I’ve been thinking about femininity and Game of Thrones. Lol.
I think in trying not to be a Gilly, many women accidentally turn into a Cersei or Yara. Gilly is weak and pathetic. She is (or was at least) a very real but still quite stereotypical victim in need of saving and being taken care of. Yara is badass but just grossly masculine and crude (and I don’t even mean her language), and while Brienne and Arya are more masculine too, they aren’t trying to be masculine; they’re just being who they are: badass warriors. I wouldn’t want to be them, but they are women worthy of respect, especially Brienne. I still need to see where Arya’s character ends up. I think she is young enough that her character is still somewhat malleable. Cersei and Ellaria are so hell bent on not being controlled by men or anyone for that matter that they just turn into evil, controlling, power hungry cunts.
I want to be a Daenerys. She is strong, wise, and powerful but also soft and beautiful and feminine. Her strength comes from her wisdom, and much of her wisdom comes from surrounding herself with wise people who aren’t afraid to challenge her and being able to listen to their council and weigh their advice logically. She doesn’t always follow their suggestions, and sometimes she makes the wrong decision (like telling the Lannister army to bend the knee or die and calling that a choice), but she always tries to do what her gut tells her is the right and just thing to do. She slaughters the enemy and does right by good people, and she is capable of giving people opportunities for change. She is ruthless when necessary but forgiving when warranted.
