Raid Tombs, Not Wombs?
12 Jul
So, as it turns out, the lead writer for the new Tomb Raider is a lady. This is great news, but it does cast a weird light on the misogyny claims that were flying about when the game’s trailer revealed an attempted sexual assault on Ms. Croft.
The developers intended it as a defining moment for Lara: The first time she’s forced to take another human’s life, necessitated by extreme circumstances – but the public felt it was an unnecessary debasement of their hero.
Will anyone feel differently now that it seems apparent the scene was written by a woman?
(Personally, I’m withholding judgement until I’ve actually encountered the situation in its proper context.)
(- and, yeah, it appears I’m blogging again.)
Had it not been written by a woman, I still would not have considered it misogynistic. Sexual assault is a real and current and relevant terror. A female character encountering attempted sexual assault in dangerous situations is not unrealistic in the least. I’m surprised that no one has tackled that with this franchise yet. From what I could tell, it was in no way gratuitous, so I’m not sure why people are getting upset. I don’t like that people seem to want to avoid the discussion of sexual assault.
I’m glad you posted this. Certainly food for thought.
Thanks! I did feel like the original reaction was a little knee-jerk, but I’m not terribly invested in the character or her history, so I was reluctant to comment.
I have to agree, however, that it seems like this is a case of people being uncomfortable with the thought of a very real danger, and projecting that discomfort into a perceived offence by the production company.