Yup, definitely making fem!Valjean very smart, agile, with a sharp eye and preternatural reflexes (which I don't think is subject to sexual dimorphism, since it's more mental than physical?)... but I'm still keeping the eidetic memory and super-strength for a woman ;P She's not only suspect, but outright disliked because she doesn't fit the submissive feminine mold, and hence, men are intimidated by her and pick on her especially, much like (was this in the brick or fanon?) Valjean bore a lot more abuse in prison because his strength made him a threat, and someone the guards had to make an example of.
Oh! That's an interesting observation about Gorbeau House! I'm not sure if I've seen any fic from Valjean's perspective, exploring his fear of torture and rape. He acted calm in the brick, but I imagine a lot more was going on in his head. Given that male prostitution was widespread during that time period, he's undoubtedly aware that men can be the subject of rape too. Also, while Valjean's strength may protect him from other prisoners, I'm sure he knows that any of the guards could force themselves on him, and he couldn't do anything. Authority and a pistol trumps the strongest of men. He might have even witnessed it happening to fellow prisoners.
What exactly were Hugo's words on Valjean's sexuality while in prison? The way you phrase it, it sounds like he blocked out some kinda sexual trauma from that period.
You're right, societal expectations around feminine beauty actively discourage raw strength. Look at how we talk about the muscles on female athletes, such as the recent kerfuffle in the tennis world. If for centuries, women were restricted from physically demanding tasks, while these same tasks were encouraged in men, who can say how much is nature and how much is "societal selection"? We've already seen that poverty changes brain chemistry, and these changes are passed down through generations. Perhaps much of the discrepancy between males and females comes from a similar vein... without natural selection by predators, social roles make us who we are.
Le sigh. I don't know how fem!Valvert can live happily ever after in their day and age :( though I'd like a post-Seine AU where fem!Javert comes to terms with her internalized misogyny rather than killing herself. Ugh, that suicide will give me even more tragic feels.
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Date: 2016-04-06 09:59 am (UTC)Oh! That's an interesting observation about Gorbeau House! I'm not sure if I've seen any fic from Valjean's perspective, exploring his fear of torture and rape. He acted calm in the brick, but I imagine a lot more was going on in his head. Given that male prostitution was widespread during that time period, he's undoubtedly aware that men can be the subject of rape too. Also, while Valjean's strength may protect him from other prisoners, I'm sure he knows that any of the guards could force themselves on him, and he couldn't do anything. Authority and a pistol trumps the strongest of men. He might have even witnessed it happening to fellow prisoners.
What exactly were Hugo's words on Valjean's sexuality while in prison? The way you phrase it, it sounds like he blocked out some kinda sexual trauma from that period.
You're right, societal expectations around feminine beauty actively discourage raw strength. Look at how we talk about the muscles on female athletes, such as the recent kerfuffle in the tennis world. If for centuries, women were restricted from physically demanding tasks, while these same tasks were encouraged in men, who can say how much is nature and how much is "societal selection"? We've already seen that poverty changes brain chemistry, and these changes are passed down through generations. Perhaps much of the discrepancy between males and females comes from a similar vein... without natural selection by predators, social roles make us who we are.
Le sigh. I don't know how fem!Valvert can live happily ever after in their day and age :( though I'd like a post-Seine AU where fem!Javert comes to terms with her internalized misogyny rather than killing herself. Ugh, that suicide will give me even more tragic feels.