Doja Cat

I recently heard a song that goes, “Move out the way, cause here come giants… I bring the drip with wet vagina.”

When I first heard that line, I realized that I had never heard a woman refer to herself as a giant, especially not to call attention to her physical strength or impressive stature. (I know the artist was referencing her social status, but physical prowess is where my brain went).

I’ve heard men call themselves giants, and I can imagine a man saying, “Move out the way, here come giants” in reference to himself and other men, but it was hard to imagine a group of women who would refer to themselves as giants in an empowering way.

So I tried to think of fictional characters, women who were large and POWERFUL. Brienne of Tarth came to mind, but even she doesn’t fit the bill. She is humble, and I couldn’t imagine her ever listening to a pop song. The song made me thing of an ultra fem confident “it” girl, who just happens to be an awe-inspiring size. That’s not Brienne. I couldn’t think of a single impressively large fem character who was bold and unapologetically feminine and attractive. I want to see that SO bad. And it doesn’t count if her largeness is a source of insecurity for her or if her largeness is used for comedic relief. I just want a female protagonist who is feminine and desirable and a fucking giant.

So, I’m going to write it. Also, I’d love any recommendations if any of you can think of characters who fit this bill:)

edit Wow, this was definitely the right place to have this conversation!! Thank you so much for all of the great suggestions.

Unfortunately, I can’t edit the title of this post, but I’ve removed other references to the artist. Several people have rightfully called out Doja’s recent behavior, and pointed out that she is NOT someone who deserves any positive attention.

I love defiant women. Shave your head, grow out your pits. Be a satanist. Do witch craft. Involve yourself in any (ethical) faith that calls to you, unapologetically. Love yourself. Be bold and confident. That is all awesome and worth discussing, and I just wanted to talk about how I like to hear women described in non traditional ways. We deserve wide representation.

That all being said, white supremacist and rape apologist attitudes should never be excused or ignored. I should have left Doja out of this conversation, because she does not deserve to be included in it. She does not deserve praise or attention. Thanks to the people who pointed this out.

Almost everything I know about Doja Cat I've learned against my will because she is a force in the mainstream pop world. She may draw criticism, but she is Doja Cat. How can you not love her? I watched her recent interview with Apple Music, and even the interviewer was fawning and even agreed with her defense of racist stereotypes. There is no denying that she has a very loyal and devoted fan base.

This response has been everywhere:"Doja just has always had edgy humor and Sam Hyde isn't even a neo-nazi".Can we talk about that?

Hipster racism is engaging in behaviors typically regarded as racist and defending them as being performed ironically or satirically. Rachel Dubrofsky [author and editor of books 'The Surveillance of Women on Reality Television' and 'Feminist Surveillance Studies'], has described Hipster Racism as being supposedly "too hip and self-aware to actually mean the racist stuff one expresses".

As Leslie A. Hahner [whose research explores how rhetoric shapes public culture] states, "Those participating in acts of hipster racism understand those acts as racist when practiced by others, but rationalize their own racist performances through a presumed exceptionalism."

Neo-Nazism comprises the post–World War II militant, political, and social movements that seek to revive and reinstate Nazi ideology. Far-right themes in Nazism include the argument that superior people have a right to dominate other people and purge society of supposed inferior elements. Nazis are bad.

Sam Hyde: regurgitates racist and bigoted ideology under the guise of ironic comedy, because it's all supposed to be unserious, yet he also funded the legal defense of neo-nazi publication the Daily Stormer, which if you didn't know, is an American far-right, white supremacist, misogynist, Islamophobic, antisemitic, and Holocaust denial commentary and message board website that advocates for a second genocide of Jews. Now how does this relate to our fave queen of the charts?

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Hear me out - This person is fully aware of what effect wearing a shirt of a neo-nazi would have.

Her response to the inevitable public disapproval, verbatim in was that she was, "Just wearing a t-shirt of someone I thought was funny!" ..yikes.

Already, this feigned ignorance does not make any part of this situation better. If that's really the case, then she truly believes that the guy squinting his eyes at the mention of Japanese people and going "ching chong ching chong" is a real comedian. And that we "just don't understand" this humor and that "it's not [her] job to explain comedy."

The only thing remotely funny about any of it is her commitment to dying on this hill so badly. She says we just don't "get it".oh trust, we get it, it's just -not good-.

It's insane that we're acting like backing -literal nazi rhetoric- is some edgy costume that can be worn to feel rebellious, or like pissing off the masses without taking time to consider what these ideologies and spaces that facilitate them actually advocate...

Seriously. Fucking Holocaust denial? We're defending that? Because she thinks he's funny?

No music, anywhere, is worth that, I don't care if you think she is the only good vocalist in the world I promise there are 500 other Doja Cats out there and they're probably working at a daycare in Bejing or stuck at an office in San Jose somewhere and none of them are using a platform of millions to endorse hate speech.

And her response to all of this, while at the same time acknowledging her position of power and wealth and the impact of her fame and impression on the world, alleges that repping racists does no one any harm.

It's only a t-shirt, right? She didn't know he was this alt-right weirdo, surely. Do you think someone as chronically online as Doja Cat would have no idea who's she is wearing on her shirt or what kind of content they make or anything about them at all?

She goes on to explain that harm that anyone perceived from all this isn't really real. That harm is limited to physical attacks. That she's never harmed anyone. Doesn't matter what you say, no bruise no harm. This is deeply misguided at best. She says with her whole chest, "wearing that shirt is not an attack. It didn't effect the world. Not in a way where we have to look behind our backs, we don't."

Really?

The millionaire nepo* baby of a celebrity, Doja Cat, has humbled us once again. If she sees no effect, there musn't be one.

She has learned nothing.

The privilege is astounding here.

'She just doesn't like politics because she'd rather be ~creative and feel joy!'When you're drenched in wealth, fame, riding on sex appeal and surrounding yourself with yes-men that can be bought and replaced, you have the absolute luxury of ignoring politics because they don't affect you. You're in a bubble of your own reality. One that doesn't have consequences like normal people. People with this level of wealth, fame, and power, are in another world.

She is so consumed with herself that the thought of even discussing advocating for the rights of other people makes her uncomfortable. So out of touch it's depressing.

But of course, why would anyone want to change things when it benefits them so well?

*Edit: My interpretation of a "nepo baby" is someone who has succeeded in a career similar to that of their parents, using their knowledge, connections, and insight on the industry to their advantage. I neglected to note that while her father is a successful producer and musician, that it does not inherently mean Doja Cat was given her career as the term may typically imply. Thank you to those that pointed this out for the correction!