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Person Destroys The ‘Women Didn’t Grow Up On Star Wars The Way Men Did’ Myth With A Badass Real Life Example
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Person Destroys The ‘Women Didn’t Grow Up On Star Wars The Way Men Did’ Myth With A Badass Real Life Example

Person Destroys “Women Didn’t Grow Up On Star Wars The Way Men Did” Argument With A Badass StoryPerson Destroys The 'Women Didn't Grow Up On Star Wars The Way Men Did' Myth With A Badass Real Life ExampleStar Wars Fan Shares Picture Of Dedicated Teenage Girl Cosplaying In 1977 To School Mates On Fandom HistoryPerson Deconstructs The 'Women Didn't Grow Up On Star Wars The Way Men Did' Myth With A Story From 1977Person Shuts Down Claim That Claim That Argument That Star Wars Is Not A Girl Thing, Gets Shut Down With A Story Of A Girl From 1977Someone Claims That Women Didn't Grow Up On Star Wars, Gets Shut Down By This Person Posting A Wholesome StoryCosmo Posts A Ridiculous 'Guide To Star Wars' For Women, As A Comeback This Vintage Cosplay Pic Resurfaces
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Yes, there are women who are into Star Wars, and some people can’t believe we’re still having this conversation. If you’re wondering why it’s come up again, it’s because fans are annoyed after Cosmopolitan printed a Star Wars 101 article that’s so fluffy and patronizing it’s kind of hard to believe it’s real. This Twitter user spotted the article that basically implies that millennial women⁠—yes, that would be women in their 20s and 30s⁠—would only potentially be interested in the series for the opportunity to lust after brooding villains (and have no cultural references from before 2010, for some weird reason. Who talks like this?)

This Cosmo article had people rolling their eyes

Image credits: PlayWithJambo

The tired article reminded the internet of a couple of years ago, when people were surprised by the proportion of women, over 40% of opening night audiences, turning up to see new Star Wars releases, and the internet argued that while the introduction of some new heroines might have driven statistics up a bit, this was no new phenomenon.

Image credits: ihatealexd

Our favorite picture to pull out when anyone questions whether women in fandom are a new trend is this awesome picture that an old-school Star Wars fan posted of a teenage girl posing in a costume that she made just after the release of the very first Star Wars film, A New Hope. Early cosplayers didn’t have many references to work with before the age of the internet, which makes her dedication especially impressive.

A Tumblr user shared this awesome vintage cosplay pic

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The picture drew comments from people for whom, regardless of gender, Star Wars and other sci-fi series were big parts of their childhoods. We think “not understanding statistics well” nails it… science fiction history scholars say that even in the 1940s, with the rise of printed science fiction, polls indicated that between 40% and 50% of readers were women. Doesn’t look that different from the amount of young women heading to theaters to see Star Wars 75 years later. The conclusion? Humans just like fiction, so let’s retire this stereotype that geeky women are a rare species.

Here’s what commenters had to say

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Lili North

Lili North

Author, BoredPanda staff

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Lili ended up in Vilnius, Lithuania out of her curiosity for studying languages, and stayed here out of sheer willpower. She loves cats maybe even a little more than the internet average and enjoys cooking videos despite only fantasizing about being able to make anything more complicated than fried rice.

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Lili North

Lili North

Author, BoredPanda staff

Lili ended up in Vilnius, Lithuania out of her curiosity for studying languages, and stayed here out of sheer willpower. She loves cats maybe even a little more than the internet average and enjoys cooking videos despite only fantasizing about being able to make anything more complicated than fried rice.

Denis Tymulis

Denis Tymulis

Author, Community member

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Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding. Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

Read less »

Denis Tymulis

Denis Tymulis

Author, Community member

Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding. Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

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MissPrideGirl
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love star wars sci fi is my favourite genre. I'd don 't know why some men think that's most women not know star wars.

Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just a lie invented so they can keep all the good stuff to themselves. Hah!

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Garrett Wilson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is a Fact is Nerds were actually Nerds back then it wasn't seen as cool at all

Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's okay. I grew up on Star Trek, bieeeech! ♥ (joke, both are good franchises, although I personally do prefer the trekky)

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MissPrideGirl
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love star wars sci fi is my favourite genre. I'd don 't know why some men think that's most women not know star wars.

Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just a lie invented so they can keep all the good stuff to themselves. Hah!

Load More Replies...
Garrett Wilson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is a Fact is Nerds were actually Nerds back then it wasn't seen as cool at all

Daria B
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's okay. I grew up on Star Trek, bieeeech! ♥ (joke, both are good franchises, although I personally do prefer the trekky)

Load More Comments
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