being unrealistic and exploitative with the added “gratuitous” nudity. Then inevitably somebody else, always a female, will pipe in and explain why it’s not only not sexist but downright revolutionary.

Why? Because they’ve set up this character as a smart, confident, unapologetic woman who knows what she wants and doesn’t want. And in this moment she wants that blasted tape back.

In the script, writers Todd Farmer and Zane Smith had this female character wrap herself in a sheet before running after her despicable lover. But I was thrilled, albeit not surprised, to discover the choice to run out naked was made by Betsy Rue who says, “I just felt a lot better forgetting the sheet. I felt like it was more real. I felt like I was in my reality. I was, like, “I would not be worrying about this stupid sheet right now! I just want the tape back.”

So, in short, the character remains true to herself. That’s independence. That’s strength. That’s believable. And that’s feminist.

Feminism is not about putting women on pedestals or about making exemplary role models of them. It’s about fair representation. Women are humans, each with her own distinct set of life experiences specific to her as an individual as well as those shared by others of her gender, background and creed.

If more male screenwriters and directors sought candid input from diverse female collaborators, we’d see far better films with far better roles for women. For that matter, more female writers should likewise confer with more women because some of the most egregious recent examples of feminist unfriendly films I’ve seen have been penned, though rarely directed, by members of our own gender, a problem I’ll address in a later post.

In the meantime, we should all strive to meet and consult with people whose life experiences and perspectives are different from our own. Just imagine the wonderful movies that would result.

Next up from me: Busting 6 Harmful Myths about Feminism

~Devi

admin

Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • CATEGORIES

  • Newsletter