Sexual promiscuity has always been a sort of hot-button topic for some, particularly those that consume vast amounts of artistic mediums wherein this "controversial" way of living is present. Some viewers take it upon themselves to feel scandalized by what they've seen--despite the fact that it has nothing to do with them--and condemn such shows, novels, etc., thus resulting in many members of younger generations being unable to view or read such content (for a limited time, of course). While it can be argued that a great deal of the blame lies within those that feel the need to be the world's content police--a stance that is incredibly accurate, by the way--it does not discount the fact that, in some ways, the creators of certain works are responsible for a considerable amount of scrutiny, as well. When thinking about these characters in great detail, it becomes blatantly obvious that something links the majority of them, and that similarity isn't their sexual prowess: it's the portrayal of their intelligence levels.
As an avid viewer of such texts (and, ya know, a female), it is becoming increasingly intolerable to be subjected to female characters that are depicted as idiots merely because they enjoy sexual activity. Not only is it encouraging the idea that generalizing an entire collection of people is an acceptable practice, but it also demonstrates to younger women that exploring their bodies will only lead them towards being marginalized as "that slut" or "whore," words that should never be used in any circumstance--but that's a different conversation for a different time. Sure, this isn't a lifestyle that everyone embraces; I don't partake in such acts, either. But that doesn't give anyone an excuse to denounce someone simply because she is living her life in a fashion that suits her. Does her way of life physically harm you? Furthermore, does it effect you at all?
The answer is no, by the way.
In 2012, Funimation licensed Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, a show that left the entirety of the Internet pretty damn shaken. It was (and still is, by nearly all standards) raunchy, filthy, deplorable, and an all around great time. The English script writer, Jamie Marchi, was instructed by the original, Japanese writers to make the script as disgusting and depraved as possible without breaking any United States' laws, and by god, she did it. And the final result was amazing. (This trailer does contain swearing, most of which has been censored, and scenes of sexual natures, of course.).
When I first watched Panty and Stocking, I thought it as brilliant. The blocked animation style suits the theme, the action sequences are ridiculously fun, and the girls genuinely don't give a damn. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the show; it's one of those go-to series to watch whenever I'm feeling a little down. However, as I've continued to view it over the years, the intelligence levels of Panty and Stocking have become somewhat of an irritant to me, and I've had to keep asking myself, "But why is Panty such an idiot?"
It can't be because the show would tank otherwise. The hilarity of the premise itself has nothing to do with the fact that she's not the brightest bulb in the box. She wasn't booted from Heaven for being a dunce; she received the ejection from the Big Man Upstairs because of her sexual behaviors, among other things. And that's when it hit me.
Panty doesn't have to be stupid. She's only been written that way in order to appease an audience, particularly those that think within the constraints of religion or societal constructs. If Panty were an intelligent angel that wasn't consistently proving her lack of thought processes, there would be no chance of "redemption," or really, no reason for it. By likening her sexual promiscuity with her overwhelming ignorance, the audience is able to subconsciously reinforce this idea that, "Oh, she's a woman that loves sex, so of course, she's an idiot. Just a dumb slut."
I know it's just a comedy, or just a silly anime, and that maybe I shouldn't be too worked up about something so small. But the thing is, as aforementioned, this is only a single instance glancing in towards an issue that is continuing to persist. It is instilling in young women this idea that they cannot have sexual confidence (if they wish to have it, of course) in tandem with intelligence, which is, in fact, something that is inherently dangerous. If anything, fictional works should be promoting the images of young women not only embracing their sexuality but also taking the steps towards having safe sex, which is something that many schools still refuse to include in their curriculum. Those "dumb" girls might just be much smarter than you think, especially if they're actually bothering to do research about the ways in which they can prevent pregnancy in a safe manner instead of relying on abstinence only programs.
In order to keep things consistent, in closing, I'd like to briefly mention the show Shimoneta (which actually has a much longer title, but no one has time for that). I would include the trailer, but even the censored version is a little too R-Rated for this website. It can easily be found on Funimation's YouTube page, though, and the show is available on Funimation.com, as well as Hulu.
Set in a pseudo-dystopian, future Japan, wherein all forms of sexuality and profanity are banned, a group of young "naughty terrorists"--led by a young woman, at that--decide to fight back against the ridiculous censorship laws. It would take a text the size of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables for me to expound clearly upon how much I love this show, but the fundamental point to be made here is that the female lead is not only the most intelligent member of the cast but also the catalyst for the revolt against censorship. She has sweeping speeches about how sexuality isn't a negative thing at all, and that everything the students experience within their bodies during puberty is completely and totally normal.
The world needs more shows like Shimoneta and more woman, fictional or not, to stand up for those that wish to use their bodies as they please.
