Girlhood and Cassandra Cain: a messy analysis
I love how through Batgirl (2000) we just see Cass learn to be a semi-functioning "normal" girl and how she slowly goes from a life centred around justice and violence to a girl with so much wonder in her heart
Like girl starts out only knowing that she can be one thing: A good fighter. So obviously, to her, her own life outside of that means nothing if its non existent.
And at the same time, she doesn't really know what being a "regular person" means. She's had 2 identities: Weapon and Batgirl. In between both she was just surviving and it probably sucked rlly bad. She used to not picture a life outside of Cain, and now she cant picture a life outside of Batgirl. She literally has met like a total of 30 ppl in her life and talked to like 4.
But even with her very limited idea of normal social interactions she is unafraid of trying to show ppl love. She sees through their body language that the opposite of pain is love. But that kind of love requires an interaction outside of fighting.
She can't understand english much at the beginning but her initial drive to learn is not to be a better detective or batgirl related, its her love for people. For them to be happy. Its like a way of being useful.
But when others treat her in the same way, when others show her affection, she wants so bad to experience those connections over and over again. Mutual loving relationships are a new experience to her and she can't get enough of it.
She needs help on a case so what does she do? She breaks into Stephanie's room after meeting her like a single time because who knocks anyways?
wdym its not normal to knock ppl out when they're annoying? Like its convenient so y not?
She quickly makes her first friends but doesn't really know how to act or communicate but still manages to joke around in her own way. But they're happy, and she's happy, so it works.
She even watches crime shows and reality tv like guides on how to interact with people on missions and irl.
But gradually, all these small interactions let her become a person, for her to share small things about herself with others. Relationships let her be someone. Sharing thoughts, having conversations, working together, and anything that involves the small human pleasure of company become things she looks forward to.
And little by little, she starts doing things for herself. Like bro runs around Gotham, night into morning, holding onto a rose because its something thats hers and its pretty but she doesn't even know how plants work, but she's got the spirit. (yes ik that the rose is a randomly placed metaphor for cass having a bad work life balance but its so cute)
She starts going outside as a normal person instead of only for missions. She does normal girl things like going to restaurants but kind of not really cause wtf is a balanced diet.
Being able to share something about herself with someone and to sit in a mutual understanding of each other becomes easy. She lets herself be open to change and finds herself looking forward to living.
Wanting something for herself and being her own person is such a foreign concept to how she was raised but she loves it.
She experiments with everything to see what feels right. She starts flirting with boys, going to parties, dressing up in different styles of fashion. She wants to experience everything that girls do
She also learns that being a girl is different from what the other bats experience
Which sucks especially when she can read people's body language. As batgirl, in her scary ass outfit she was only terrifying and strong. But as a normal girl, people sometimes objectify her which has to be the oddest experience when u could kill someone with the blink of an eye.
Even her new father and brother see her differently than she sees them. Theres a weird social thing that comes with "girlness" that she doesn't understand, where girl things are supposed to be weak and have to be protected. But logically, shes like, yall gotta be protected from me be so forreal.
She dont gaf. Shes got bigger things to be ashamed about and being a girl is not one of them.
As she experiences the downsides of girlhood, she learns of the social expectations that come along. And instead of playing along blindly, she uses them to mess with ppl (and bruce). Cass understands more than anyone that social expectations and behaviours are just created performances that bring ppl together. So she chooses the ones she likes and completely rejects what she doesn't like.
and in the end she picks girly things like bold lipstick, fancy dresses, fashion, because she loves pretty things not because its whats expected. Social norms are like toys she can play with and put aside when they aren't fun.
Like she'll still get into a bar fight after eating the entire menu cause she can. Anyways ted talk over
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Natasha is fairly used to people asking her out, or giving her small gifts and she's accustomed to turning people down politely as most are her patients or people who just happen to be grateful for the work she does. She's had plenty of anonymous admirers leave gifts at her doorstep. She appreciates every single one of them, but she's particular about relationships, even if she likes a little flattery. She never wants someone who just has a helpless crush on someone who saved their life to get their heart broken. She will not accept an offer for a date unless it is someone who has been around her, truly, and has begun to know her and she feels something back for them. She doesn't like to play around with feelings.
Dating is also something Natasha tends to be very PRIVATE about. Particularly as a woman in such an important position for the underworld, and someone that people look to every single day for leadership even with Oleg, Natasha knows she must keep her appearances up so that everyone can always rely on her. It's also important to her that people don't think of her as being selfish or that she can't be relied on as much BECAUSE of a relationship. She's very clear that anyone who does want to date her knows that she will never be able to simply turn away patients or Wildfire concerns for them. So she knows she must be careful in matters of love. She would feel guilty if she couldn't love her partner in the way they desired to be loved because of her work, but she is also very loving and devoted. She will give up ALL her free time and even some rest time to make sure they have her to themselves as much as she can possibly be there for them.
What I'm saying is dating Natasha is tough but so so SO rewarding. And this woman's hugs will heal your soul. She can and WILL pepper her significant other with kisses the moment they have private time together.
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