Sexism at Rocky

[jrising]

Elaina is quitting the show for a variety of reasons, but the relevant one is sexism at Rocky. She convinced me that the problem is extensive, but I don't know how to respect those concerns and still encourage the individual creative talents and sexualities of our members and the boundary-pushing of the show. But I think we can find a way, and enjoy our work better for reaching for it.

Sexism has become a party-crashing term. People worry that if they acknowledge it, it will make every decision more difficult and force us to be more conservative. It shouldn't. Sexism itself-- the faulty societally-ingrained role preconceptions we have-- is inherently incredibly conservative and creativity-blocking. By harboring it, we cripple the sexual and individual potential of our members.

I think that the best solution to the sexism problem has to do with promoting an attitude at the show, not by making rules, and I think we can do it, because we're strong, freely-sexual people who want to promote sexual equality. This attitude would be characterized by honest recognition of how our actions and shows play out sexual stereotypes, and the constant search for what's beyond them.

One aspect of this attitude might be that men at Rocky would be encouraged (expected) to put themselves on sexual display as much as women. It will make us better men. Another is that we should consider the sexism-jostling potential of our preshows. We can get more out of challenging our audience than playing to its fantasies.

Next week: How to get the most out of a rape fantasy...

Comments

[mals13.livejournal.com]

I can see where she is coming from, but on the other hand this is the way it has been forever. There is a general understanding between all of us that, yeah, we are here to entertain and if violence and sex is a form of entertainment that gets the best reaction, then so be it. If it really were a problem, more girls would be complaining about the sexist factors of the show instead of offering themselves up to get up on stage and strip for something as petty as Trixie. Rocky has always had a "strip club" mentality, that I've noticed. And we all understand that no one is out to hurt one another; sure there is lots of sexual harassment floating around the show, but us girls at the show know that it's all in good fun. Ok, yeah, some guys are over-the-top in their comments and gestures, but it's part of the game of Rocky.

It's too bad that we have to lose someone over an issue like this, but if she really feels this way then it's not the environment for her.

[transparencies.livejournal.com]

wow, i hate to have to rip into a friend like this, but your whole comment really, really, really irks me. that attitude is what allows a whole lot of the wrongs in the world to keep on going.

"but on the other hand this is the way it has been forever."

"If it really were a problem, more girls would be complaining"

"sure there is lots of sexual harassment floating around the show, but us girls at the show know that it's all in good fun."

yeah, if people feel offended, they should speak up. you're absolutely right. but a whole lot of the time, people feel too threatened to do so. no one wants to be the buzz kill who points out how offensive and wrong the actions of their friends are and how harmful to the mentalities of the cast and the audience. something wrong isn't made right simply because no one is willing to speak against it. it could mean it's so wrong that it's potentially dangerous.

[jrising.livejournal.com]

I think you're right that it's voluntary and self-perpetuated by the women at Rocky, and that makes it a lot better than it could be. I don't think the problem is sexual harassment, or has much to do with how women at Rocky want to be sexual. The problem is in the male-oriented atmosphere, the huge discrepancy in expectations between women and men, and how we're portraying sexuality to our audience.

Sex and violence get a great reaction, and I think we should have lots of both, but we aren't here to just please the crowd. Rocky is supposed to be extreme in its sexuality, not traditional. And as long as we expect sexuality to be primarily the job of women, we're never going to learn how to get the same strong reactions out of men being sexual.