Pizza Diavola

Just a quick note on DevilDoll’s recent interview at girl-wonder.org. Devildoll is active in comics fandom and last May, she made a post about an officially licensed Mary Jane figure that showed a barefoot, sexed-up MJ in pearls, ripped jeans, and a high-riding thong leaning over and washing Spiderman’s suit in a bucket. There was quite an uproar after the post, with hundreds of comments either expressing disgust at the statuette or saying that the statuette was hot and Devildoll should be raped, presumably for calling a spade a spade (or a disgusting, sexist figurine a disgusting, sexist figurine). The post eventually made the news at MSNBC, Fox, and EW.com. The interview is an interesting read about Devildoll’s experience in comics fandom, which tends to be male-dominated; her experience with female communities in comics fandom; and the reaction to her post. I’m clipping some of the bits that popped out at me.

Girl-Wonder.org: Talk about the response your post got. (Any hilarious trolls you want to share?)

“Well, the charming fellow who suggested some nice anal rape would straighten me out was one to remember.

“While the threats and the insults were by no means pleasant, I couldn’t have asked for the trolls to prove my point any more thoroughly than they did. “Degrading and sexist images are not harmful! They don’t have any affect on society as a whole! And to prove it, I will make degrading and sexist statements about you! Wherever could I have learned that’s acceptable behavior?”

Why it’s important to point out that sexist, racist, homophobic, and otherwise offensive comments are, in fact, offensive:

Girl-Wonder.org: Has it affected your view of fandom?

“It’s reinforced my belief that a fuss needs to be made. The images we see and the things we read do make a difference, and they definitely influence how we see the world around us, and the way we treat the people we share it with. I don’t think anyone can look at the things that were said to me in that post and deny that. [emphasis mine]

Even if those offensive comments, jokes, etc. are passed off as ‘just a joke’ or ‘for laughs,’ which has to be the most overused excuse (hear that, man at the farmers’ market last weekend?):

“I personally have a hard time taking enjoyment from something that I know offends or demeans a specific group of people. I don’t think the status of something as entertainment gives it a pass on offensiveness.

The majority of our entertainment is geared toward the white, heterosexual male gaze. It’s so pervasive, and has been like this for so long, that most of us don’t even realize it. I didn’t realize it for years, and I can completely understand why someone wouldn’t notice the bias–it’s what we’re taught to like and identify with from the time we’re young children. I don’t blame someone for not realizing it, if it’s never been pointed out to them.

But once someone points it out, well, that’s your cue to pick up the ball and run with it. Take an honest look, ask yourself some hard questions, consider what it might feel like to be on the other side. [emphasis mine]

When you’re called out as racist, sexist, homophobic, and otherwise offensive:

I’ve been in that position, too, and still find myself there. Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I’m exempt from perpetuating sexism, and I can be just as thick-headed about spotting racism and homophobia as the next straight, white person. So don’t think I don’t know how it feels to have to accept an ugly truth about something you enjoy–I have to deal with it, too. It’s hard, and it sucks, and it means you have to face unpleasant things about yourself and about the things you like, and I absolutely respect anyone who has done it, because I know how difficult it is.

I don’t always agree with accusations of sexism or racism or any other ism, but I always do consider them, and if I disagree, I take an extra second to think about why I’m reacting the way I am, and ask myself some questions.

1) Am I just being cranky because someone criticized something I like?

2) Do I feel like I’m being called a sexist/racist/homophobe because I like something that has sexist/racist/homophobic overtones?

If the answer to either of those questions is yes, then I know I’ve got my head up my ass and I need to remove it.

And sometimes… well, sometimes I know the complaints are valid, and I have to suck it up and deal with the reality of that.

Here’s what I know: liking things that other people find offensive doesn’t automatically make you a bad person. Threatening to rape or kill someone just because they don’t like those same things? Makes you a very bad person. [emphasis mine]

Well said, DD.