All too often I find that women scrutinize each other for being in relationships. We accuse each other of disempowering ourselves and losing our independence and strength in society to the comfort of a man. While from personal observation I understand that some women do inflict this sort of image upon themselves by reverting to the habits of the MRS degree days, I also have noticed that many women these days find themselves in romantic relationships that allow them to maintain their independence and even may empower them.
This, I believe, is the point that Abigail E. Myers makes in her article “Why Katniss Chooses Peeta: Looking at Love through a Stoic Lens”—that women have choices to make in their romantic lives—and Katniss makes one that puts forward a wonderful example for women.
Myers argues that Katniss chooses Peeta because they have a similar set of values. Katniss does not want to kill but will for her survival; Peeta does not want to harm others but will to save his life. Gale, Katniss’ alternative romantic interest, on the other hand, becomes enraged with the wrongdoings of the Capitol and will harm anything in his way to stop it. Moreover, Katniss and Peeta have experienced the horrific experience of The Hunger Games together, working to support each other and keep one another alive for the entirety. Within such an experience arose a certain level of trust and respect that must be present in a relationship in order for it to function in the long term. To be sure, you could argue against this; however, I believe that Katniss is fortunate to have found such a man to have and to hold, for better or for worse.
Lindsey Issow Averill is equally spot-on in her article Sometimes the World is Hungry for People Who Care: Katniss and Feminist Care Ethic, in which she highlights Katniss’ moral decisions under the feminist care ethic which breaks open gender binaries and allows one to perceive both Katniss and Peeta in their individual strengths regardless of gender. She notes that Katniss cares for those whom she loves and will do anything for them: Prim, Rue, and Peeta all come to mind. Similarly, Peeta will do everything in his ability to help Katniss, not because she relies on him, but because there are benefits to a partnership. To love and to cherish someone in sickness and in health, the good times and the bad, is no easy feat; yet, they both do so equally. I guess you could say that I don’t understand, that I am too young, that there is something else which makes their relationship strong. But it seems to me that we are all, men and women alike, hungry for people who care, and perhaps searching for a life partner who is as hungry to care for us as much as we do them.
The relationship between Katniss and Peeta, although surely somewhat flawed as any relationship, allows for empowerment for both of them. She makes him better just as she offers proof to the mutual benefit and feminist ethic available in a good relationship. Is her desire to have a partner as a strong woman worthy of scrutiny or simply a mutually beneficial approach to life? It seems to me to be the latter, but let me know what you think in your comments below.
This, I believe, is the point that Abigail E. Myers makes in her article “Why Katniss Chooses Peeta: Looking at Love through a Stoic Lens”—that women have choices to make in their romantic lives—and Katniss makes one that puts forward a wonderful example for women.
Myers argues that Katniss chooses Peeta because they have a similar set of values. Katniss does not want to kill but will for her survival; Peeta does not want to harm others but will to save his life. Gale, Katniss’ alternative romantic interest, on the other hand, becomes enraged with the wrongdoings of the Capitol and will harm anything in his way to stop it. Moreover, Katniss and Peeta have experienced the horrific experience of The Hunger Games together, working to support each other and keep one another alive for the entirety. Within such an experience arose a certain level of trust and respect that must be present in a relationship in order for it to function in the long term. To be sure, you could argue against this; however, I believe that Katniss is fortunate to have found such a man to have and to hold, for better or for worse.
Lindsey Issow Averill is equally spot-on in her article Sometimes the World is Hungry for People Who Care: Katniss and Feminist Care Ethic, in which she highlights Katniss’ moral decisions under the feminist care ethic which breaks open gender binaries and allows one to perceive both Katniss and Peeta in their individual strengths regardless of gender. She notes that Katniss cares for those whom she loves and will do anything for them: Prim, Rue, and Peeta all come to mind. Similarly, Peeta will do everything in his ability to help Katniss, not because she relies on him, but because there are benefits to a partnership. To love and to cherish someone in sickness and in health, the good times and the bad, is no easy feat; yet, they both do so equally. I guess you could say that I don’t understand, that I am too young, that there is something else which makes their relationship strong. But it seems to me that we are all, men and women alike, hungry for people who care, and perhaps searching for a life partner who is as hungry to care for us as much as we do them.
The relationship between Katniss and Peeta, although surely somewhat flawed as any relationship, allows for empowerment for both of them. She makes him better just as she offers proof to the mutual benefit and feminist ethic available in a good relationship. Is her desire to have a partner as a strong woman worthy of scrutiny or simply a mutually beneficial approach to life? It seems to me to be the latter, but let me know what you think in your comments below.