Women and the Fans...

[gen-is-gone.livejournal.com]

So, it isn't Monday, but who's up for a little discussion anyway? Namely, about some of the women on our show. Now, I've been following recent ep discussion posts and I'm noticing a few strange similarities between fan reaction to Hotch's new jogging partner,(and now girlfriend) Beth and former co-star Ashley Seaver, played by Rachel Nichols. Now, before you get into the long rants about her physical similarities to JJ or her supposedly bland acting, hear me out: the abject hatred some fans felt toward her was disconcerting to say the least, and so I am upset (though not really surprised) to hear that new character Beth is getting the same treatment.

I'm honestly indifferent towards Beth because there isn't much to her character yet, but character development happens over time. Frankly, I'm tired of the witch hunts Criminal Minds' fanbase goes on every time a new (or not so new) female character gets introduced. I remember the discussion posts leading up to 100 and at least 50% of all of the Haley related comments saying that they hoped she'd die. And then she did, and the few who actually lacked the shame to cheer for a violent murder were subsequently shouted down. Now that it's been two years, people seem to like her more. And let us not forget Ashley and Jordan Todd, neither of whom got the chance to develop as characters because the (mostly female) fans pitched a dozen fits. And to rewind even farther, remember all the Elle fans (where have they gone I wonder...) complaining after her first introduction in 'The Last Word' that Emily was an Ice Bitch and a robot? You certainly won't see them around anymore. I wish that for once criminalxminds would shut up about female characters long enough to get to know them. Much though I adore Reid and all of the male cast, I'm noticing that the double standard we've all been accusing CBS of in regards to their not valuing women is surprisingly (and hypocritically) apparent within our own fanbase. Now, I know Will and Kevin still have quite the hatedom of their own, but they're mostly getting flack from over-the-top shippers, while Haley, Elle, Emily, Jordan, Ashley and Beth were at varying points treated with an appalling amount of suspicion and out right hatred. So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Want to rip my throat out? I'm not trying to come off as rude, I would love to better understand why so many people find fault with such seemingly innocuous women.

Comments

[chreesko.livejournal.com]

Honestly? Probably the same it was to Spencer Reid, improbable FBI agent (because let's be real, there's no way a 22 year old who couldn't pass any field tests would be allowed onto the actual BAU), baby-faced genius with an IQ of 187, who somehow magically took care of a schizophrenic mother alone from the time he was a child while simultaneously attending college and never getting caught by Child Services.

I'm not saying Reid's not a great character, because he is, but your description of Ashton Seaver sounds like someone fandom would love, and for me only highlights the double standard.

[full-metal-ox.livejournal.com]

My point exactly.

[chreesko.livejournal.com]

Sorry, my sarcasm filter was broken last night. Can't imagine why, but for some strange reason I lost my sense of humor about halfway through the comments.

[full-metal-ox.livejournal.com]

The question I tossed out was indeed a rhetorical one, and my reply merely an acknowledgement of your catch; no particular sarcasm intended.

[citjara.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure about that. Duplicating Reid, male or female, could've been very risky business. Which probably hurt the Ashley character even though she was no genius. But we also have the shows resident genius, so one is enough... was the Reid character far fetched when they started out? Probably, but some things, like the ill mother and absent father only came in when he'd long been established and when fans are much more likely to accept these things.

However, I don't get this notion that Reid had to take care of his mother *all the time*. I think it's pretty clear that she was medicated at times and therefore lucid. She probably wasn't the best mother, even then, but I'm not paying for a second that Reid was alone 24/7, in spite of what has been suggested on the show.

[chreesko.livejournal.com]

Well, all these characters, both male and female, are incredibly flawed and have implausible backstories and timelines. But the bigger point is that, when it comes to discussing the male characters, people always make excuses and twist themselves into knots explaining why it's okay for them to be that way. I'm not talking about your post specifically, but if you read some of the comments in here, it's always some variation, "Oh, but that was differnt because Hotch/Reid did this, while Haley/Ashley did this," or "But what Haley did was worse because [convoluted explanation]." I think fandom as a whole really needs to think about why it is always making excuses for the male characters, getting into the minutiae of their backstories to justify their stance, while jumping on the female characters for possessing the exact same traits.

[citjara.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I get that. I was simply taking a rhetorical question serious and thinking about it. :)