I normally try to do my best to respond evenly (Fan Creations)

by Cody Miller , Music of the Spheres - Never Forgot, Saturday, January 13, 2024, 12:21 (105 days ago) @ Coaxkez
edited by Cody Miller, Saturday, January 13, 2024, 12:33

I don’t know what you’re trying to argue at this point. Who defines “feminine expression”? Is that something you are well-suited to judge as a man? Are you saying that The Last of Us Part II is misogynistic because it does not feature the types of gender expressions you would prefer to see?

No. The issue is that in the world of the game, every woman must conform to the same masculine gender ideals. There is a homogeny rather than a diversity. I would prefer to see a wide range of expressions from men, women, and those who identify as neither, without judgement. It is misogynistic because it has a contempt for femininity.

(I assume that you do have a preference because you are using the term “feminine expressions” to describe things like wearing a dress, which implies that those expressions are feminine while others are not.)

That is an example as a traditional, easy to spot display. The fact that both sexes exclusively wear masculine clothing is only one supporting piece of evidence to suggest the erasure of the feminine in the world of the game.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems like you are basically saying that femininity is a fixed concept which does not (or should not?) change and evolve over time or in response to shifting circumstances. To me, this is a pretty weak argument. Then again, I’m the guy who defended the soldiers at Fallujah.

No, it's not fixed at all. You are correct! However this is an example of it being erased, not changed. Women aren't embracing alternative forms of femininity; they are just becoming men. And those that don't, suffer in the narrative disproportionately to male characters.