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Star Wars:

the sexism awakens... again

By Jaqueline DuMont, Managing Editor

02/20/2018

Almost three years after the release of the third-highest grossing film in history, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” in December 2015, and the opening of the Star Wars Launch Bay in Disneyland in November 2015, can fans and visitors of the park finally meet the franchises’ leading character, Rey.

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The Launch Bay is an interactive walkthrough attraction at Disneyland Resort, Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort and Shanghai Disneyland Park. The first and only character from the new sequel trilogy to make an appearance during a fan meet and greet was none other than...Kylo Ren. However, it’s time to finally awaken a character many fans have been waiting for. Disney Parks announced that Rey will be making her appearance at the Launch Bay in May. There is no word of whether Rey will also be appearing in the Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando.

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The continuous absence of the powerful and force sensitive leading lady of the newest Disney sequels has left many fans appalled and disappointed, including the director of the sequels himself, J.J. Abrams.

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Abrams, upset with the exclusion of Rey merchandise, said at a Television Critics Association press tour event in 2016, “It seems preposterous and wrong that the main character of the movie is not well-represented in what is clearly a huge piece of the 'Star Wars' world in terms of merchandising.”

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Fans of the franchise took to social media to express their frustration through hashtag, “#WheresRey,” while adding that many male characters in the movie were well represented in merchandise.

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The most talked-about merchandise was the release of the “Star Wars”-themed monopoly set, which included the franchise’s four leading men; Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, and Finn. But where was Rey?

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Hasbro Monopoly’s response to the public outcry stated that they purposely and strategically did not include Rey in the game because they didn’t want to ruin spoilers about the new film at the time. However, the characters of Finn and Kylo Ren, who were included in the film’s teaser trailer, were also kept exclusive, yet, still included as game pieces.

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The underrepresentation of a female-empowering warrior has left many young girls fired up. Among these young girls is 8-year-old Annie Rose Goldman, who wrote a letter to Hasbro Monopoly which stated some powerful stuff like, “...without her, there is no force. It awakens in her,” and, “...boys and girls need to see that women can be as strong as men. We are all equal.”

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The letter was posted on Twitter, which immediately went viral. Hasbro, acknowledging their ultimate PR mistake, responded to Goldman on Twitter, promising the 8-year-old that they would include Rey in their Monopoly game, which would be released in late 2016.

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However, their promise was not kept. Julie Duffy, Hasbro spokesperson, claimed that the Rey version was offered to U.S. retailers, but due to ample inventory, the company chose not to sell the new version and Rey would not be made available in North America, despite being marketed in other countries.

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Sexism in entertainment somehow made its way into merchandise, as Daisy Ridley’s brave, strong, and kind-hearted character continues to be underrepresented by a widespread of critics. Her character has even been dismissed as a so-called, “Mary Sue,” a term used to describe an unrealistically perfect female character.

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Ridley herself slapped back at this criticism in MTV News’, “Happy, Sad, Confused” podcast back in 2016.

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“The Mary Sue thing in itself is sexist because it’s the name of a woman,” Ridley said. “Everyone was saying that Luke had the exact same [capabilities]. I think Rey is incredible vulnerable, and nothing she’s doing is for the greater good. She’s just doing what she thinks is the right thing. And she doesn’t want to do some of it, but she feels compelled to do it. So for me, I was just confused,” Ridley responded.

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Although Ridley’s character is finally being represented in “Star Wars” merchandise, the sexism in powerful female superheroes continues throughout the entertainment industry, as it took several months of backlash and an impressive 8-year-old’s letter for companies associated with Disney to set things right.

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