Feminism in Fantasy: How Game of Thrones was the only one that got it right.

 Feminism in Fantasy: How Game of Thrones was the only one that got it right

    In the world of fantasy, one of the most common criticisms of the genre has historically been the underrepresentation of female characters and how none of them pass the Bechdel Test. For all of you Lord of the Rings fans, the next time you watch the trilogy, try and count the number of times two female characters talk to each other during the entire nine-hour runtime (It's only once, by the way).

    With this preconceived notion in mind, it's easy for an outsider to look at a series like Game of Thrones and assume that it falls into the same category. After all, this is the same series that has become infamous for its graphic and sexual content and follows a predominantly male-centered plotline. However, upon closer examination, those same outsiders can see how diverse the story really is and how well it celebrates its female characters.

    Out of all of the female characters in the story, the one that sticks out to me the most is Asha Greyjoy (or Yara, depending on whether you're reading the books or not). Despite being the only daughter in one of the most feared families in the story, she earns the respect of her people and aims for a crown after the death of her father. But due to a complicated political backstory that nobody wants to hear about, she's suddenly abandoned by her people and needs to work to claim what's rightfully hers. While other fantasy stories may view this type of character as an antagonistic rebel, Thrones follows her viewpoint as one of the main characters. It offers a unique insight into a woman's perspective in this feudal world, and despite how stoic and badass she is, she's still a realistically complex character, something that Tolkien always struggled with in his writing.

What are some other examples of strong female leads in fantasy? I'd love to broaden my view on the topic!