Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT 2887-2891 (2-6 February 2015)
bhtooefr:
--- Quote from: Rghfrgl on 08 Feb 2015, 15:23 ---I don't think he's pandering. But if he *is* it's to the shippers rather than social justice.
--- End quote ---
In the case of Marten x Claire? Specific story elements, maybe, but I suspect that some relationship between her and a character was going to happen the moment that she was introduced, really, and not for social justice reasons, but because Jeph doesn't seem to want to constantly crap on any character - not even Marten. And, really, who else was it going to be? There's not many male characters in the comic (and Claire's not been depicted as anything other than straight), adding one just to be Claire's love interest would be a bit screwy, and Marten was, I believe, the only single one.
demency:
I feel like I need to mention, as a trans woman - regardless of what genital configuration Claire may currently have, and regardless of whether or not she plans to some day have bottom surgery - which is, of course, none of our business - she is a *woman*. A man who sleeps with a trans woman in no way, shape, or form stops being straight, *regardless* of the genital configuration of that woman. Whatever she has downstairs, they're a *woman's* genitals, and last I checked, when a man and a woman have sex, that's usually considered pretty straight. Whatever Claire and Marten get up to, unless they invite a third person, it will be straight sex.
Sorry for the whole big speech, I just didn't see anybody getting this point across, and it was really important to me. I get a little militant on that point, because too many men are shamed by their friends and peers, and have their heterosexuality and identity questioned or mocked, if they date or sleep with a trans woman. It not only keeps too many of my sisters cold on lonely nights, it can also be a major driver for violence against us.
emilygrrl:
--- Quote from: bucky_2300 on 08 Feb 2015, 00:20 ---Could Marten get any more empty as a character? I mean, the guy's been presented as a straight man (as in the archetype) and a straight man (as in the sexuality) for the entirety of the comic, and now he's suddenly down with dating a transgendered person, which happens to come right around the time that trans* issues are gaining real traction in the social justice community? Come on. I've dated a trans*person in the past, and the first time we got naked, it was treated with much more dignity and care than it was given here. "You're beautiful"? I'll take Things That a 16 Year Old Says When Losing His Virginity for $200, Alex. This is just empty pandering.
--- End quote ---
So what are you saying, that a straight man can't find a trans woman attractive? Or that a trans woman isn't really a woman, then?
ReindeerFlotilla:
--- Quote from: demency on 08 Feb 2015, 15:49 ---I feel like I need to mention, as a trans woman - regardless of what genital configuration Claire may currently have, and regardless of whether or not she plans to some day have bottom surgery - which is, of course, none of our business - she is a *woman*. A man who sleeps with a trans woman in no way, shape, or form stops being straight, *regardless* of the genital configuration of that woman. Whatever she has downstairs, they're a *woman's* genitals, and last I checked, when a man and a woman have sex, that's usually considered pretty straight. Whatever Claire and Marten get up to, unless they invite a third person, it will be straight sex.
Sorry for the whole big speech, I just didn't see anybody getting this point across, and it was really important to me. I get a little militant on that point, because too many men are shamed by their friends and peers, and have their heterosexuality and identity questioned or mocked, if they date or sleep with a trans woman. It not only keeps too many of my sisters cold on lonely nights, it can also be a major driver for violence against us.
--- End quote ---
That only works if everyone uses your definition of straight. Not that the world wouldn't be a better place if that was the only definition of straight, but it isn't.
The best metaphor I have right now is if you label a hand gun as a weapon of mass destruction. You might really believe it is just that, but you shouldn't be surprised when the UN Security Council doesn't offer you a permanent seat because you've got one.
Of course, the metaphor breaks down because there's a real, practical difference between a hand gun and a WMD. Where the differences between what straight means to you and the next person are only artifacts of your thought processes. They aren't any more real than the label "straight" is really a thing.
Identity is personal. It's next to meaningless to the rest of the world. This really issue isn't a matter of how you define "woman." I'd say writing it off so simply is unfair to do define their sexuality by genital structure. It suggests that there is something wrong with their sexuality. A person with (literally) no interest is dick isn't going to suddenly gain an interest because a dick's owner identifies as a woman. The same goes for pussy and identification as a man. There are limits.
The issue is, ultimately, that everyone tends to think that their definition of "straight" (Lesbian, gay, bi, queer, trans) is THE definition. Everyone is wrong. There is no one definition. Just seven billion identities in conflict with a handful of false culutral norms.
Omega Entity:
--- Quote from: bhtooefr on 08 Feb 2015, 15:34 ---
--- Quote from: Rghfrgl on 08 Feb 2015, 15:23 ---I don't think he's pandering. But if he *is* it's to the shippers rather than social justice.
--- End quote ---
[...] but because Jeph doesn't seem to want to constantly crap on any character - not even Marten.
--- End quote ---
Didn't Jeph say early on that Marten will never be allowed to be happy? Was this akin to a sort of 'mission statement' for the comic, or more of a reflection of his own personal emotional state and how he relates (related?) to Marten as a character?
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