Because I feel it has to be said

[mag_pie]

I think the writers could do more to show why the "bitches" are the way that they are - I mean, I have no excuse for Terri and her sister, but I'm going to have faith in and show compassion for our high school ladies.

Bear with me while I delve a bit deeper into the real issues.

Rachel has never had friends, and she was hoping to have Glee help her out developmentally. She doesn't know how to deal with rejection in the one area she's always been encouraged in, and while everyone else is learning to be confident in performance, she isn't getting any benefit out of the club - people still throw drinks into her face, etc. If someone can take the time to get to know her and not, you know, kiss her and then the next day insult her, that might go a long way. Yes, she is flawed. Yes, she was acting like a diva. But someone needs to reach out to her and teach her how to both be herself and give her a chance to be liked and have friends. High school is really hard without that.

Quinn is a girl in high school who became pregnant because Puck got her drunk and had sex with her - he raped her (she was drunk = no consent, and she obviously didn't want it to happen in the first place), and she clearly hasn't had anyone to talk to about this since it happened. She likely feels violated, ashamed, and scared as hell, especially considering the moral values to which she ascribes. And she has to go to school and see the guy who did this to her every day. I don't blame her for not knowing how to talk to someone about this, and I don't blame her for not wanting Puck to be around. It sucks that she's pulling Finn into the mess, but she's a scared teenager who doesn't know what to do. Someone needs to really help her, and I'm kind of appalled that Will hasn't tried to go to at least Emma or SOMEONE who can give her the help and resources she needs.

So, honestly? Don't give up on these girls. It's easy to write them off as "bitches," but that's how problems don't get solved. Hopefully the writers realize that.

PS I really loved this episode, and Kurt and his dad made me so freaking happy. And Tina's singing was gorgeous :)

Comments

[hellolamppost17.livejournal.com]

Quinn didn't get raped, she did it because she was drunk and felt fat and needed validation. While she always planned on waiting til marriage, it was a spur of the moment bad decision.

I never got a ~rape vibe, and if anything I think the show is going the Gossip Girl route with this storyline. I would hope that if Quinn was raped, the show would show her a bit more damaged... Or mention it.

[faith5by5-1013.livejournal.com]

I agree with you completely about Rachel.

As for the Quinn part... Yes that is rape. I see that kind of situation as based on how the person who was legally raped sees it. I know people who've had almost the same exact experience (having sex with someone for the first time while drunk) and some of them don't feel like they were raped. Some do. So, I guess I just separate it like that. For me, it's more about feeling taken advantage of. Quinn seems to feel like she was taken advantage of. So, yes, I would say that she was raped.

I don't write off either of them as bitches. And I'm assuming we'll see them redeem themselves to some extent.

This post is awesome! I've seen way too many people calling both of them bitches. I hate that term in general.

[girlthethird.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the episode so I can't really comment without the context regarding the rape but I just wanted to give you virtual hugs for this post as a whole.

&hearts&hearts&hearts

[roland44.livejournal.com]

Eh, Quinn was a bitch even before she got pregnant - any reason for that? ;)

And I adore your icon. I've had that song stuck in my head all day!

[lilybean621.livejournal.com]

As far as bitches go, Terri and her sister are def not excusable. I'm sorry but THEY DRIVE ME CRAZY! Rachel and Quinn are more understandable at least.

[da-phoenix13.livejournal.com]

Wow, I completely forgot the rape/bitches discussions that were going on earlier in the series. I understand why they dropped the date rape issue that could have come up in the Puck/Quinn situation, but I hate that they made Puck look like the victim in that storyline, that he was the one who got all the sympathy from fans and Quinn was made out to be the coldhearted bitch for going to Finn, her boyfriend, and making him work to get her money and pretending he was the father and all that. They didn't treat her like that for the ENTIRE storyline, thank god, but I wish they had made her seem a little more conflicted about all the deception. Terri at least showed remorse a few times about jerking Will around while it was going on, and not just after she was found out. Maybe some of it can be chalked up to Quinn's immaturity, but... I don't know.

Oh, nor has there been much development with Rachel's divaness/respect from her fellow Glee members. She at least seems to be hanging out with them more, but they all turned on her fairly quickly when she showed interest in Jesse.

Oh, Glee. Gender!fail. *sigh*