NoiseSpren he/him Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 Is it possible that Jasnah is still single partly because of some event? I mean she was potentially raped in her youth. That could (read: must) build some mental blocks. And her mental illness probably. Poor little Jasnah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathfinder Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 2 minutes ago, NoiseSpren said: Is it possible that Jasnah is still single partly because of some event? I mean she was potentially raped in her youth. That could (read: must) build some mental blocks. And her mental illness probably. Poor little Jasnah. There are a whole host of theories that run the gambit, and fit for some, or don't fit for others. So if that theory works for you, I wish you luck! I have my own I cling to. The back five cannot come soon enough to find out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywatch she/her Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I strongly hope that is not the case. One of the reasons I like Jasnah so much is that she appears to be firmly atheist and uninterested in men/marriage without an apparent trauma. It's just so common to have the trope that the way to make a strong woman is to traumatize her, so I'm very much invested in Brandon not writing it like that. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RShara she/her Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 1 hour ago, Greywatch said: I strongly hope that is not the case. One of the reasons I like Jasnah so much is that she appears to be firmly atheist and uninterested in men/marriage without an apparent trauma. It's just so common to have the trope that the way to make a strong woman is to traumatize her, so I'm very much invested in Brandon not writing it like that. 1000% agree with this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSuperLee he/him Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 One thing we can be sure of. If it did happen that person is now dead. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Invocation Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I'm with Greywatch and RShara. I kind of want her to stay uninterested because she wants to be uninterested, not because of some trauma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoiseSpren he/him Posted February 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I wanted to say it may be part of why she is uninterested. Not Only And Sole Reason. Like, I think it has to be more complex (Hey! That's Brandon writing the story!) than just: "Oh, thanks, I am just uninterested, brightlords." This sounds more like something of the "Pride and prejudice" book group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwordNimiForPresident the sword/that sword Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 I think she’s uninterested because she has never been able to find someone that is her equal. I mean this physically, magically and intellectually. She is easily one of the most powerful, intelligent and beautiful (not to mention dangerous) women in the Cosmere. She seems like the kind of person that would seek a partner that can challenge her. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Invocation Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 4 minutes ago, NoiseSpren said: I wanted to say it may be part of why she is uninterested. Not Only And Sole Reason. Like, I think it has to be more complex (Hey! That's Brandon writing the story!) than just: "Oh, thanks, I am just uninterested, brightlords." This sounds more like something of the "Pride and prejudice" book group. I just want it to be fresh, with Jasnah choosing to be completely aloof from marriage or romance, of her own volition. Too many of the "uninterested" characters have been abused and I kind of hope Brandon doesn't take that route.Then again, he might, and I'd accept that no problem, I just want something new for once. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRioter she/her Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 As a real life asexual person, yeah the 'person who is uninterested in sex because they've been abused' trope is...overdone. Obviously there are in fact people like that in real life, but when that's the only kind of asexuality/voluntary celibacy that gets represented in fiction it's kind of grating. Some people are uninterested in sex because that's just how they are. There doesn't have to be a Tragic Backstory reason. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathfinder Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 (edited) There is also the chance that Jasnah is asexual, which if that is the case then there would be ample reason for her to be uninterested and it just be because she is uninterested. One of the many theories edit @CrazyRioter lol timing Edited February 19, 2019 by Pathfinder 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greywatch she/her Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 A very big part of the reason that I hate the trope is that trauma, especially sexual assault, is used as a replacement for complex character writing for women. I've been turned off of so many stories because the only explanation of a woman's character or backstory is "Oh, she was assaulted. That's why she is the way she is." It comes off as a thoughtless throwaway instead of exploring a female character's story. I personally don't find it complex or interesting at all; I'm pretty sick of seeing it when the stories are not equipped to handle the specific kind of trauma recovery that is sexual abuse, and that's most of them. This is not a knock against Brandon - in fact it was a total relief to get the idea that nothing happened to Jasnah for her to be this way. I know plenty of women who are like her and there is no traumatic reason as to why they aren't interested in men or relationships. It is not inherently more complex or realistic to require a traumatic event to have a woman be this way. Sexual trauma is just not the same thing as other trauma and I'm leery when I see anyone attempt it, even a writer like Brandon whom I trust. