No, you are NOT allowed to choose for yourself

[silvertistel]

In the aftermath of some of the stupid debates following this season of "A Game of Thrones" and the portrayal of women in that season in particular, and in ASOIAF in general, my conclusions are as follows:

Women are apparently not allowed to choose lovers for themselves. Instead, they should choose men who are, according to the armchair

Comments

[isis_newton]

nice conclusion. well, not actually nice, more like astute and very. very sad.

[silvertistel]

Yep, I think I suffered apoplexy like five times the last two weeks and it probably won't get any better. It continues to amaze me how people automatically disqualify and devalue female choice.

[xraytheenforcer]

ASOIAF fandom is a hive of scum and villainy.

[skylarkthered]

Sadly, it's not at all limited to ASOIAF fandom or fandom in general. This is a prevailing view across much of humanity. Or at least the cultures I am most familiar with. I haven't been on the boards in years, but I encounter the same sort of talk and attitudes all over the internet and in RL all the time.

One of the most prevalent ideas seems to be the woman as prize. If a man performs some act of heroism or goodness, then he MUST be rewarded with the love and admiration of an attractive woman. Robert won the war. How dare Cersei not swoon at his feet for the rest of their lives. Jorah "saved" Dany. How dare she not reward him. Etc, Etc, *gag.*