Is Star Wars sexist?

[The Guid]

It just occured to me that I couldn't think of a female fighter pilot or trooper of any kind besides perhaps the female Jedi Twi'leck in Episode III and some vague token stuff done by Padme and Leia. Is this significant or am I over analysing?

[Noble Ire]

How are Padme and Leia "token?"

Some people just write differently, like Tolkien for instance. I am glad GL doesnt bend over backwards to be PC (and female fighter pilots were shot for ROTJ, but they were cut.)

[Spanky The Dolphin]

Purely overanalysis.

[VT-16]

Actually, there´s quite a large number of female background characters, both civilian and military in all six films. There´s a female in command of the ion cannon on Hoth, several women working in the hangars in ESB and ROTJ and the supreme commander of the whole bloody Alliance + her advisers were women. Gee, what more do you need, stormtroopers with bulging chest-armor?

[Nephtys]

Pretty much the Imperial military was entirely male from the on-screen info, but they aren't exactly portrayed as the model you want to follow. Elsewhere, sure there's things like dancers and the infamous Leia outfit, but most female roles in SW aren't bad from what's shown. It also makes sense that the Rebels wouldn't care who got what job provided they have the merits to do 'em.

Lesse. Mon Mothma is the leader of the whole rebellion, and a good number of the hoth command section were women. Leia is a pretty strong and memorable character for the OT. Padme was alright I spose, even if she struck me as dense.

So yeah, it's not that bad. There's no really atrocious uniforms or the like, therefore it's better than 3/4th of all SciFi.

[VT-16]

I nearly forgot, Padme´s handmaidens double as her bodyguards. And there´s female workers on the Coruscant spaceport in AOTC. And lets not forget all the female senators. And a bunch of women walking around the various cities and getting drunk alongside the men in the Mos Eisley cantina and the Outlander Club. There, is that progressive enough?

[Junghalli]

Gee, what more do you need, stormtroopers with bulging chest-armor?

For all we know quite a few of them are female. It's pretty hard to tell under that full body suit.

[The Guid]

Yep, you've pretty much got me convinced. Didn't think there was much of an argument for it being sexist but I just like to have the little questions in my head answered without incurring the wrath of the almighty being I live with for daring to put Star Wars onto the Television.

[Civil War Man]

Don't forget the female bounty hunter who managed to do a decent job evading a pair of Jedi trying to track her, leading them on a long chase through Coruscant before being cornered in a cantina.

[Sam Or I]

Isn't there a female fighter pilot in Episode I? During the battle over Naboo

[Drunk Monkey]

Isn't there a female fighter pilot in Episode I? During the battle over Naboo

Oui.

[Noble Ire]

Isn't there a female fighter pilot in Episode I? During the battle over Naboo

Oui.

If you must make a "me too" post (highly discouraged), please try at least to make it coherent.

And yes, there is a female pilot, and there may even be two. I recall one of them survived, and another was blown up.

[Drunk Monkey]

Isn't there a female fighter pilot in Episode I? During the battle over Naboo

Oui.

If you must make a "me too" post (highly discouraged), please try at least to make it coherent.

And yes, there is a female pilot, and there may even be two. I recall one of them survived, and another was blown up.

Oui pronounced we is French for yes, I was answering the boys question. I’m just used to typing oui as yes. Damn French teacher.

[Noble Ire]

Oui pronounced we is French for yes, I was answering the boys question. I’m just used to typing oui as yes. Damn French teacher.

I see now. I thought you were using the term as in "Oh boy" as it is sometimes used.

[Montcalm]

Don't forget the female bounty hunter who managed to do a decent job evading a pair of Jedi trying to track her, leading them on a long chase through Coruscant before being cornered in a cantina.

I thought she was an hired assassin.

[Drunk Monkey]

Don't forget the female bounty hunter who managed to do a decent job evading a pair of Jedi trying to track her, leading them on a long chase through Coruscant before being cornered in a cantina.

I thought she was an hired assassin.

Bounty hunter, assassin same fucking thing. It’s just that bounty hunter sounds cooler then assassin.

[Jay]

The captain of the Republic ship at the begining of the Phantom Menace was female also.

[Civil War Man]

Don't forget the female bounty hunter who managed to do a decent job evading a pair of Jedi trying to track her, leading them on a long chase through Coruscant before being cornered in a cantina.

I thought she was an hired assassin.

Bounty hunters have been known to carry out assassinations if the target in question doesn't necessarily have to be brought in alive. Hence Vader telling Boba Fett (specifically labelled to be a bounty hunter) "No disintegrations!"

[Kurgan]

Don't forget Yaddle!!!

Still, other than background/bit characters, each movie really only has one "strong female character."

Silly answer: Lucas is making his movies like the old myths, and in those women are in the background for the most part, except as the princesses that need rescuing, so uh.. that's why!

This politics of inclusion thing gets brought up a lot though. How come ther aren't any gays in ___? Why no asian Jedi? Why so few visible minority humans? etc. etc.


Another question would be, why is fandom/geekdom so male dominated?

I mean, I know there are a lot of female Star Wars fans, but, there you go... maybe Vs. debating just tends to be a testosterone thing.

[Noble Ire]

Why no asian Jedi?

Bultar Swan.

[Praxis]

Pretty much the Imperial military was entirely male from the on-screen info, but they aren't exactly portrayed as the model you want to follow. Elsewhere, sure there's things like dancers and the infamous Leia outfit, but most female roles in SW aren't bad from what's shown. It also makes sense that the Rebels wouldn't care who got what job provided they have the merits to do 'em.

Lesse. Mon Mothma is the leader of the whole rebellion, and a good number of the hoth command section were women. Leia is a pretty strong and memorable character for the OT. Padme was alright I spose, even if she struck me as dense.

So yeah, it's not that bad. There's no really atrocious uniforms or the like, therefore it's better than 3/4th of all SciFi.

The Imperial military was both sexist and racist (or should I say speciesist?). Non-humans and females could not join.


The Rebels and Republic were not.


BTW, you'll note several Jedi generals were women.

[Drunk Monkey]

Pretty much the Imperial military was entirely male from the on-screen info, but they aren't exactly portrayed as the model you want to follow. Elsewhere, sure there's things like dancers and the infamous Leia outfit, but most female roles in SW aren't bad from what's shown. It also makes sense that the Rebels wouldn't care who got what job provided they have the merits to do 'em.

Lesse. Mon Mothma is the leader of the whole rebellion, and a good number of the hoth command section were women. Leia is a pretty strong and memorable character for the OT. Padme was alright I spose, even if she struck me as dense.

So yeah, it's not that bad. There's no really atrocious uniforms or the like, therefore it's better than 3/4th of all SciFi.

The Imperial military was both sexist and racist (or should I say speciesist?). Non-humans and females could not join.


The Rebels and Republic were not.


BTW, you'll note several Jedi generals were women.

What about Dala?

[Noble Ire]

What about Dala?

Palpatine didnt know about her appointment to Admiral, it was all personally orchestrated by Tarkin (Dalaa was his mistress.)

[IRG CommandoJoe]

BTW, you'll note several Jedi generals were women.

Which ones? Any pictures? Or is this from the EU?

[Enforcer Talen]

she didnt deserve her commission