Rafa! ★

Currently, Kathrah/Newsbians has been well "developed" and is very popular, BUT, we can't deny the whole purpose of the ship it's rooted in misoginy. The whole purpose of the ship, from what I saw, was: "Oh, we've already paired Jack with Davey, but it can't seem like we're ignoring his female and canon love interests, so let's just put them together and call it lesbian representation!!"

This is NOT as woke as some of you guys think it is. It still sidelines both Katherine and Sarah (in most cases) with the excuse that they are dating, and if I may add, saying that they are more "superior" or don't deserve Jack also is NOT that woke, it's just another excuse you use to appear supportive of women while favoring the two main men and leaving them at the sidelines, in addition to reinforcing misogynistic patterns towards Jack even, because, believe it or not, reversing gender roles and make Katherine or Sarah the "masculine and strong" one and Jack the "feminine and sensitive" one and even going as far as saying that Katherine should've slapped Jack when he was at his LOWEST, doesn't make them disappear, it only reinforces them.

My conclusion is that while I love the ship, it serves more as a stopgap and an excuse than a real ship so that the main gay ship can receive attention without backlash. I'm not stopping you from shipping them, especially since I love the ship myself, I'm just sharing a thought.

If you have counter-arguments and want to discuss my points civilly, feel free! I'm always open to new opinions :}

world ain’t ready - idiopathicsmile https://archiveofourown.org/works/2306315

pining for you - The Librarina (tears_of_nienna) https://archiveofourown.org/works/2792933

it’s got a groove, it’s got a meaning - lady_ragnell https://archiveofourown.org/works/4351757

have fun, and hope you enjoy!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65969809?view_adult=true

Not-A-Date- Probably my favorite asexualjolras fic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/10930743

And I know someone already recommended Throw me into the deep end, i’m ready now to swim by tamquams but I just wanted to say it’s an absolutely beautiful gem of a fanfic that I don’t see getting enough attention.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/58534444/chapters/149123095

lovesickness- idiopathicsmile

under my wings you will find refuge- fiver

you can handle me- tamquams

a grindr love story- vamillepudding (it's so funny)

throw me in the deep end, i'm ready now to swim- tamquams (beware this is LONG)

witchboy- tothewillofthepeople

The fact that Penelope is viewed as the "masculine" one in the relationship simply because Odysseus is a sensitive man who cries, feels, and is affected by the things he does only reinforces the stereotype that that women, or anything related to femininity, are "sensitive" and weak. Penelope isn't strong because she's Spartan and "could fight off suitors on her own," she's strong because she endured 20 years with 108 men wanting to do horrible things to her just to stay loyal to her husband that she didn't even know was alive. The association that strength is only "valid" when it is physical and masculine only proves that people cannot see a woman as strong in herself; they need to to create a narrative that makes her "the man" in the relationship and physically strong enough to be respected, Penelope is strong because she is a queen, she is smart, she was the only one who could match Odysseus's intellect, not because she is Spartan or a warrior, because she wasn't.

Changing the stereotypes of a standard heterosexual relationship between the two genders is just as misogynistic as the common stereotypes.

They might even say it's a joke depiction, but it affects their characters just as much as a truthful ones, because the greatest truths are often found in jokes, and only exacerbates a prejudice that is already structural in nature.