While the Star Wars fandom has long since been regarded as one of cinema’s most pᴀssionate in existence, it has also been recognized as one of its most tumultuous – especially regarding one long-running prejudice. Ever since Star Wars (later reтιтled A New Hope) premiered 48 years ago, there has been a misconception that Star Wars is mainly for men.
This discussion was recently reignited with the announcement at this year’s New York City Comic Con that Lucasfilm will be starting a romance publishing initiative with the young adult novel Eyes Like Stars by Ashley Poston. The outcry with which it was meant proves that this prejudice is still very prevalent today, and it’s extremely ill-founded.
Female Fans & Characters Have Always Existed In Star Wars
There has never once been a time when Star Wars was made exclusively for men. One of the most famous and beloved examples is the cosplayer TJ Burnside Clapp, who was sixteen at the time the first Star Wars hit theaters in 1977. In an age without digital references, TJ created an entire screen-accurate X-wing pilot cosplay for herself.
That’s not to mention how pivotal Leia Organa’s character is and always has been, and how her character completely subverted the stereotypes of a damsel in distress type of heroine. She, however, is also an unfortunate example of being the only female character people often point towards to prove that female characters and fans aren’t mistreated.
All the while, newer female characters, such as Rey, Rose, and Omega, are often called names and are blamed for making the media from which they derive “mid” or worse. This pattern often continues with female filmmakers and writers in Star Wars; Leslye Headland’s The Acolyte is a prime example of this happening in recent times.
It’s a wonder that this is still something the Star Wars fandom struggles with 48 years later when women have always been a part of this galaxy. In all honesty, the entire Skywalker saga hinges on Padmé Amidala; as Anakin Skywalker’s lover and the mother of Luke and Leia, she’s one of the most important characters in the entire franchise.
Romance In Star Wars Doesn’t Correspond To Female Fans Only
Ironically, there’s another layer of misogyny in the recent discourse surrounding Eyes Like Stars, and it’s the ᴀssumption that young adult romance is only enjoyed by women. This is certainly a gross exaggeration, especially within the Star Wars fandom. Romance has always been a key part of the Star Wars mythos, starting with the original trilogy.
The Empire Strikes Back is widely regarded as the best movie Star Wars has ever made, and Han Solo and Leia’s romance is inarguably one of the largest, and most important, parts of that story. “I love you” “I know” is one of the most iconic dialogue exchanges in cinematic history, and it’s long since been a trademark of Star Wars itself.
It’s untrue, then, to immediately ᴀssociate romance with a female-only audience, and to ᴀssume that it’s an attempt to bring more females into the franchise – when, in reality, female fans have always been here, and romance has always been prevalent. This novel is solely an effort to bring that crucial element of Star Wars back once again.
That being said, Star Wars has immensely shied away from romance in recent years, but between Eyes Like Stars and Bryce Dallas Howard’s comment about the upcoming Ahsoka season 2 being “romantic,” it seems as if Star Wars could finally be making good on romance again in a way that everyone, not just women, can and will enjoy.
Star Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
