ut it can't be ignored that the visions came from Doyle - a man - and in the 'Birthday' sent Angel crazy. Both factors tend to suggest Cordelia wasn't being exploited because of her sex. I kind of disagree. I know that this isn't what you're saying at all, but that reminds me of the "because men also get raped, you can't talk about rape as a women's issue!" Because the visions alone wouldn't be a problem. It's because they're in a show in which Cordy's body is consistently seen as not-her-own (and Fred's, too) that it becomes troubling. If this was the only instance of it, I would have zero problem with it. It's only as it's part of a larger problem that it becomes...problematic.
Honestly, I don't know much about the behind-the-scenes stuff (though I'm a total sucker for that sort of thing), so I can't speak to that, but what I will say is that I find the second pregnancy storyline (Cordy had already had a demon pregnancy) to be very, very badly done indeed. I can think of six or seven ways in which they could have integrated her pregnancy so that they wouldn't make her a victim. If I can think of those things, surely the writers should have been able to.
The thing about Fred is, we don't see any of that. All of that (pretty much) happens to her before she becomes part of the show. Then, once she is part of the show, she becomes the damsel who always needs saving. And I adore Illyria and Amy Acker's performance, but again, I believe it becomes problematic because of the context of the show. All this stuff piled on top of each other is what becomes the fail. If anyone one or two of these things were happening, it would be totally awesome!
Same thing with the Darla--if there weren't this consistent victimization of women on the show, I think that plotline would be completlely touching. As it is, it just makes me sort of groan (now that Gabs pointed it out).
The thing is I really believe the most used and abused character on AtS was Wesley. This may be true, but he's never abused because of his gender. And abusing men doesn't have nearly the same connotations that abusing women does. It makes a difference within the larger context of both the show...and the world.
I don't think you're necessarily too complacent. I just don't happen to agree! ;) I can't judge these plotlines/characterizations one by one on their own, which is what I think you can do. I look at them and see a big, jumbly mess. Apparently, you look at them and see each one entire. And that's cool! We'll just agree to disagree!
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Honestly, I don't know much about the behind-the-scenes stuff (though I'm a total sucker for that sort of thing), so I can't speak to that, but what I will say is that I find the second pregnancy storyline (Cordy had already had a demon pregnancy) to be very, very badly done indeed. I can think of six or seven ways in which they could have integrated her pregnancy so that they wouldn't make her a victim. If I can think of those things, surely the writers should have been able to.
The thing about Fred is, we don't see any of that. All of that (pretty much) happens to her before she becomes part of the show. Then, once she is part of the show, she becomes the damsel who always needs saving. And I adore Illyria and Amy Acker's performance, but again, I believe it becomes problematic because of the context of the show. All this stuff piled on top of each other is what becomes the fail. If anyone one or two of these things were happening, it would be totally awesome!
Same thing with the Darla--if there weren't this consistent victimization of women on the show, I think that plotline would be completlely touching. As it is, it just makes me sort of groan (now that Gabs pointed it out).
The thing is I really believe the most used and abused character on AtS was Wesley. This may be true, but he's never abused because of his gender. And abusing men doesn't have nearly the same connotations that abusing women does. It makes a difference within the larger context of both the show...and the world.
I don't think you're necessarily too complacent. I just don't happen to agree! ;) I can't judge these plotlines/characterizations one by one on their own, which is what I think you can do. I look at them and see a big, jumbly mess. Apparently, you look at them and see each one entire. And that's cool! We'll just agree to disagree!