#breq was probably the first time i was really envious of someone's gender though | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

gideonisms · 2 years ago

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I can't read the aj book reviews on goodreads though because I feel like people collectively did not get that the gender thing was A) in service to her other themes not the entire point of the book B) not a girlboss everyone's a woman now thing either

#maybe the idea started like oh what if i just used she pronouns for everyone but the writing is more nuanced than that #it's the empire taking over different cultures it's not like universally a good thing #it's what many of the characters grew up with so it doesn't occur to them that they could be a different gender #it's not a universally bad thing either it's not like the book goes 'oh the empire is wrong not to have two specific genders'#it's just like. in the same way this empire enforces gender and restricts bodily autonomy through constant surveillance #your empire does the same to you. it's just like asking you to question things #but some characters have no problem with their given pronouns. it's all socially constructed that's the point #breq was probably the first time i was really envious of someone's gender though #there's no like. status significance to her pronouns in her culture. she doesn't wear different styles based on it #then you see her having to translate herself to other people's expectations when she's outside of the empire #and she's constantly botching it even after 20 years #never related to someone's experience with gender more #it's like i don't really do that. lol. but you're welcome to interpret me however. it is simply none of my business #i'll be whatever is most convenient when i'm trying to rent a place to stay. assigned woman at rental application #i never agreed to this system it's just a weird cultural quirk that makes my life slightly worse but otherwise isn't important to me

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