Is Tolkien Sexist? Go Not to the Elves.

[martasfic]

I spent the better part of today writing out a "meta" (fan-essay) looking at the charge that Tolkien was sexist because the Fellowship and Thorin's company are all-male. I talked about gender among the Valar (looking at Yavanna/Aule, Uinen/Osse, and general descriptions from the Ainulindale), the Elves (looking at Aredhel, Galadriel, and general statements in LACE), and the Men (looking at Haleth, Tar-Zimraphel, and Eowyn). My conclusion is pretty much what the title implies: yes but also no, leaning heavily in the latter direction.

I'll probably write a more cleaned-up, less slangy version and post it at AO3 at some point, but in the meantime feel free to read it at

http://marta-bee.tumblr.com/post/109174369153/is-tolkien-sexist-go-not-to-the-elves

Also, dawn_felagund or rhapsody11, would SWG be interested in hosting a more formal version of this in the resource section? It's quite Silm-heavy, so if you want it, let me know.

Comments

[marta-bee.livejournal.com]

Rhapsody, can you or anyone else point me to the texts I should be using. I know the Silmarillion versions, but if there's interesting material elsewhere, I'd love to look at it.

The essay needs to be reframed obviously. I can see a way to give it more structure. I'm not sure I'll discuss every major woman character, it depends on what helps me move the essay along, but I'd at least like to read it.