Thrones Gender

Society is progressing towards seismic shifts in terms of gender norms and sexuality – and television in particular is one of the most effective mediums towards this advancement. The cultures within the A Song of Ice and Fire literature, authored by George R.R. Martin, are portrayed in the Game of Thrones TV series. As one of my favorite shows, this series conceptualizes gender and sexuality patterns in a variety of ways. Martin has previously declared that while his work is that of pure fictional imagination, he was still determined to convey the lack of sexual egalitarianism that was rampant during the Medieval Age. While 21st century America is still not egalitarian – evidenced by the barriers that women and minorities continue to face –conditions are undoubtedly far better than they were in the Middle Ages. In the Game of Thrones universe in particular, sex is utilized as a punishment, as a weapon, as an instigator, and as a means of motivation for plot development for nearly every female character. This topic of sexual violence and assault hits close to home for me – due to personal experience as well as those experiences shared with me by loved ones – and is a controversial aspect of the show itself. Critics have questioned the use of sexual violence and assault as a “shock factor” or plot …show more content…
Arya is a petite girl of noble birth, expected to rise to a higher position, while Brienne is largely unfeminine – she is pretty much the only female knight of Westeros – and people would think it comical of her to lead a domestic life, much less take on a husband. They defy the standards of beauty of both the medieval setting as well as of modern-day viewers. and embody more “tomboy” and “butch” stereotypes – but only at a surface level. Despite their differences in upbringing and appearance, their commonality lies in the depths of their character development, for both are female fighters, trained to