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singerdiva01This week's meta question over at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
bsg_epics was: In what ways are your favourite characters like you, and in what ways are they different? Which of their traits are you most drawn to, and are they the ones that you most identify with?
I think I’m drawn to Laura and to write about her because she embodies so many of the traits that I hope I develop or hone as I get older. To me, the essence of her character is a grace, wisdom, and confidence that women really can only develop as they age and learn how to navigate a world of sexist expectations that color self-identity and self confidence as well as how the world perceives you and your actions.
For instance, Laura understood that Adama and Tigh’s initial perception of her -- inexperienced school teacher -- was imbued with sexism but reacted not by calling it out but by quietly proving herself with her actions. Young women, especially, are caught in the double bind of people taking silence as weakness but also too much strength as bitchiness or cattiness. I’d like to hope that I’ve gotten better at this with age but I can kind of see myself grabbing the comm after the “school teacher” remark and saying something to the effect of, “listen, you sexist old ogre, I’m the president and you can shove it up you ass, soldier.”
On a similar note, I think one of Laura’s greatest strengths as a woman and as a leader is her effective use of silence. It’s easy to read a situation like the early one in the conference room surrounded by men, as one in which it would be beneficial to verbally prove that she is truly one of the smartest people in the room. Instead, she gained their respect by listening quietly and using the knowledge imparted by others to inform her questions and bolster her own statements. Again, I see this as something that gets easier to master with age as you learn to read social and professional situations and become more quietly confident in one’s abilities.
One quality I love about Laura, and one I hope I embody, is a nuanced understanding of power and privilege and how it impacts interactions. She’s careful not to use her power or position to demean others, especially those who have far less (political and social) power than she does. She’s far more willing to take Fisk down a peg by getting in his face but is respectful and encouraging of Billy when he challenges her. Above all, she understands that power and privilege are only useful, rather than detrimental, when they are used in service of empowering and supporting those who have less of it.
And, of course, there are the smaller things with which I identify. I’m incredibly private and independent and am often told I have a hard time letting people get close to me. Like Laura, I also have the ability to make most people who interact with me think they are getting my full personality. I love love making people challenge their perceptions of what I should be. Laura is like, “yup, I can be president and show off my legs at the same time and they are not counter to one another” and I’m like, “yup, I’m a feminist leader and I adore nail art and high heels.”
So that was quite the ramble and not sure if it made sense or answered the question but there ya go! If you made it this far, thanks for reading!
bsg_epics was: In what ways are your favourite characters like you, and in what ways are they different? Which of their traits are you most drawn to, and are they the ones that you most identify with?I think I’m drawn to Laura and to write about her because she embodies so many of the traits that I hope I develop or hone as I get older. To me, the essence of her character is a grace, wisdom, and confidence that women really can only develop as they age and learn how to navigate a world of sexist expectations that color self-identity and self confidence as well as how the world perceives you and your actions.
For instance, Laura understood that Adama and Tigh’s initial perception of her -- inexperienced school teacher -- was imbued with sexism but reacted not by calling it out but by quietly proving herself with her actions. Young women, especially, are caught in the double bind of people taking silence as weakness but also too much strength as bitchiness or cattiness. I’d like to hope that I’ve gotten better at this with age but I can kind of see myself grabbing the comm after the “school teacher” remark and saying something to the effect of, “listen, you sexist old ogre, I’m the president and you can shove it up you ass, soldier.”
On a similar note, I think one of Laura’s greatest strengths as a woman and as a leader is her effective use of silence. It’s easy to read a situation like the early one in the conference room surrounded by men, as one in which it would be beneficial to verbally prove that she is truly one of the smartest people in the room. Instead, she gained their respect by listening quietly and using the knowledge imparted by others to inform her questions and bolster her own statements. Again, I see this as something that gets easier to master with age as you learn to read social and professional situations and become more quietly confident in one’s abilities.
One quality I love about Laura, and one I hope I embody, is a nuanced understanding of power and privilege and how it impacts interactions. She’s careful not to use her power or position to demean others, especially those who have far less (political and social) power than she does. She’s far more willing to take Fisk down a peg by getting in his face but is respectful and encouraging of Billy when he challenges her. Above all, she understands that power and privilege are only useful, rather than detrimental, when they are used in service of empowering and supporting those who have less of it.
And, of course, there are the smaller things with which I identify. I’m incredibly private and independent and am often told I have a hard time letting people get close to me. Like Laura, I also have the ability to make most people who interact with me think they are getting my full personality. I love love making people challenge their perceptions of what I should be. Laura is like, “yup, I can be president and show off my legs at the same time and they are not counter to one another” and I’m like, “yup, I’m a feminist leader and I adore nail art and high heels.”
So that was quite the ramble and not sure if it made sense or answered the question but there ya go! If you made it this far, thanks for reading!
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no subject
Date: 2014-02-04 07:55 pm (UTC)To me, the essence of her character is a grace, wisdom, and confidence that women really can only develop as they age and learn how to navigate a world of sexist expectations that color self-identity and self confidence as well as how the world perceives you and your actions.
I loved that comment. It really does sum her up and is a big part of what is so special about her, I think. And yes, about Laura's use of silence. I've always found her such a still person, if that makes any sense. She's the calm epicentre of the storm going on around her much of the time, and that somehow makes her stand out far more.
Loved all these answers :)
no subject
Date: 2014-02-04 08:41 pm (UTC)I envy the stillness. It's so not part of who I am. But since I've started writing Laura I find myself trying to imitate it more often!
no subject
Date: 2014-02-05 12:58 am (UTC)