Sexism in Game of Thrones and Attitude to It: Essay Sample

mo is the original HBO series that is based on the book od the American writer George R.R. Martin. Irrespective of the fascinating plot, bright characters, interesting storyline twists, and other benefits, the show was hit by criticism of misogyny and sexism. Is it really so? Are the female characters treated as sexual objects in the series?

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Before diving deeper into the critical concepts of the story, it is indispensable to emphasize that the story is focused on the civil war, the main goal of which is to stop a woman from leading the country. Is this a part of sexistic ideas already? At this point, it is worth mentioning that the events in the novel take place in medieval society, which makes it hard to tell the difference between the sexism of the time and the sexism of the writer.

The plot of the story necessitates that all the characters live in that misogynist environment. Describing some people, like Sansa, the author emphasizes her role in the marriage, while Brienne is shown as a weirdo because of her non-femininity. While some people are convinced it is the way Martin wanted to highlight the uniqueness and value of each person, others believe it is about the willingness of the writer to make those females fit into stereotypes.

Game of Thrones: Sexism and Misogyny

Analyzing the peculiarities of the show, most people are concerned about the racist implications here. The racial composition of the work had altered from depicting the dark-skinned person as someone unable to enjoy trivial life experiences to a fantasy of the white savior. There is a large group of minuscule characters in the show called the Unsullied, who are considered to be the only dark-skinned people who can combine their deferential nature and murderous talents. Regardless of their willingness to get freedom, the main character, Daenerys, offers them to die for her. From one perspective, what she offers to them is an opportunity to liberate people, but others view it as a desire to make them love their chains. It is impossible to ignore this idea of a white woman who helps the poor enslaved people, mainly dark-skinned, to get freed, educated, and engaged in a serious endeavor. These people are depicted as martial races who are occasionally used by their white masters to kill people. Consequently, it is obvious that the show has done a really bad job in terms of racist and sexist implications.

At some point, the plot twists, and the main focus is not on the ideas of a strong and powerful woman eager to save people around her. This way, the show starts criticizing primitive social relations, as well as patriarchy. However, the story plays a bad joke with the author, as it turns out to be a bright example of sexism when the woman is viewed as an object. Sure, the show is based on the medieval era, when the role of women was absolutely underestimated. Thus, the mere presentation of some beams of intelligence in female characters or their ability to make reasonable choices is not enough to prove that the show is not misogynistic.

Following the plot of the narrative, you can notice that the family is the primary unit here. Once again, the heteronormative register is emphasized, mentioning the idea of gender roles once again. The attempts to depict a strong and influential woman fail and look miserable, as they are fake and overshadowed by tons of other situations. For those who enjoy watching the Mother of Dragons making decisions and ruling the place, you need to look further and remember that, after all, the community is ruled by a gay king fighting against females. This is probably the brightest point in the whole show, where the gender roles are depicted and highlighted.

As you can remember, Game of Thrones is mainly a fantasy show, but it can definitely say a lot about real-world ethics. Thus, the inclusivity and quasi-democracy that are combined with lineage and bloodline are the elements that can hardly be connected. The main problem here is that the logic of blood is compared to the logic of racism, which has always been a matter in society. Game of Thrones has eventually been compared to the Marxist theory of class. Analyzing the show from this perspective, readers can draw their own conclusions and notice the way kings were fighting for their ultimate power using the poor class.

While some people will continue discovering racism issues in the show, others will focus on the feminism and misogyny issues that are vivid here. Although, to some extent, the tendency can be explained by the tradition of the medieval world, there is no way the writer’s choice of words and actions can be justified. Most of the female characters in the show are depicted either as strong women deprived of their voices or stupid “girls” willing to enjoy life and care about nothing serious.

Female Roles in Game of Thrones

Based on the world-known A Song of Ice and Fire series, Game of Thrones is a real masterpiece that provides people with an opportunity to dive into medieval times, with all the kings, queens, warriors, servants, and knights participating in the political battles of wills. The show has become a success right away, especially because of its compelling characters, political intrigue, subtle acting, suspenseful plot twists, and tons of interesting matters depicted. However, among all those relevant and appealing ideas, it is impossible to ignore the sexism that is flourishing in the show.

Are sexism and misogyny truly critical parts of the movie series? Or are people too critical of the description of medieval times? It is impossible to deny that there are quite a few female characters in the show, but not all of them are described as ferocious and strong women.

Daenerys Targaryen is the brightest and the most complicated character in the show, who is the meek sister of the perverted brother. She is accused of having a “gentle heart,” but it is exactly what helps her become the queen, the Khaleesi of the Dothraki. In fact, the transformation of this woman from an unconfident girl who has to resist her brother to a powerful queen is the most enjoyable part of the story. Irrespective of her bright personality, her story is not deprived of misogynic elements. While most people enjoy the kind of love they have with her husband, it is impossible to ignore the fact that Khal Drogo bought and raped her in the first place. Later, one of the Daenerys handmaidens has to teach the lady how to seduce her husband and finally get his respect. This very idea is bothersome, as it emphasizes the surpassing role of males over females.

Queen Cersei Lannister is another female character in the show who is strong-willed, powerful, and obsessed with her power. However, the fact that she is a female prevents her from gaining greater political influence and power.

Lady Catelyn Stark, who is a graceful, loving, and wise spouse to Lord Eddard Stark, is the one ready to stand her ground. She is not afraid to speak her mind and help her son choose the best strategy for each battle. Lady Catelyn Stark seems to be one of the few women in the show who is respected and revered throughout the story. She is depicted as someone who can negotiate any deal and unify all the clans of the Noth to be strong in the war.

Sansa Stark, the daughter of this influential woman, is described as a typical “girl” who cares only about looking good, dancing well, and getting married successfully. Let me remind you something, as at the time she is 13. However, as she grows older and witnesses a devastating tragedy caused by her poor judgment, she seems to become more mature and responsible.

Arya Stark is another daughter of Lady Catelyn Stark and is the complete opposite of her sister. Resourceful, outspoken, and spunky are the best words to describe this 11-year-old girl. Talking to her father, she asks about a chance for her to become a leader. The conversation goes to the marriage part and giving birth to a son who can potentially be the one. However, the girl is not satisfied with such an answer, as she is the one who strives to take the position. She refuses to be defined by gender roles and offers to break the rules.

There are numerous women in the show with secondary roles, as well. The only thing that should be noted here is that most of them navigate the sexist and misogynistic landscape by playing their parts but still being deprived of an opportunity to speak their minds. If some of them dare to, they are instantly put in their place.