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calderis he/him Posted February 19, 2019 Report Share Posted February 19, 2019 (edited) 45 minutes ago, Greywatch said: Sexual trauma is just not the same thing as other trauma and I'm leery when I see anyone attempt it, even a writer like Brandon whom I trust. Absolutely agree. While I can understand why people think this (because media has kind of trained us too) it's normally handled very... Crudely. This kind of trauma is just not something that works the way entertainment wants it too. Like any trauma it alters your neural pathways and changes your thinking... But the specific areas this can effect are not the same. To say it kindly, "this does not perform as advertised." I'd very much like to see this trope die. Edited February 19, 2019 by Calderis 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoiseSpren he/him Posted February 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 Ok, I retreat. Brando is not going to screw it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iyatil Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 (edited) 14 hours ago, SwordNimiForPresident said: I think she’s uninterested because she has never been able to find someone that is her equal. I mean this physically, magically and intellectually. She is easily one of the most powerful, intelligent and beautiful (not to mention dangerous) women in the Cosmere. She seems like the kind of person that would seek a partner that can challenge her. I agree. I also just finished a reread of SA and want to note that we really know very little about Jasnah and the idea that Jasnah is wholly uninterested in men is not supported by her POV but rather an artifact of the fandom—there are so many reasons a woman like Jasnah would refuse to marry a man in Alethi society that don’t require her to be uninterested in men; I think her losing her independence and not finding the right person are sufficient reasons. Additionally, as a heterosexual feminist I find the assumptions some fans (not in this thread) make that Jasnah’s personality and strength mean she must be a lesbian to be puzzling and essentialist in a troubling way. Not that I think this rules out any explanation, but we just don’t know she is uninterested. Edited February 20, 2019 by Iyatil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedside she/her Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 16 hours ago, SwordNimiForPresident said: I think she’s uninterested because she has never been able to find someone that is her equal. I mean this physically, magically and intellectually. She is easily one of the most powerful, intelligent and beautiful (not to mention dangerous) women in the Cosmere. She seems like the kind of person that would seek a partner that can challenge her. Agree with you. Hope this is the case, though I won't mind the idea TS stated, if it's handled properly. What I wouldn't like is Jasnah being asexual no matter what. In that conversation with Shallan, which people bring as an evidence of her asexuality, I see only her despise of arranged marriages. I think (well, I hope) she would be open to a marriage for love, if she met a man who was capable of intriguing her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRioter she/her Posted February 20, 2019 Report Share Posted February 20, 2019 6 hours ago, Iyatil said: I agree. I also just finished a reread of SA and want to note that we really know very little about Jasnah and the idea that Jasnah is wholly uninterested in men is not supported by her POV but rather an artifact of the fandom—there are so many reasons a woman like Jasnah would refuse to marry a man in Alethi society that don’t require her to be uninterested in men; I think her losing her independence and not finding the right person are sufficient reasons. Additionally, as a heterosexual feminist I find the assumptions some fans (not in this thread) make that Jasnah’s personality and strength mean she must be a lesbian to be puzzling and essentialist in a troubling way. Not that I think this rules out any explanation, but we just don’t know she is uninterested. I just want more asexual representation, and I already identify with Jasnah for other reasons,so I like to headcanon her as asexual. I do understand where you are coming from here though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iyatil Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 5 hours ago, CrazyRioter said: I just want more asexual representation, and I already identify with Jasnah for other reasons,so I like to headcanon her as asexual. I do understand where you are coming from here though. Oh my post was not about headcanon I’m just talking about the statements that Jasnah has some ascertained sexuality in canon, which we just don’t have textual evidence for—she totally could be asexual, she could be a lesbian, she could be all kinds of things of course. I have my own headcanon details about the main characters that might or might not be true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherlock Holmes he/him Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 I'd like to finally have a lesbian in the Cosmere. Seriously. They're not as rare as they seem. I'd agree about the sexual trauma thing. Sometimes you're just not interested. Asexual would be new, to me, at least. I've never met an asexual person (at least one who has told me they're asexual), so having Jasnah be asexual would some cool representation of a minority. (Though I think minorities are overplayed in fiction, sometimes.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyRioter she/her Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 18 minutes ago, Sherlock Holmes said: I'd like to finally have a lesbian in the Cosmere. Seriously. They're not as rare as they seem. I'd agree about the sexual trauma thing. Sometimes you're just not interested. Asexual would be new, to me, at least. I've never met an asexual person (at least one who has told me they're asexual), so having Jasnah be asexual would some cool representation of a minority. (Though I think minorities are overplayed in fiction, sometimes.) Ranette is a lesbian, though it's mostly off screen (there's a mention of her having a girlfriend in BoM). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherlock Holmes he/him Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 Just now, CrazyRioter said: Ranette is a lesbian, though it's mostly off screen (there's a mention of her having a girlfriend in BoM). That’s legiiiit. I dig it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts