"I don't suck like all those other women" is the stereotypical example of internalised sexism.
This.
I feel like a lot of fannish "internalised misogyny" discussions equate all fandoms with certain expressions of Capital-F Fandom and assume that disparate behaviours stem from the same source, which doesn't help. Throwing hateful slurs around != focusing more on male characters !=feeling uncomfortable because of the way [media property x] portrays women and girls. The last angle in particular is one I wish would go away; I'm so tired of seeing it used as an excuse to browbeat female fans while excusing the sexism of male creators and male-dominated industries. (Am thinking of BioWare fandom in particular here, but it's a broad pattern.) I'm also troubled by the way these discussions tend to elevate fictional women above - or at least to the same level as - living ones. The first line of questioning should always be "how does this impact on actual people?"
And! I am one of those "loves all the women, writes/reads all the femslash/female-centric fic, jumps all over canons heavy on female representation" people. I make a virtual business out of reclaiming female characters from the Pit of Bad Writing and Stereotype where necessary. But my preferences were never a conscious political choice, and I don't think pressuring people to self-flagellate over theirs is a good strategy - especially if you've already gone ahead and decided what the real driving force behind them is.
no subject
This.
I feel like a lot of fannish "internalised misogyny" discussions equate all fandoms with certain expressions of Capital-F Fandom and assume that disparate behaviours stem from the same source, which doesn't help. Throwing hateful slurs around != focusing more on male characters !=feeling uncomfortable because of the way [media property x] portrays women and girls. The last angle in particular is one I wish would go away; I'm so tired of seeing it used as an excuse to browbeat female fans while excusing the sexism of male creators and male-dominated industries. (Am thinking of BioWare fandom in particular here, but it's a broad pattern.) I'm also troubled by the way these discussions tend to elevate fictional women above - or at least to the same level as - living ones. The first line of questioning should always be "how does this impact on actual people?"
And! I am one of those "loves all the women, writes/reads all the femslash/female-centric fic, jumps all over canons heavy on female representation" people. I make a virtual business out of reclaiming female characters from the Pit of Bad Writing and Stereotype where necessary. But my preferences were never a conscious political choice, and I don't think pressuring people to self-flagellate over theirs is a good strategy - especially if you've already gone ahead and decided what the real driving force behind them is.