During the lates episode, though, my inner feminist was on the war path. This is the zombie apocalypse and two of the lead female characters, Laurie and Andrea, were having this argument about who does what for the group. Then ol'Laurie breaks out with this idea that the men hunt the walkers and the women do the laundry and provide "normalcy" and "stability," that Andrea should stop trying to defend the group and wash some clothes or cook some dinner.
Excuse me?
Oh hell to the no she didn't. I wanted to clock that Neanderthal-minded bitch. This is the post-Apocalypse future and she's running on about women's work. Good God and jelly crackers, are you serious? And she actually said to Andrea that the men had it "handled" and that she would be better off "taking a turn" in the kitchen. My turn in the kitchen would have included me swinging an iron skillet at her head, then staking her ass to the side of the road as zombie snack cakes.
If I'm trying to survive zombies there is no way in hell I am doing someone else's damned laundry and cooking someone else's freakin' food unless we are all (women and men) taking care of this. Partners in survival is my motto. Fellas if you all are on my zombie crew come 2013, you best believe each one of us responsible for our own clothes. I wash nobody's skid marked drawers unless you are under the age of 12 or incapicitated.
I am not saying that in a group there shouldn't be tasks based on skill sets. I get that. But every one in the group needs to know every task in order to survive. I mean, someone here today, could be zombie potluck tomorrow. Now, if Laurie had come at Andrea with the "yo, you're a bad shot so maybe you should practice more and help out with laundry until you get better aim" I would have gone along. But to tell her that the men can take of the walkers and she should cook or wash clothes was W-R-O-N-G on so many levels.
Okay rant over. LOL What do you think? Equal work all the way around? Or am I just a raving lunatic?
Oh, before I forget, today, you can find my short feature, March's Frightening Flicks over Static Multimedia. Have an aweosme weekend!
You are amusing when you rant!
ReplyDeleteI say equal parts. My wife and I share all household duties now. Why would that change if zombies attacked?
Of course, since she's my wife, I would be in front of her, defending her in an attack. Well, maybe a little to the side - not sure if she's a good aim or not.
Absolutely!Equal parts all the way around. People should contribute to every task unless they are completely hopeless at it. I'm betting your wife is probably an excellent shot. You're both on my crew when the zombies come. ;)
DeleteI totally agree with you! I felt the same need to rant at last Sunday's episode. I've always hated Laurie, though. I would be out there fighting with my husband. Laundry would be the last thing on my mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I say steal some clean ones now and again. LOL You're fighting for your life against things that want to eat you. Who cares about colors and whites? :)
Deleteyou know, the moment that horrid Laurie said what she said to equally horrid Andrea, I knew, I swear I knew, the feminist in you will complain ;))))
ReplyDeleteAlthough I get your point, I can't say I totally agree. Remember what exactly Laurie said to Andrea: she probably wouldn't mind if Andrea really did something to defend them, but she was just sitting on top of the trailer doing nothing else, just watching for zombies. It's not like Andrea went to town and killed some zombies or something. She is just tanning her butt in the sun :) I think that was Laurie'spoint.
But men, especially in this show, are physically stronger and off course that you won't send your wife or girlfriend to crack zombie heads. And the food and the home that ladies provide really is the safe harbour and a tinny thread of normalcy in that chaos and thus their role is important too.
Dez, it's like we have this scary link. :) I can see your points, I mean Andrea's not a good weapons person. But Laurie just irks me with her attitude and though I don't like Andrea, I did appreciate the set down. Laurie's got a husband and a boyfriend. LOL
DeleteMy man would send me to crack zombie heads, otherwise he wouldn't be my man. :) Excellent argument for the other side, my friend.
I've just discovered that Laurie starred in PRISON BREAK too? And she claims she is a good friend with my Wenty Miller!! Say it isn't so! My Wenty wouldn't hang around that evil presence!
DeleteWell said! I'm so glad in our household shares responsibilities. Hubby does most cleaning, I cooking and laundry etc. Couldn't imagine doing things the Neanderthal way.
