The dogma is this, it’s a boy’s world and so you should just stay out! I being a young woman have been told those words so many times; you men would not believe it. To them I say, well, there’s Princess Leia, Queen Amidala, all her handmaidens, and Shmi Skywalker, and not to mention all those other women that aren’t main characters and even the ones in the book no one knows about. You should see the looks on the librarian’s faces when I check out four to seven books on or about Star Wars. But, I don’t care. I am the only girl that has more Star Wars shirt then I do dresses, and also string a little braid down the front of my face calling it, my “Ben Braid”. In the movie theaters, I am the only girl usually there, who shows, emotion when major plot is revealed, and let me tell you I can argue down and answer more Star Wars question than any boy I have ever met (I know that there are others out there who know more then me), but why do people react to us women in such a different way once they find out I am more less a Star Wars addict.
I think it is because of the type of movie Star Wars is. It’s not a love story (well, at least it’s not a chick flick!) and it is certainly not a movie where women are highly promoted and are heroines of the day. It has fighting and action and even has hard core truths that a woman might not like to face. I for one have come face to face with these truths and found that they where right. And I think that we as women are a much more emotional type. We cry when Qui-Gon gets killed and also when Allderan gets destroyed. But why should that keep us from watching a movie? I have heard that all the girls cried when Titanic sinks in that movie and it’s considered a Chick Flick.
If you think about it Star Wars is like a Chick Flick also. First off, who was smart enough to blast down the garbage shoot door and so they could get in, Leia? Who was smart enough to send R2D2 down to Tattooine with the Death Star plans, Leia? Who was the leader of the Rebellion? Mon Mothma was, and ended up leader of the New Republic after the Emperor was killed. Queen Amidala was a fourteen-year-old Queen, and she was smart brave and agile. The Queens Handmaidens where quick thinking and a wonder with their actions. They where willing to risk their lives to protect the Queen, so many men would never do that. How about the Jedi Council, how many of them are Women, (or at least their species equivalent)? I counted several. And how many men do any of you know that can actually at least attempt the different hairstyles of the Queens and others, I have yet to find one.
So in closing, all you moms take your daughters and daughters take you’re moms. We can break the bad rep we have, and maybe, just maybe, end up on the good side of it all.
-Lynne Fisher
