05-30-2014, 04:58 AM
(05-29-2014, 10:12 PM)Tuesday Pajamas Wrote: This article is very intersting...
I have seen this argument against the Leonard and Penny relationship time and time again. The idea of nerd entitlement, is both insulting to nerds and to the women who are harassed by them in the real world. So I thought some of you might like this posted. (thanks Dev)
It sums up a lot of my feelings about the relationship the writers chose to support on this show (rather than the far more intriguing Shenny connection).
And the gender reversal in Shamy, another relationship based on entitlement of an 'unfortunate' which is equally as insulting.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/20...nerds.html
We are dealing with two character rife with entitlement issues, Leonard and Amy. Both of them decided what they wanted and pressed Penny and Sheldon into going along. They both feel that the time that they've invested in the relationship entitles them to the benefits. Leonard goes along with whatever Penny wants because he wants the sex reward. Amy is disappointed that Sheldon has not yet given her that reward. Their relationship are entirely transactional and they believe that they have invested more than they have received. They both feel they deserve more from their partner.
Leonard also feels that despite undermining Sheldon's research in the Arctic, he deserves to be given tenure by the university. Amy believed that despite her lack of a real relationship with Bernadette, she deserved to be the Maid of Honor. Neither of these characters have ever had to deal with real disappointment or loss in their lives . They are privileged academics from academic families.
To be honest, they deserve a real kick in the face and a struggle. Penny and Sheldon have had to struggle their whole lives.
But we also need to remember that the nerd world has always been rife with misogyny on virtually every level. And entitlement. It's in our literature, our entertainment and our celebration of those things.