Let’s hear it for the boys…

Posted on March 10, 2016

One of the most consequential pieces of dialogue within the TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was in the final episode of series 7. Buffy has to produce a morale boosting speech in order to keep her closest friends, and the young women who are in training, on a clear path of self-belief that they will win the fight in the end:

BUFFY: So here’s the part where you make a choice. What if you could have that power, now? In every generation, one Slayer is born, because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men. This woman is more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rule. I say my power, should be *our* power. Tomorrow, Willow will use the essence of this scythe to change our destiny. From now on, every girl in the world who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer. Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Can stand up, will stand up. Slayers, every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?

I think we can safely say that this is an emblem of female empowerment in a nutshell.  A couple of days ago marked the 19^th birthday of when the show originally started, and coincidentally International Women’s Day was celebrated on Tuesday 8^th March where there was a strong air of awareness for gender equality.

Yes, Buffy’s dialogue did take centre stage within the episode ‘Chosen’, but I couldn’t help but notice the men within the scene as well, all loyal and strong in their own way, who at some point supported the protagonist in her journey.  The old saying that behind every great man there’s a great woman well it works both ways. Behind every great woman there’s a great man. Both sayings work when ignorance and narcissism are left at the front door, for both women and men.

The key male figures within the scene were Giles, Xander and Spike, who are strong because:

Giles: He is Buffy’s mentor and a father figure.  He cared for her as if she was his own daughter. Giles never talked down to her or treated her with disrespect. He always knew her potential and encouraged it.

Xander: He has been in love with Buffy from the very beginning but instead of feeling any kind of resentment or animosity, he stood by her side through thick and thin. He would rather love Buffy and have her in his life than risk losing her over jealousy and selfishness.

Spike: Even though he put Buffy through hell, both physically and emotionally, he learnt how to control the animal within whilst spending the last of his days trying to repent. He would rather sacrifice himself then cause any more pain.

Another male character within the Buffy universe that needs a mention is Angel. Whenever I think of any key dialogue I always think of this where he needed to be strong in order to stand up to his own son:

Angel: What you did to me was unbelievable, Connor… But I did get time to think… about us… about the world. Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It’s harsh, and cruel. But that’s why there’s us – champions. Doesn’t matter where we come from, what we’ve done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world is as it should be, to show it what it can be. You’re not a part of that yet. I hope you will be.

[Angel walks right up to Connor and stares at him]

Angel: I love you, Connor. Now get out of my house.

He is teaching Connor that as long as you are living on this planet you must take responsibility for your actions, and this scene showed how he was strong enough to tell a few home truths.

Yes, Buffy is an amazing example of female empowerment but in the same sense we can’t be ignorant as to deny the strength of the male characters that played their part throughout. Taking a step back we could event suggest that it did not matter whether a female or male character was ‘strong’. Instead, look at them as an individual.

We can celebrate and be reminded of inspirational women on International Women’s Day, and we can also celebrate inspirational men on International Men’s Day on November 19^th. As previously mentioned, if we leave ignorance at the door then our time could be better spent working together.