The dude-bros strike back
Yesterday the Star Wars: Rogue One trailer was released and for most Star Wars fans this was very exciting as it promises to be entertaining viewing. As would have been obvious to everyone the lead protagonist is wait for it - a woman. Who cares right, there are more shows than can be counted with lead male protagonists so the fact that this one little show has a female lead shouldn’t be a big deal right? Wrong.
Shortly after the trailer launched the sad but inevitable backlash from what one of my favourite social commentary publications (Daily Life) aptly named - the ‘Dude-Bros’ - was unleashed. These DB’s were not happy with the fact that a woman was playing the main character. Their feedback ranged from such pearls as Disney is trying to ram feminism down their throats to describing it as female propaganda.
Wait what?
Is it so scary and political to cast a female in the lead of something like this?
Apparently so. Apparently women are that scary.
It is kind of hilarious and kind of infuriating that this debate is still happening. For as long as any of us alive right now can remember the protagonists of most TV shows and movies have been men. This has been the norm and we have all had to identify with this person if we enjoy watching it. Women are used to this, we are used to having to identify with the male lead and have had to put up with female characters if any being placed in a wallpaper role of love interest/damsel in distress/bitch.
But now the times they are a changing and studios are beginning to recognise that women do in fact watch TV and movies and that we are more than two dimensional humans and thus wouldn’t mind seeing this fact reflected in our viewing interests. It is refreshing that studio execs are choosing to produce stories about strong capable women who have their own lives and goals and do not just exist to prop up men. It is also refreshing to see how many men are ok with this too. The dude-bros are thankfully not the majority. Most men are completely fine with seeing a female lead and are just excited to see the star wars brand returned to its former glory. Some are even joining the social media discussion and calling out the DBs on their bullshit for what it is.
So why even bring it up or give these trolls any kind of attention? I think it is important as it shows that for many the threat to male-privilege in any capacity is worthy of spewing forth vitriol and hate language towards women. And why the hell should we ignore it when they unleash these tirades. Women are so often told to ignore it and don’t engage but this doesn’t stop it from happening as any woman who has been attacked in any of these capacities will know all too well. But what is also good about this discussion being had is the realisation that most people men and women alike are not on the side of the DBs and we’re all a little over their tired, archaic, diatribes. So all in all the discussion shows that things are looking up.
