Star Wars is for Hot Girls
Be honest. When you think of a Star Wars fan, what do you picture? Like I said... be honest. It’s ok to say you picture a geek. A crusty man with glasses, who rants on twitter and owns a plastic light saber. The truth of the matter is that Fandom culture is not forgiving to women. The attractive woman is mostly used as a canvas for fetishization and a doubt of genuine interest, which is contrasting but coexisting in their minds. I grew up on Star Wars, growing up at the time of the prequels, young when I watched the originals, a teenager at the time of the sequels, from A New Hope and Clone Wars to The Book of Boba Fett.
I have been accused of my interest being popularity based, aesthetic based, and on one incredibly insulting instance, I was accused of liking Star Wars to appeal to the male gaze.
Why can’t I be a woman and like one of the most popular franchises in history? I can like it for the plot and for the hot guys. LEAVE ME ALONE FAN BOYS.
I honestly think that they forget that some of the bravest key characters in the franchise are hot, incredibly capable women. The OG baddie of the Original big 3, Princess Leia. She’s beautiful, a princess, turned general but she’s hot headed, brave, and snarky. Ahsoka Tano, who is a young talented Jedi, but also playful, and complex. Padme Amidala, a former Queen turned diplomat, level headed, courageous, and hopeful.
I can think the Mandalorian is hot and also understand the plot. These are not ideas that are unable to coexist in my head. I can appreciate the plot progressions of the movies and shows, without necessarily liking every decision made. i can be a girl and like masculine dominated things, which really honestly is based on stereotypes. Star Wars is emotional. A main theme is the suppression of emotion and how shielding yourself from who you are can be your downfall. Yet emotion is for women and women only right? The toxic, misogynistic culture of the Star Wars fan base is discriminatory and makes a community that is constantly at odds among themselves. I just want to like what I like in peace.