MISOGYNY AND STUPID SHIPPERS?! IN MY FANDOM?!
IT'S MORE LIKELY THAN YOU THINK
(A.k.a. Lizzie just can't freaking win, can she?)
Now the reactions of the fandom at this development (at least the fandom on forums.blackbutler.net) have not been shocking. Previously established Lizzie fans were joyously bro-fisting while former Lizzie-haters experienced changes of heart on her character en masse. However, while I was pleasantly surprised at the mainly positive reaction to the bad-assery of Elizabeth Cordelia Middleford, I was also extremely annoyed (yet sadly not surprised) at the stupid that rose from its wake. Below are a few choice quotes taken from the chapter 56/57 discussion thread on blackbutler.net:
"Seems like Lizzy's was the most evident. But despite her skill at swordmanship, she's still just a girl with the strength of a girl (well maybe a bit more than usual), seemed a bit convenient for her badass exposure time, Ciel hurting his leg/being unable to move and act, Sebastian being occupied by both Grell and Ronald and there being swords nearby, without a weapon she's of little help. Often to get out of trouble you need more than skill, well not this time though."
Sorry, Lizzie. Despite your ability to skewer zombies, you're still a WEAK, DEFENSELESS GIRL who would still be useless in any other situation due to your vagina.
"why cant lizzy some how go off and let ciel and sebby just... continue their love...?"
...What love? What the fuck are you talking about? I think I would have noticed if a gothic, shounen manga suddenly turned into a pedophilic "romance" novel.
" hn...
i was a little upset about this chapter ._.
i don't ship cielxlizzy whatsoever... TAT
or maybe i'm just too much of a sebciel fan...
but seriously. lizzy... she literally said she was the "wife of the queen's watchdog" and i died at that comment TAT
I seriously seroiusly seriously dont like this. TAT"
OH FOR CHRIST'S SAKE
"as a reader my intelligence feels insulted. surely toboso could have thought of something more original but I guess in the end this is finally living up to its cliche shonen manga label rather than being the thought provoking series it used to be."
Okay--now I'm just lost.
"I dont like lizzy as much now. I liked her better all cute and innocent, and i never found her annoying. Now though, i feel kinda bitter towards her, for making Ciel seem so weak. I wish Ciel was more stronger and badass
im kinda being disappointed."
OH NO, A WOMAN IS DEPICTED BEING STRONGER THAN A MAN! STOP ALL THE PRESSES!
"Lizzy KNOWS something already that most woman don't learn until they are much, much older. ALWAYS LET A MAN, FEEL LIKE A MAN!
She allowed Ciel to protect her despite having the aptitude to protect BOTH of them all along. Because she knows that as a MAN he feels it's his duty to protect the ones he loves. At this point, I feel Lizzy would make a GREAT wife for Ciel, because she knows not to interfere and be the doting wife but can step up and protect her family when the need arises."
...
Okay, I completely understand this rationale in terms of the gender dynamics of 19th century Victorian England, but the universal and overarching language the author uses is just...disturbing. "Always let a man feel like a man"? "Not to interfere and be the doting wife"? This person either improperly worded her otherwise valid point or she was comatose under a rock during the feminist movement.
"Sebastian LOVES playing Ciel's knight in shining armor a black tailcoat ... no wonder Azurro called him Romeo
)
But in every other aspect of life, Sebastian is very ... let's just call it effeminate. It's in the way he moves and talks. The fact that he cares a great deal about his appearance (not as extreme as Grell, but you get the drift). How he manipulates everyone around him (very much like the seductive woman from an erotic thriller would do). His caring side, if he shows it (and he DOES) - it's more motherly than anything.
Oh, and do not forget that his place is in the kitchen
*is shot*"
Stupid shippers AND bullshit gender role enforcement (remember--only wiminz cook, care about their appearance, manipulate others, and possess "maternal" qualities)? Christmas came early!
"I hope that doesn't support the idea that Sebastian is actually a female demon shapeshifted to male form"
...Sorry, I may live under a rock, but I fail to see the problem with this theory. Is it because the fangirls will start to question their sexuality if they find out Sebastian's really a chick? Is it because the pairings he is in will no longer be TEH YAOI? I am SO confused.
