#i have a lot of thoughts specifically about the weaponization of white ciswomanhood and appropriation of feminism in western society

[gay-jewish-bucky]

As an ex-fan I saw a really good take that I want to expand on that I think also applies to a lot of people who like (or defend, despite not liking) Peggy Carter, her (often impulsive and violent) abusive behaviour, and especially her Nazi ties; which go beyond being based off a Nazi (which should be more than enough on its own), and reaches into actively welcoming Nazis into the organization she created to "honor" a man who not only died trying to fight them, but was created to fight American complacency, and giving them the resources and access to infiltrate every single level of SHIELD.

Allowing themselves to understand and accept criticism against her, instead of brushing it off or twisting it, requires they sit with their own culpability, their own guilt in ignoring it and defending her for so long. For a lot of them, the ones that are generally pretty understanding people, they aren't really defending her, they're defending themselves for liking her.

They'd rather preform apologetics (including Nazi apologetics), embrace rad/fem ideology, intentionally misrepresent people and arguments against her, and silence or ignore the voices of groups negatively impacted by her deification (especially SA survivors, Jews, and fans of colour) so they can maintain a feeling of righteousness and innocence, rather than admit that they've made a mistake. To admit that is to admit their own biases and moral vulnerability. To admit they've perpetuated harm against groups they claim to ally with.

Admitting she's not an innocent angel/feminist icon who is the poor defenseless victim of hypocritical womanhaters, requires a level of maturity to be able to confront and admit one's own guilt, to acknowledge where one's privileges warp one's perspective, to hold oneself accountable, to learn and grow and be better, are skills they do not possess.

#marvel #mcu #marvel criticism #marvel critical #mcu criticism #mcu critical #peggy carter critical #anti marvel #anti mcu #anti marvel fandom #antisemitism #fandom antisemitism #fandom racism #i have a lot of thoughts specifically about the weaponization of white ciswomanhood and appropriation of feminism in western society #but like is the emotional labour worth it?