while we're on the topic of world-building

[ricardienne]

From this interview with Tamora Pierce,, in response to a question about gender inequality in fantasy:

I don’t see how they worked out that equation. The only way it works is if women acquiesce into being second-class citizens. And frankly, all it takes is one pissed-off 10-year-old with a lightning bolt in her hand to overcome it. ... The only way, with [magic] in the equation, that you [could] have an entire sex being oppressed is if they consent to the oppression. Actually, the only way it ever happens is when people consent to that oppression.

I think that I could argue that adding magic to the equation doesn't mean women can't be oppressed because they can fight back with magic as well as men any more than adding pointy objects to the equation means women can't be oppressed because, hey, all it takes is one pissed-off 10-year-old with a kitchen knife in the night...

But mostly: WTF Tamora Pierce?

Comments

[yond-cassius.livejournal.com]

Seriously, WTF? The pointy objects argument holds especially well.

[camlina.livejournal.com]

Or even a gun. I mean, in a swordfight, sheer muscle mass and height can give an advantage, and guys tend to have more of both. But anyone can shoot a gun.

[ricardienne.livejournal.com]

I was trying to go for the more primitive example, although I had to add female sneakery into the equation.

[queenxii.livejournal.com]

that is very strange...