"Oh man, talk about a blow to Ciel's manly pride, lol
First of all, I always suspected that she was taller than him, but the first page of chapter 57 just confirms it. She's alot bigger than him even when he is wearing 3 inch heels. hehehe
And now this!!
I am eager to see how he will react. And the sadist part of me wants her to be killed off even when she became super badass. Yeah I'm weird.
Now the question is, will Ciel ever become manly?? lol probably not."
It's times like these, you know, that I wish I enjoyed the taste of alcohol. It would numb the pain of banging my head repeatedly against my bedroom wall at such asinine comments.
I like the fact that we found out that Elizabeth can actually do something and that she's badass. But, I still don't like her personality and that her existence revolves around Ciel. I mean if it wasn't for Ciel in chapter 56 Elizabeth really would have gotten herself killed just because she didn't want to look uncute in front of Ciel. Talk about stupid -_- It wasn't until she knew that Ciel's life was in danger that she actually did something.
Umm...in case you don't remember, oh brilliant one, LIZZIE WAS IN DANGER OF BEING EATEN BY ZOMBIES AS WELL. GOD.
"- Cielizabeth -.-
...
- Sebby is not interested in money, stupid old guy! XD Offer him a nice shota soul and maybe he'll think about it. (Or not, he has Ciel. How about kittens?
)
...
- SEBACIEL MEGA FANGIRL SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE *_____________* <3 *is happy*
- Lizzie ... smiles. In THAT kind of situation? (This is on crack.) [Sweetheart, you're aware that your fiancé just fell into his secret lovers arms, right? XDDD]
- Argh, Ciel you idiot! If SEBASTIAN offers you his tailcoat, take it. (That's a sign of his affection, you know? XD Or maybe you just wanted him to hold you really~~~ tight and share some "bodyheat" with you? (I'm hopeless, lol.))"
Sometimes I just hate everything.
Check out the thread for more examples of " NOT CIEL X LIZZIE NO MAH DEMONSHOTAZ!!1!", "OMG LIZZIE'S STILL TOO ANNOYING!!1!", and "OMG LIZZIE'S A GENERIC ACTION GURL NAO!!11!". If you'll excuse me I need to gargle bleach and weep into my copy of Feminism is for Everyone by bell hooks.
(A.k.a. Lizzie just can't freaking win, can she?)
Now the reactions of the fandom at this development (at least the fandom on forums.blackbutler.net) have not been shocking. Previously established Lizzie fans were joyously bro-fisting while former Lizzie-haters experienced changes of heart on her character en masse. However, while I was pleasantly surprised at the mainly positive reaction to the bad-assery of Elizabeth Cordelia Middleford, I was also extremely annoyed (yet sadly not surprised) at the stupid that rose from its wake. Below are a few choice quotes taken from the chapter 56/57 discussion thread on blackbutler.net:
"Seems like Lizzy's was the most evident. But despite her skill at swordmanship, she's still just a girl with the strength of a girl (well maybe a bit more than usual), seemed a bit convenient for her badass exposure time, Ciel hurting his leg/being unable to move and act, Sebastian being occupied by both Grell and Ronald and there being swords nearby, without a weapon she's of little help. Often to get out of trouble you need more than skill, well not this time though."
Sorry, Lizzie. Despite your ability to skewer zombies, you're still a WEAK, DEFENSELESS GIRL who would still be useless in any other situation due to your vagina.
"why cant lizzy some how go off and let ciel and sebby just... continue their love...?"
...What love? What the fuck are you talking about? I think I would have noticed if a gothic, shounen manga suddenly turned into a pedophilic "romance" novel.
" hn...
i was a little upset about this chapter ._.
i don't ship cielxlizzy whatsoever... TAT
or maybe i'm just too much of a sebciel fan...
but seriously. lizzy... she literally said she was the "wife of the queen's watchdog" and i died at that comment TAT
I seriously seroiusly seriously dont like this. TAT"
OH FOR CHRIST'S SAKE
"as a reader my intelligence feels insulted. surely toboso could have thought of something more original but I guess in the end this is finally living up to its cliche shonen manga label rather than being the thought provoking series it used to be."
Okay--now I'm just lost.
"I dont like lizzy as much now. I liked her better all cute and innocent, and i never found her annoying. Now though, i feel kinda bitter towards her, for making Ciel seem so weak. I wish Ciel was more stronger and badass
im kinda being disappointed."
