Part 7/9:
A recurring theme in this discourse is the hypocrisy surrounding representation. Critics have no problem praising transgender or non-conforming characters when they are depicted in a non-sexualized manner, yet they often attack sexualized portrayals of conventionally attractive women. The idea is that if the protagonist had been a marginalized or traditionally oppressed identity, the reaction would have been entirely different.
This double standard underscores a broader societal debate about what constitutes appropriate representation and how social justice concerns are sometimes weaponized to police media content.