SPOILERS FOR SEASON 6
I need a good rant.
So, here's the thing: Right now, Huddy fans (in general) hate the Luddy arc because they think it is dooming Huddy. Let's, for a moment, set aside any stupid Huddy/Luddy arguments. Personally, I have found most of the Huddy/Luddy arguments replusive (by the way, the rape theory is so absolutely offensive and I am horrified that House MD fans would come up with such an insensitive and offensive theory. I mention this theory because it iugnay very closely with what I am about to say here). Some (loud) Huddy fans have been saying a few things about Cuddy that have really, really been offensive and I want to take a look at this issue.
Cry Yourself To Sleep, Cuddy
Whether you like Lucas and Cuddy together or not, is it appropriate to suggest that Cuddy forces herself to sleep with Lucas because she thinks that that is what she wants? Is it fair to suggest that women force themselves to sleep with men because they want security in their lives? For sure, for some women, this is a reality, and it is unfortunate that some women find themselves in that position. So should we use this relationship model describe Lucas and Cuddy? The assumption seems to be that Cuddy is a weak and amoral woman for sleeping with Lucas to gain stability in her life.
The rape theory (that Lucas rapes Cuddy every night), is repulsive, and like I sinabi earlier, it is horrifying that a House tagahanga would suggest such an awful theory about the Lucas/Cuddy relationship. But once again, this theory positions Cuddy as this weak woman who stays with a man out of fear. Again, this is reality for many women worldwide, so to use this as a theory for Lucas/Cuddy is not only disrespectful but also functions to trivialise rape.
So, in these theories, the woman is always positioned as weak and as passive. She is devalued and despised. Because Cuddy has rejected House, she deserves this position and deserves to cry herself to sleep at night. She should be disgusted sa pamamagitan ng her weakness and ashamed of her choice.
A Happy Woman Is A Dangerous Woman
Cuddy (in season 6) has also been portrayed sa pamamagitan ng certain fans as selfish and bitchy. Because she has rejected House and created a loving and stable life with Lucas, people have sinabi that she is bitchy and selfish for moving pasulong in her life and being happy. Cuddy does not deserve happiness unless that happiness is with House? Nevermind that House has not treated her well or with much respect over the past few years? Now that House is madami open about his feelings for Cuddy, she should abandon the happiness that she has found? Why? Her relationship with House is rocky and she is not guaranteed respect or affection. Should Cuddy give up the happiness she has now in favour of the uncertainty of a House relationship? Some fans seem to think so. This suggests that House's happiness is madami important than Cuddy's. And that is pretty much the foundation of patriarchy. It is a woman's job to compliment a man, assist him in his life and serve him.
What the Luddy relationship represents is a woman claiming her right to respect, dignity and affection. Cuddy has made a choice to have stability and affection in her life rather than the kind of life that House might offer her. The point is not which life she should choose, but the fact that she had the audacity to choose for herself in the first place. Patriarchy still informs women that they have to place the needs of others above their own needs. Cuddy has placed madami importance on her life than on House's life and that is offensive to patriarchal culture. How dare Cuddy choose her own happiness over the happiness of a man? This is what tagahanga reactions are saying. It probably isn't conscious for most of those fans, but it is a thought that seems to be underlying the tagahanga outcry.
Happy, agentic women are a danger to patriarchy, and they need to be controlled. This tagahanga outcry about Cuddy's choice is a form of control, as the outcry is social punishment for women who do follow in Cuddy's footsteps. Plus, if the ratings for the ipakita drop significantly due to the Luddy arc and the ipakita gets cancelled, then this sends the message that we are a culture that does not want women to decide what is right for themselves and their families. It says we are a culture that wants to see women being devalued and devaluing themselves.
I don't wish to argue for or against either Luddy or Huddy, as I am a huge tagahanga of both ships. But I do want to argue against the way that Cuddy is being portrayed sa pamamagitan ng a lot of Huddy fans. These portrayals are damaging to all women, not just fictional tv women, because these portrayals are symptoms and signals of Western culture. These portrayals are offensive to women.
EDIT: PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS ON THIS artikulo FOR madami EXAMPLES AND EXPLANATIONS!
Why did I post this artikulo in the Luddy spot? Good question. Because I feel as though I can voice my opinion here. I know I can no longer share my thoughts on these issues in the Huddy spot because a lot of people over there are instant on their right to hate Luddy. And they do have that right. But along with that hate comes a resistance to opposing ideas and a generall lack of critical analysis of what is being sinabi and the consequences of what is being said. So, I thank all you Luddy fans for making this fandom so tolerant, open and engaging. And I thank the Huddy fans who do participate in tolerant and respectful debates.
I really needed to rant about that. If you read all that, or even part of it, then thank you. It probably isn't clear or well written because its 1am here and I just read a few comments that really made me angry and upset with the state of House fandom. The Luddy spot has become a sort of refuge from all that crap because we focus on the pag-ibig of the Lucas/Lisa relationship. Thank you Luddy fans for being a great example to the rest of House fandom. ♥
I need a good rant.
