Post by Mistybreeze on May 10, 2023 16:59:03 GMT -5
Yes you read that right. Yes I am serious. But not in the way you think. Let's define a couple terms first so we're all on the same page.
Misogyny- hatred of women purely for existing
Misandry- hatred of men purely for existing
Misogyny- hatred of women purely for existing
Misandry- hatred of men purely for existing
I think the Sisters are a brilliant tool for teaching children about sexism. I've noticed a change since the new team took over. Morals have been gradually worked into the series on a level never seen before. Under Vicky, there didn't really seem to be any obvious morals. They just wrote whatever with seemingly no thought on what kids would get out of it. Hence why we ended up with Ashfur. Then there's that infamous book, which likely got Vicky fired.
But the new team seems to be a lot more conscious of public perception. Having the cat equivalent of an incel in the series is not a good look. I think this the ultimate reason for bringing him back. By making him into a very obvious villain, they send a message to young readers that this behavior is not okay. But this is hardly the only example. Tigerheart's Shadow deals with xenophobia. The Rising Storm touches on consent and racism. Obviously the execution of these morals varied.
The best execution goes to the Sisters. They are the first example of obvious sexism in the series. It was necessary to add a new group since the Clans are about as egalitarian as possible. But they did it in an unconventional way that was highly effective. When dealing with sexism, the go to seems to be portraying the harms of misogyny. This is the most common form of sexism that kids would be exposed to. But because it is so common, there's a chance that is it normalized in a child's life already. They might not see it as a problem, meaning that any portrayal of it in popular medium would like end up reinforcing their existing beliefs. Misandry is exceedingly rare by comparison. Children are unlikely to have encountered it in real life. This makes it a lot easier to teach kids about its harms. Both misandry and misogyny are incredibly harmful. By teaching kids about the rarer form first, it makes easier for them to make the connection that both are equally harmful. The Sisters wouldn't have been as successful as a teaching tool if they went with misogyny instead. It's a sad thought, but I am very happy that the team went this route.
To any children reading this, please take this message to heart. Every time you see someone being mistreated or put down because of their gender, remember the Sisters. Remember the pain they caused Tree. And please, speak up. Tell a teacher, parent, coach, or any authority figure. You have more power than you think.
But the new team seems to be a lot more conscious of public perception. Having the cat equivalent of an incel in the series is not a good look. I think this the ultimate reason for bringing him back. By making him into a very obvious villain, they send a message to young readers that this behavior is not okay. But this is hardly the only example. Tigerheart's Shadow deals with xenophobia. The Rising Storm touches on consent and racism. Obviously the execution of these morals varied.
The best execution goes to the Sisters. They are the first example of obvious sexism in the series. It was necessary to add a new group since the Clans are about as egalitarian as possible. But they did it in an unconventional way that was highly effective. When dealing with sexism, the go to seems to be portraying the harms of misogyny. This is the most common form of sexism that kids would be exposed to. But because it is so common, there's a chance that is it normalized in a child's life already. They might not see it as a problem, meaning that any portrayal of it in popular medium would like end up reinforcing their existing beliefs. Misandry is exceedingly rare by comparison. Children are unlikely to have encountered it in real life. This makes it a lot easier to teach kids about its harms. Both misandry and misogyny are incredibly harmful. By teaching kids about the rarer form first, it makes easier for them to make the connection that both are equally harmful. The Sisters wouldn't have been as successful as a teaching tool if they went with misogyny instead. It's a sad thought, but I am very happy that the team went this route.
To any children reading this, please take this message to heart. Every time you see someone being mistreated or put down because of their gender, remember the Sisters. Remember the pain they caused Tree. And please, speak up. Tell a teacher, parent, coach, or any authority figure. You have more power than you think.