OH NO, A WOMAN IS DEPICTED BEING STRONGER THAN A MAN! STOP ALL THE PRESSES!
"Lizzy KNOWS something already that most woman don't learn until they are much, much older. ALWAYS LET A MAN, FEEL LIKE A MAN!
She allowed Ciel to protect her despite having the aptitude to protect BOTH of them all along. Because she knows that as a MAN he feels it's his duty to protect the ones he loves. At this point, I feel Lizzy would make a GREAT wife for Ciel, because she knows not to interfere and be the doting wife but can step up and protect her family when the need arises."
...
Okay, I completely understand this rationale in terms of the gender dynamics of 19th century Victorian England, but the universal and overarching language the author uses is just...disturbing. "Always let a man feel like a man"? "Not to interfere and be the doting wife"? This person either improperly worded her otherwise valid point or she was comatose under a rock during the feminist movement.
"Sebastian LOVES playing Ciel's knight in shining armor a black tailcoat ... no wonder Azurro called him Romeo
)
But in every other aspect of life, Sebastian is very ... let's just call it effeminate. It's in the way he moves and talks. The fact that he cares a great deal about his appearance (not as extreme as Grell, but you get the drift). How he manipulates everyone around him (very much like the seductive woman from an erotic thriller would do). His caring side, if he shows it (and he DOES) - it's more motherly than anything.
Oh, and do not forget that his place is in the kitchen
*is shot*"
Stupid shippers AND bullshit gender role enforcement (remember--only wiminz cook, care about their appearance, manipulate others, and possess "maternal" qualities)? Christmas came early!
"I hope that doesn't support the idea that Sebastian is actually a female demon shapeshifted to male form"
...Sorry, I may live under a rock, but I fail to see the problem with this theory. Is it because the fangirls will start to question their sexuality if they find out Sebastian's really a chick? Is it because the pairings he is in will no longer be TEH YAOI? I am SO confused.
"Oh man, talk about a blow to Ciel's manly pride, lol
First of all, I always suspected that she was taller than him, but the first page of chapter 57 just confirms it. She's alot bigger than him even when he is wearing 3 inch heels. hehehe
And now this!!
I am eager to see how he will react. And the sadist part of me wants her to be killed off even when she became super badass. Yeah I'm weird.
Now the question is, will Ciel ever become manly?? lol probably not."
It's times like these, you know, that I wish I enjoyed the taste of alcohol. It would numb the pain of banging my head repeatedly against my bedroom wall at such asinine comments.
I like the fact that we found out that Elizabeth can actually do something and that she's badass. But, I still don't like her personality and that her existence revolves around Ciel. I mean if it wasn't for Ciel in chapter 56 Elizabeth really would have gotten herself killed just because she didn't want to look uncute in front of Ciel. Talk about stupid -_- It wasn't until she knew that Ciel's life was in danger that she actually did something.
Umm...in case you don't remember, oh brilliant one, LIZZIE WAS IN DANGER OF BEING EATEN BY ZOMBIES AS WELL. GOD.
"- Cielizabeth -.-
...
- Sebby is not interested in money, stupid old guy! XD Offer him a nice shota soul and maybe he'll think about it. (Or not, he has Ciel. How about kittens?
)
...
- SEBACIEL MEGA FANGIRL SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE *_____________* <3 *is happy*
- Lizzie ... smiles. In THAT kind of situation? (This is on crack.) [Sweetheart, you're aware that your fiancé just fell into his secret lovers arms, right? XDDD]
- Argh, Ciel you idiot! If SEBASTIAN offers you his tailcoat, take it. (That's a sign of his affection, you know? XD Or maybe you just wanted him to hold you really~~~ tight and share some "bodyheat" with you? (I'm hopeless, lol.))"
Sometimes I just hate everything.
Check out the thread for more examples of " NOT CIEL X LIZZIE NO MAH DEMONSHOTAZ!!1!", "OMG LIZZIE'S STILL TOO ANNOYING!!1!", and "OMG LIZZIE'S A GENERIC ACTION GURL NAO!!11!". If you'll excuse me I need to gargle bleach and weep into my copy of Feminism is for Everyone by bell hooks.