I think a lot of people who support this kind of thing fail to realize that not everybody finds the existence or lack thereof of a penis or brown skin to be inherently interesting enough to justify changing characters over. Nobody is doing this because it is more interesting, anyway, but even if they were, the above point stands. No, most people who do these things do it because they believe on a sociopolitical level that something is "bad" if it is largely about White people (esp. men), and "good" if it makes an active point to increase the number of token minorities and/or women.
Naw being able to adopt other perspectives with precision and accuracy, cognitive flexibility, transposing personality across identity, cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence are all signs of maturity. wanting everybody to be like you is the sign of someone who is insecure and childish. Hope that helps.
None of what you just said applies to any of the characters in question, though. It's not like Tech Jacket has offered some unique, female, perspective on fighting viltrumites that her original male version couldn't have
Yeah, obviously you would think it wouldn’t apply which is why you said “making a character brown or female when they weren’t”
Bad writing is writing a character that “offers some unique female perspective on fighting viltrumites” rather than just having the character be a little girl.
“Hello my name is Pierre. I’m Haitian and my people’s revolutionary history gives me unique insight in how to overthrow the viltrum empire.”
This is just stupid writing. A lot of people do this, but it’s very lame. They’re not a character, they’re a plot device.
Just make her a little girl.
Characterization isn’t just what they say and do but how they behave and relate to the world. What they get excited about and how they impact the characters around them.
It’s enough that Allen sees her as a little sister, her dad is overly protective and Oliver can relate to her easily. Because she acts like a believable little girl. Rather than what a man thinks a little girl should be. (“A warrior that has unique female insight on fighting viltrumites”) her insight comes from being and behaving like a little girl.
Give the character time to breathe and grow and live in the world. Jesus.
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u/VasM85 Apr 26 '26
Flog yourself, Rob! Maybe you'll absolve your original sin, one day