So, here's the thing: Right now, Huddy fans (in general) hate the Luddy arc because they think it is dooming Huddy. Let's, for a moment, set aside any stupid Huddy/Luddy arguments. Personally, I have found most of the Huddy/Luddy arguments replusive (by the way, the rape theory is so absolutely offensive and I am horrified that House MD fans would come up with such an insensitive and offensive theory. I mention this theory because it iugnay very closely with what I am about to say here). Some (loud) Huddy fans have been saying a few things about Cuddy that have really, really been offensive and I want to take a look at this issue.
Cry Yourself To Sleep, Cuddy
Whether you like Lucas and Cuddy together or not, is it appropriate to suggest that Cuddy forces herself to sleep with Lucas because she thinks that that is what she wants? Is it fair to suggest that women force themselves to sleep with men because they want security in their lives? For sure, for some women, this is a reality, and it is unfortunate that some women find themselves in that position. So should we use this relationship model describe Lucas and Cuddy? The assumption seems to be that Cuddy is a weak and amoral woman for sleeping with Lucas to gain stability in her life.
The rape theory (that Lucas rapes Cuddy every night), is repulsive, and like I sinabi earlier, it is horrifying that a House tagahanga would suggest such an awful theory about the Lucas/Cuddy relationship. But once again, this theory positions Cuddy as this weak woman who stays with a man out of fear. Again, this is reality for many women worldwide, so to use this as a theory for Lucas/Cuddy is not only disrespectful but also functions to trivialise rape.
So, in these theories, the woman is always positioned as weak and as passive. She is devalued and despised. Because Cuddy has rejected House, she deserves this position and deserves to cry herself to sleep at night. She should be disgusted sa pamamagitan ng her weakness and ashamed of her choice.
A Happy Woman Is A Dangerous Woman
Cuddy (in season 6) has also been portrayed sa pamamagitan ng certain fans as selfish and bitchy. Because she has rejected House and created a loving and stable life with Lucas, people have sinabi that she is bitchy and selfish for moving pasulong in her life and being happy. Cuddy does not deserve happiness unless that happiness is with House? Nevermind that House has not treated her well or with much respect over the past few years? Now that House is madami open about his feelings for Cuddy, she should abandon the happiness that she has found? Why? Her relationship with House is rocky and she is not guaranteed respect or affection. Should Cuddy give up the happiness she has now in favour of the uncertainty of a House relationship? Some fans seem to think so. This suggests that House's happiness is madami important than Cuddy's. And that is pretty much the foundation of patriarchy. It is a woman's job to compliment a man, assist him in his life and serve him.
What the Luddy relationship represents is a woman claiming her right to respect, dignity and affection. Cuddy has made a choice to have stability and affection in her life rather than the kind of life that House might offer her. The point is not which life she should choose, but the fact that she had the audacity to choose for herself in the first place. Patriarchy still informs women that they have to place the needs of others above their own needs. Cuddy has placed madami importance on her life than on House's life and that is offensive to patriarchal culture. How dare Cuddy choose her own happiness over the happiness of a man? This is what tagahanga reactions are saying. It probably isn't conscious for most of those fans, but it is a thought that seems to be underlying the tagahanga outcry.
Happy, agentic women are a danger to patriarchy, and they need to be controlled. This tagahanga outcry about Cuddy's choice is a form of control, as the outcry is social punishment for women who do follow in Cuddy's footsteps. Plus, if the ratings for the ipakita drop significantly due to the Luddy arc and the ipakita gets cancelled, then this sends the message that we are a culture that does not want women to decide what is right for themselves and their families. It says we are a culture that wants to see women being devalued and devaluing themselves.
I don't wish to argue for or against either Luddy or Huddy, as I am a huge tagahanga of both ships. But I do want to argue against the way that Cuddy is being portrayed sa pamamagitan ng a lot of Huddy fans. These portrayals are damaging to all women, not just fictional tv women, because these portrayals are symptoms and signals of Western culture. These portrayals are offensive to women.
EDIT: PLEASE READ THE COMMENTS ON THIS artikulo FOR madami EXAMPLES AND EXPLANATIONS!
Why did I post this artikulo in the Luddy spot? Good question. Because I feel as though I can voice my opinion here. I know I can no longer share my thoughts on these issues in the Huddy spot because a lot of people over there are instant on their right to hate Luddy. And they do have that right. But along with that hate comes a resistance to opposing ideas and a generall lack of critical analysis of what is being sinabi and the consequences of what is being said. So, I thank all you Luddy fans for making this fandom so tolerant, open and engaging. And I thank the Huddy fans who do participate in tolerant and respectful debates.
I really needed to rant about that. If you read all that, or even part of it, then thank you. It probably isn't clear or well written because its 1am here and I just read a few comments that really made me angry and upset with the state of House fandom. The Luddy spot has become a sort of refuge from all that crap because we focus on the pag-ibig of the Lucas/Lisa relationship. Thank you Luddy fans for being a great example to the rest of House fandom. ♥