 There have been several female Watchers seen on screen and mentioned on the show. Faith’s Watcher was a woman and Giles’ grandmother (mentioned in Never Kill a Boy on the First Date) was one. In Revelations we met a rogue female Watcher - Gwendolyn Post, and in Checkpoint we meet another female Watcher called Lydia. All this shows that though they’re stuffy in every way possible, the Watcher’s Council aren’t sexist at all. |
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| Suggested by: | › Jess |
| Added: | › 13th April 2005 |
| Updated: | › 17th February, 2006 |
| Hits: | › 712 |
May 18th, 2005 at 9:58 pm
i imagine that being around super strong chicks after so many years would tend to errode notions of gender inequality. that doesn’t mean they couldn’t try to impose a symbolic hierarchy (having only male watchers look after their young charges).
June 5th, 2005 at 7:40 am
I agree with the comment above, but would also suggest that sexism isn’t merely individual behavior, but institutional as well, and not something that men do to women, but something that all people “do”. I think it’s pretty clear from episodes such as “Helpless” and “Checkpoint” (and also from references to the Council made by Wesley at various points in both series) that the Watcher’s Council is a patriarchal (and sexist) institution. Also, I think we’re supposed to wonder if the creation of the First Slayer was a sexist act itself–the wise men of the tribe can’t fight the demons, so they “infect” a girl with demonic power and send her out to do it for them.
One of the things I really like about the series is how complex a portrait of sexism it establishes. On the one hand, you’ve got a kick-ass chick who can take care of herself in a dark alley. On the other hand, she’s still struggling in a world of sexist institutions and individuals, even “on the job”–and struggles with her own gender identity as a result.
June 5th, 2005 at 5:40 pm
I’m not quite sure how people can say the Council is sexist. We’ve not seen enough of it to see a clear hierarchy. We’ve only seen Quentin (and his group) and maybe he earned his position.
However, I do agree with the first slayer bit but my interpretation of it was one of role reversal. Traditionally it is the woman who has the man fight for her and defend her even above his own life.