platovevo:

some of you have absolutely no empathy for straight women…. are you obligated to put up with their homophobia? no, of course not. but it’s not funny when they get abused and mistreated by men, it’s not funny when you compare dumb homophobic comments they make to actual physical violence enacted against wlw by men, it’s not funny when you define them solely by their relationships with men. if we are serious about achieving any kind of meaningful women’s liberation—and we should be—then we need to recognize that such a vision includes the idea that straight women are not beholden to men. that they can live fulfilling lives as women, surrounded by other women. they are traumatized by gender regardless of how much you personally dislike them, and they deserve better.

betweentheheavesofstorm:

Despite the absence of Napoleon at East High, I contend that the High School Musical franchise can in certain contexts be considered as a modern reimagining of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Both centre around an awkward young man (Pierre Bezukhov and Troy Bolton) whose arc centres on questions of identity: who are they, whose advice should they follow and how should they live their life? Both also clash with an attractive and popular young woman (Helene Kuragina and Sharpay Evans) who seek them out in order to improve their own position. While Sharpay is more restrained than Helene, both are characterised chiefly by ambition, ruthlessness and a questionably incestuous dynamic with their brother – though I concede that there is little resemblance between Anatole Kuragin and Ryan Evans. Rather, Ryan is Nikolai Rostov – a young man easily influenced at the outset of the story, who develops his independence and finds a place for himself in a different social group. Furthermore it is clear that Kelsey Nixion, the shy songwriter of the High School Musical saga, is a foil for the dutiful Marya Bolkonsky – both committed to obeying the whims of another, until unexpected emancipation allows them to find fulfilment in the company of Ryan/Nikolai. In this essay I will