Musing: fandom - Rinoa Heartilly

[wilderthan]

Final Fantasy VIII's Rinoa is often quite disliked. I can see why people dislike her character, too, though replaying the game once I was slightly more mature I tried to look for what was interesting in her, what was realistic about her. I don't mind, though, when people just can't stand her.

What I mind, though, is when someone says they don't like her because she's [quote] "a silly slut". There is absolutely no evidence for that in the game -- she has a romantic plot with Squall and a past with Seifer is implied. If that makes her a slut, I despair of the world entirely.

I hate the trend of flinging the word "slut" around, in its entirely -- I hate it when I see it applied to any female character because nine times out of ten, it's just knee-jerk "oh noez [female character] stole my bishie, fuck u wh0re diiiie" and/or "oh noez [female character] broke up [slash pairing], fuck u wh0re diiie".

This just in: Rinoa Heartilly is not a slut. Switching fandoms, neither is Anna Milton, or Jo Harvelle, or Cassie Robinson, or Jessica Moore... (SPN fandom is a big culprit.)

Dean Winchester? Probably a slut.

When/if I run the Women of SPN Big Bang, I think I'm going to ban the word slut.

Comments

[candeefloss.livejournal.com]

I roll my eyes when I see any female character described as a 'slut'. Every girl with an ex-boyfriend is now a slut? What is this, the 50s? Jesus. Female characters are held up against such a ridiculous double standard.

I mean, if that makes Rinoa a silly slut, then Laguna is totally a silly slut too, because oh my gosh first there was Julia then he married Raine!!!! How could he!!! Buuuut of course he's a guy so no one cares.

[wilderthan.livejournal.com]

Yep! In fact more male characters in fiction in general are sluts than female characters...

[samuraiter.livejournal.com]

I dislike Rinoa for a variety of reasons, none of them having to do with her antics in the boudoir. The biggest reason: Nomura admitted, in one interview, that he always designs the female leads to look like what he considers his ideal woman. This is why Tifa looks like Rinoa looks like Yuna looks like Ashe. :-| The recycling is annoying.

Pay me no mind, though. I still subscribe to the theory that Rinoa and Ultimecia are the same person.

[wilderthan.livejournal.com]

They do have different personalities, though, at least.

[samuraiter.livejournal.com]

Yes! :-) And this is one thing that Dissidia does for us, since it separates one from the other.

[06seconds-left.livejournal.com]

This is so true. Personally, I dislike Rinoa, but not because or her relationship with Squall and Seifer. I think it's her personality I don't like, although I never did figure out which part of it or why.

sluts in fan fictions lol

[hot-craving.livejournal.com]

So I have no idea who Rino is but as far as SPn fandom Anna was an angel so not so much a slut LOL. However since Anna liked sex if given the correct amount of time she might become a slut. The others not so much sluts. Jessica had Sam and Cassie had Dean. Those two were in love not slut material. Just my two cents.

Re: sluts in fan fictions lol

[wilderthan.livejournal.com]

Liking sex doesn't make a girl a slut. I don't think even having multiple partners makes a girl a slut. I think the word is disgusting and people's eagerness to apply them to girls to deride and degrade them is horrible.

Re: sluts in fan fictions lol

[hot-craving.livejournal.com]

Yeah i think sluttiness is an attitude. Did you see Ten Inch Hero Yet? Tish acted like a slut but her attitude was one of someone really looking too hard for a guy. Again my two cents. Most people that are considered sluts are just girls with low self esteem. And as far as Anna Yeah I just have no use for her LOL You don't have to tell me that liking sex does not make you a slut.