My point is that I do look at it from the other side, and as to your comments on role models and identification, the very argument in favour of a female Doctor is predicated on the idea that girls can only have role models without penises. As you put it.
Aside from the fact that I don’t think that either side always needs role models of the same gender, I also accept that sometimes, to the young in particular, this is true.
Which is what leads me to the conclusion that since there are already smart, intelligent, peaceful female role models (not least as many of these traits are seen as feminine in the first place) in place, (Hermione, there’s a nice easy mainstream one) I have to conclude that the Doctor is better used as he always has been, particularly now.
After all, what will help equalitarianism more? A few thousand boys growing up to be more like the Doctor, or a few thousand girls doing the same? While I agree female instigated violence seems to be on the rise, or is at least reported more often, it is not for want of role model characters, and it seems to be considered that boys tend to emulate these things more in general. There are also far more boys without fathers (and girls without fathers) than girls (or boys) without mothers. Whilst it’s somewhat ridiculous that TV characters should fill that void, here we are regardless (teachers also skew majority female, particularly at a primary level.)
You seem to still not read what I am saying, instead putting your own spin on it through assumptions.
This position of Doctor seems to have been put up on a pedestal alongside world leaders etc, that it is a great victory for a cause to cast a woman. I am not sure either of these things can be true, or that if they are, the world is in worse shape than I thought. It’s all about stereotypes of fans I suppose. SF and F is this imaginary boys only club, at least in part because for a long time girls didn’t often like it much. And the boys who like this get all rage at their space being changed, and the girls who like to have things to fight see it as a battle. The boys and girls who have always been in it and didn’t particularly see it as a fight or some silly gendered thing carry on quietly as we always have, and wonder why these two sets of strange people are making such a ruckus and disturb our peace. It’s all ridiculous, but much of the modern era is. Binary and adversarial.
I am sure Jodie will do her best, I hope the writing team does as well, and I am certainly not angry about it etc. I have tried to answer your questions, even as you refuse to answer mine and make odd assumption. I suppose it was arrogant of me to try to gently make a point that even Peter Davison couldn’t really, but it’s a good point, and something that should inform the series as it goes on. The Doctor never alienated women (that same issue of Skaro featured a girl remembering how she used to dress up as Pertwee. I think there was a core cadre of lesbian (and gay) fans who very much used identifying with the somewhat asexual Doctor as part of their growing up.) and the idea that the character did seems to be a modern invention. Or perhaps only NuWho does. Who knows.
I wish for equality, think Women absolutely should be given a fair chance at things, much as men should be, from all backgrounds etc. We are all basically the same, and should work together. That I have to keep stating this is a sad reflection on the politicisation on the discussion of a character, that it’s ok to suggest motivations that are unpleasant, and to turn it into the front in a war that shouldn’t be.
After Jodie? I just hope there’s another Doctor.[/QUOTE]
I do feel I answered your question. But it’s not in the way you wanted me to.