ReplyDeleteThank you! All the tasks are equally important to group survival. I like the way your house runs...Partners. :)
DeleteI was feeling the same way when I watched last week's episode. And I don't even like Andrea. I've spent a lot of time wishing and hoping for Andrea to become a zombie snack cake.
ReplyDeleteI would so love for Andrea to be a zombie snack cake too, she really is annoying. But I could not let Laurie's comments go unanswered. :)
DeleteI was WAITING for someone to speak up about this. That was definitely the most uncomfortable moment I've had in the entire show, and this is a fucking show where the undead get stabbed with screwdrivers. I really enjoyed last weeks episode for the Shane/Rick interactions because they're both epic together and they have a great dialog about morality vs. survival going on. And so I sat through the bullshit Laurie was feeding Andrea and PRAYED TO CHUCK NORRIS that this was some smart apology on behalf of the show for writing woman with 12th century minds. If Laurie wants to go on an anti-feminist rant, let her do it. She's the mother and home wife in this show, that's her role. Nothing wrong with that. What DOES bother me is the fact that the writers...don't have a smart rebuttal for her. Andrea is kind-of-sort-of their "cool" woman, but she's barely even that. What I'd like to see is a man who's not so fucking macho. I mean, we've got token-old-man and token-black-man who aren't doing ANYTHING except apparently sitting on their asses...so why can't they do a little laundry? Or a little cooking? No? No shared responsibilities?
ReplyDeleteThere's supposed to be this kickass black female loner character who comes into the comic series. When asked about her, the writers of the show said she might make an appearance if they get a third season. Well, the third season's coming along (question mark?) soon, so here's to hoping she shows up then. But even if she does show up...I'm not sure she's going to be able to justify two seasons of unapologetic anti-feminism and racism. I love this show dearly but...I will watch it only for the gore (and Norman Reedus), and never for it's social commentary.
/HUGE ANGRY RANT. In short: you're awesome, I think we need write a feminist zombie movie.
You and I could write the best zombie flick ever with a group of kick ass women like Vanna Helsing. ; I love that woman.
DeleteI'm intrigued by this female loner character. She should definitely become part of this crew. God know we need some seriously strong women on here. Norman Reedus is my main reason for watching. I want to see what they do with Daryl and Carol.
And you are so right about those other guys kicking in. I mean I like Dale and T-Dog, but seriously they have got to step it up. At least Glenn sticks his neck out by going into town and being zombie bait. I'd love to see Lennie James return as Morgan. He was cool.
NO way! I hate it when stereotypical roles are shown in places where you'd least expect to find them...like zombie tv...although now that I think about it I don't know why I expect zombie programs to be any less sexist than vampire, teen, or grown up programs. We need a clean slate because Oxygen network just isn't gettin' it done!
ReplyDeleteI know, right? You'd think in our paranormal/fantasy/sci fi tv we could get some non-sexist writing. :) I agree with you. We are in dire need of a network that features powerful women. Oxygen isn't nearly doing enough.
DeleteWOW! This is the fierce feminist and fiery vixen of visceral I so greatly admire :)
ReplyDeleteWhile I have yet to relent to the seemingly irresistible charms of Walking Dead (you can throw me to the wolves), I certainly can understand the frustration in your words. This myopic, women-are-slaves-to-domesticity mindset is shear blasphemy. I'm happy to know someone like you who leaves no stone unturned in the never-ending quest for archetypal equality.
Well-done, Mel :)
"Vixen of VITRIOL! LOL! I love spotting typos in my writing.
DeleteAww. thanks Matt! I appreciate your words very much. I had a class a long time ago and my professor was very astute on the portrayal of women in the media. She inspires me every day. You would have loved Prof. Kelly. She is a brilliant woman. The discussions we had carried on long after class was over.
