Posted by andyb on September 18, 2006 at 23:44:49 from 213.122.31.237 user beardbiter.
In Reply to: Girls (was Dare we get real? Beckfoot Hot Water) posted by Jock on September 14, 2006 at 21:31:23:
Jock “Titty captures Amazon in SA.
Nancy prevails against the GA in SD and PM. Nancy drives
the action (intentionally and unintentionally) in WH.
Dot rescues the D&Gs in BS. Titty and Nancy complete
the map in SW. Bridget tames the Eels in SW. Titty
finds water in PP. Of course, John is heroic in WD.
The D&Gs prevail in CC. But the girls do do rather well!”
Keeping score:
If we take a conventional view of masculinity in stories as producing action through: physical prowess, technical ability (in suitably “masculine” areas) and attributes such risk taking and leadership I think the result is probably a scoring draw
SA
John climbs the Lighthouse Tree and swims round the island but Nancy’s physical prowess is not in doubt and both Amazons “can jolly well sail”
The Amazons have a bow and can shoot (I’m assigning weapons to conventional masculinity here)
John (thanks to Titty) is Commodore but it is obvious that Nancy is the real leader.
PD Roger as ship’s engineer
SD Nancy’s leadership role further established
WH Nancy’s leadership explicitly recognised
Dick, signals to Mars, saves cragfast sheep, sails sledge, discovers NP (IMO he is leader Dot follower in this enterprise although not always)
CC Tom saves No7, D&Gs save Margoletta, P&S dramatic pursuit
PP Nancy’s idea, Dick central technical role as geologist including leading the “only real danger” (personally I think drowning just as real) Titty does find water but dowsing could be seen as being in touch with emotional “feminine” side (although AFAIK dowsers are frequently male)
WDMGS John is the leader
SW Daisy leader of Eels, first-time John challenges Nancy’s leadership (OK I know that’s not quite right but he wont stand aside and let Nancy take over the show)
B6 Dot is the prime mover (her show as it were)
PM Dick deals with the rabbit, the GA as authority, GA as action woman “I’ve got a gun!”
ML ML herself
GN Dick’s show.
I agree that “femininity” as expressed through cooking, sewing and cleaning or emotional labour: caring, comforting nurturing etc seems to remain more the province of the female characters but outdoor camp or ship cooking can be a male preserve (we all know about men and BBQs) as can sewing: sailmaking, sewing fur. In the case of Swallows Susan is clearly chief cook but it is almost as clear that the others are supposed to help as instructed even if they don’t always comply. CF and the Mastodon both produce feasts and it is only Dot who seems to take on the role because of her gender. CF comforts John in SW and doesn’t John comfort Susan more than once?
All in all I’d argue that AR was pretty solid on the feminism front, again, it is not clear (to me at least) how he arrived at this position. Although AR was a Bohemian and a Bolshevik sympathiser, both movements were stronger on rhetorical than practical feminism. In contrast, none of his characters appeal to, or repudiate, overt gender stereotyping of the “boys can, girls can’t/ girls do so boys wont” variety.