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Original poster

The power on prime

46 replies

drwitch · 10/04/2023 07:39

Not sure whether to post here or on telly addicts but thought here as interested in "terfy" reading of it. Anyone watched? Thoughts? Premise is a mutation that enabled teenaged girls to create electricity/lightening through their hands

OP posts:
FOJN · 10/04/2023 08:28

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I loved the book but didn't know it had been made into a series, I'll try to watch it this week.

One of the reviews caught my attention.

I read the book as soon as it was published back in 2017 and adored it. It gave me a new perspective on feminism and helped me avoid the pitfall of TERFism......

Results may vary. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

HorribleNecktie · 10/04/2023 08:28

I’ve read the book and started watching the TV show, enjoyed the first episode.

VoodooQualities · 10/04/2023 08:38

Oh great, thanks for the post. I didn't know they'd made it into a programme. I'll have to seek it out somehow (haven't got Prime).

I really loved the book, so many lines and scenes in it that make you sit up and think, and question all sorts of assumptions. Not always comfortable reading for a woman either, seeing ourselves basically becoming what we don't like in men.

If you haven't read it, it's essentially about what might happen if women became stronger than men.

Original poster
drwitch · 10/04/2023 08:39

@FOJN ha ha! I think the only plausible reading of the book is a soc fem terfy one

The sex of humans with more physical strength will acquire power over the others. Institutions will evolve that mitigate this to some degree but entrench it in others

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 10/04/2023 08:41

I’ve watched the first 3 I think. I’ve got the book but haven’t got around to reading it yet. Toni Collette is brilliant in everything.

VoodooQualities · 10/04/2023 08:41

I especially liked the wraparound prologue and epilogue where you see the sex roles reversed so beautifully.

FOJN · 10/04/2023 08:44

I really loved the book, so many lines and scenes in it that make you sit up and think, and question all sorts of assumptions. Not always comfortable reading for a woman either, seeing ourselves basically becoming what we don't like in men.

I agree. There was a description of where a group of men/boys saw a group of young women walking towards them and they boys/men felt fear and I wondered what women's lives would be like if men in the real world had that experience.

GreenWhiteViolet · 10/04/2023 08:49

I've watched the first few and I'm enjoying it.

There is a TW nun. It's explained in-universe that the convent is a group of 'rebel nuns' who have been excommunicated, so it makes logical sense, but the creative choice bothered me. The nuns in the show are taking in girls who have nowhere else to go. It seems it's now impossible to show a space just for women and girls without having a male person included.

Original poster
drwitch · 10/04/2023 08:51

Yes the TW nun grated on me too. Also the mayor's husband seems too perfect, almost if they are doing a "not all men"

OP posts:
VoodooQualities · 10/04/2023 09:05

Yes I remember that bit FOJN.

And the way that you can cause a man to get an uncontrolled erection. There was the rape scene of course, but the more powerful bit for me was the casual way she mentioned she'd done it consensually to a few boyfriends. For me that was such a perfect reversal of the sexual power dynamic. Indeed, what would life be like if men had that experience.

WarriorN · 10/04/2023 09:05

Talking of nuns, there's a series called warrior nun - also all female absolutely kick ass nuns.

The producer appears to have got around the TW issues by plonking in a TW who's all about fashion and looks early on and front have any real impact other than to dress the warrior nun up so she goes out partying with potential bf material. V tokenised. She then gives it all up and very cute boy for her higher purpose of being a very awesome fighting nun.

Many of the other warrior nuns are lesbians but all taken a vow of chastity obvs (it's v religious but also v funny.)

Its extremely clear that only the women can be part of the order.

I got terfy vibes though TRAs would be 'pleased' there's TW representation. Even though extremely stereotyped.

WarriorN · 10/04/2023 09:09

Oh and lots of wolves in sheep's clothing, sacred caste is not above suspicion etc

WolfFoxHare · 10/04/2023 09:14

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VoodooQualities · 10/04/2023 09:14

Presumably the TW in The Power would be the equivalent of a TM in our society.

I.e doesn't have the power so is no threat to the women. So they're not bothered about welcoming her into their spaces.

Much more interesting a depiction of transness would have been a transman who hasn't had her electric gland removed, and whether she should be allowed into men's spaces.

But they wouldn't go near that with a bargepole, I'd imagine.

WolfFoxHare · 10/04/2023 09:16

Oh sorry, just realised people have mentioned the TW already…

VoodooQualities · 10/04/2023 09:17

Not sure I've been entirely consistent with my pronoun use there!

VoodooQualities · 10/04/2023 09:18

I’m enjoying the show so far. I’m watching it with DH who seems less enthused by the thought of women being able to shoot electricity out of their hands, strangely.

Hopefully it will make him think.

WolfFoxHare · 10/04/2023 09:21

VoodooQualities · 10/04/2023 09:18

I’m enjoying the show so far. I’m watching it with DH who seems less enthused by the thought of women being able to shoot electricity out of their hands, strangely.

Hopefully it will make him think.

TBF to DH, he is pretty sensitive about women’s boundaries and concerns but I think my enthusiasm for the idea of being able to blast annoying blokes unnerved him a bit. I especially liked the bit where Roxy was forcing the bouncer to ‘give her a proper smile’.

VoodooQualities · 10/04/2023 09:36

It must be weird to have power over the opposite sex. The book definitely did get me thinking what it must be like to be a man.

HumphreyCobblers · 10/04/2023 09:40

I listened to a world service programme about this book a few years ago. The author was asked why she didn't include any trans representation in the book and she fell all over herself apologising. I thought if she HAD included any trans characters they wouldn't have had the new power, they simply couldn't have identified themselves into the power or the whole premise of the book would be negated.

Very interested in the pp point that TW would have occupied the space transmen do now, no threat to the dominant power. Makes total sense!

Original poster
drwitch · 10/04/2023 09:49

But my guess is that the trans nun is going to get the power....

OP posts:
Walrussy · 10/04/2023 09:56

Naomi Alderman is very TWAW, I think.

WolfFoxHare · 10/04/2023 11:09

Walrussy · 10/04/2023 09:56

Naomi Alderman is very TWAW, I think.

How disappointing. Like Atwood. It’s hard to believe women authors who write so with such insight about the sex-based discrimination suffered by women can be TWAW.

dimorphism · 10/04/2023 11:19

WolfFoxHare · 10/04/2023 11:09

How disappointing. Like Atwood. It’s hard to believe women authors who write so with such insight about the sex-based discrimination suffered by women can be TWAW.

Show quote history

Well, it's the fear isn't it. It's the fear of the mob.

They don't believe TW are actually W any more than the rest of us, they just don't want to receive death and rape threats to be cancelled, to have people cancelling their books. They're cowards, no more, but many women are because they have too much to lose. It's actually the woman's fear of violent men writ large, except at a societal level.

Atwood is a bit more difficult to understand because, whilst not as rich / uncancellable as JKR she does have the clout to weather the storm. Still, can we really blame anyone for not wanting the levels of violence KJK / JKR/ Riley Gaines receive?

ISaySteadyOn · 10/04/2023 11:21

I thought the book was interesting, but I also found it odd how she completely skipped over the fact that women still got pregnant and gave birth even with their electric power. It's as though female reproductive biology was irrelevant to women's lives. So I am not surprised she is TWAW.