DeleteWoman's work? Why does that even still come up. My husband watches that show. I'm too skeered of zombies, so I don't. I watch those ghost shows a lot--Ghost Adventures--then I always dream about haunted houses, and ghosts. Of course.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why women's work comes up, either. It's just plain wrong. I had to rewatch the ep just to make sure those were Laurie's words. My nephew and I watch the ghost shows. They are a scary good time. :)
DeleteOMGOsh, Melissa - I was ranting about this to my husband during the show! I've noticed a couple of times that Laurie is doing really dumb stuff, like why the heck did she have to go after the Dr. last episode (his name has just slipped my mind) because her husband and the others already went after him!? I don't know what's going on but the whole you need to do woman's work got under my skin too and my husband agreed totally! Whew, okay, I'm done ranting too. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL I know! Why did Laurie do that? Made no sense to me either. No worries on the ranting, that's what I'm here for. ;)
DeleteI didn't read your post. Sorry. I haven't seen any of the new episodes that started airing a few weeks ago. I'm avoiding any spoilers.
ReplyDeleteI'm just here to support you in whatever it was that you intended to say.
Rusty, you are the best! Enjoy the ep when you get to see it. It's a good one.
DeleteI didn't read the entire post, because I have yet to see the last 2 episodes and I didn't want to spoil anything. I'm a fan of TWD too, though at times it drags out a bit too much and that bores me. The characters are all amazing though and I always enjoy the dialogues. The walkers are my faves, no doubt about that. I need more of them!:)
ReplyDeleteNo worries, sweetie. :) I understand about not wanting spoliers. We can discuss after you catch up. The Walkers are my fave, too, and wish we saw more of them. The show does drag out at times, like the whole Sophia thing. I'm still addicted, though.
DeleteVery excited about the 2n season. The first season was highly enjoyable, especially the first 2 episodes.
ReplyDeleteThis season is great and I'm looking forward to a tird season. :) The first 2 eps of Season 1 were incredibly exciting, the best television I'd seen since the fourth season of Supernatural.
DeleteThis episode also pissed me off, I think that they should help out by doing the things they do the best and sharing whats left. Must have been a man that wrote that script :)
ReplyDeleteLOL Yes, I do think a man wrote this ep. And to have Laurie's character bring it up was just wrong. I mean she's the one with the kid, the husband and the boyfriend. :) That was a great put down by Andrea. And what about T-Dog and Dale? All they seem to do is futz around with that RV.
DeleteOMG. I haven't seen the second season yet - will play catch up when comes out on DVD - but I had this gripe even in season one. I expected them to resolve the issue in season two. I can tell you if there was an apocalypse (and I survived the initial plague/attack) there is NO way I'd be doing 'women work'. I'd be kicking ass along with the males!
ReplyDeleteI know! Where are all the strong women in this show. I love it, but I want to girl power to come strong. I'm tired of the guys handling everything.
DeleteI'd be kicking ass well. No cooking and cleaning duty for me unless there were guys to help.
I'd say they need new writers or a new storyboard. Thanks for commenting at Under the Tiki Hut today.
ReplyDeleteYes they do. They need to get some butt-kicking babes i there, pronto. :) I loved coming to the Tiki Hut and I will most certainly be back.
DeleteYou said it, sister! Women expected to wash a guy's socks and briefs post-Acopalypse?? Even today, that's a hell to the no. Let's go crack some zombie skull and send the men to the nearest laundromat. I'm really getting riled here, Melissa. I think our best tactic is to demand equal work while embracing our raving lunacy. That'll teach 'em!
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
Thank you! Let the guys go cook and clean while we get out there and kill some walkers. I was so worked up that my first run at this post was filled with a lot more curising LOL. They need much stronger female characters on here for sure.
DeleteWalking Dead is huge at my house! Laurie annoys the hell out of me! Yes, I'm homeward bound for now, but I have worked, dealt with a generator, shot a gun, and saved a frozen gas line in a truck in Alaska -30 below zero. I am out of practice shooting though, but I use to hit all my targets. (they were soda cans, but still, lol) They are going back to the wild west ways~
ReplyDeleteDo you watch TALKING DEAD?
I want you on my zombie team, Ella. ;) I am as addicted to Talking Dead as I am to Wlkaing Dead. I love celeb guests and the cast and crew members who show up each week. It's exactly the kind of discussion I have with my friends who are fans.
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