nightfallgoddess:

desiree-rodriguez:

cowgirlbookgirl:

fandomshatewomen:

I’m throwing this out there BC I’m not sure if any of us watch/read this series?

KG

In the books she is definitely shamed for her sexuality and kinda seen as ditzy and sex crazed and bad. The show isn’t as bad with it but it’s all weaponized femininity so take that as you will

So I’ve seen a lot of non-latinx fans discussing Izzy’s sexuality in the show and how it’s sexist or hypersexualized and what not so I wanted to throw in my two latina cents in here. 

Originally I was concerned since Latina characters are typically hypersexualized in media and portrayed as sex props. Izzy in the original book series (at least the original trilogy which I read) is little more than a sex kitten whom Clary harbors unwarranted hostility towards because Clary is “not like other girls” as is typical of a lot of mainstream YA (that I’ve read/viewed). Izzy is also described as being competitive towards other women because she’s been the only girl in the Institute and is protective of her position. She has little to no storylines outside of this, and being shamed for her sexuality at various points by various characters in the original trilogy (including our protag Clary). 

So needless to say I was wary of how Izzy in the show would be portrayed given the history of Latina characters in media being the red lipped vixens of media. 

However, I disagree that Izzy’s sexuality is weaponized femininity as Izzy’s sexuality and sense of self is a storyline and arc all her own. She exists outside of the Latina Vixen role, and the shackles of the sex shamed character in the book series. 

Izzy begins as a stereotype, I can admit this. Her sexuality is specifically used to distract in the opening episode. The show avoids the more sexist aspects by not making her competition towards Clary and Clary not acting unnecessarily hostile towards Izzy. Instead, Izzy is compassionate, caring, and begins to build a friendship with Clary that’s full of support and encouragement. 

Izzy using sex in the book to gain information from Melion begins similarly in the television series, except it develops beyond that. Where Izzy had genuine feelings or respect and affection towards Melion and Melion towards her. 

We also learn that part of the reason Izzy dresses the way she does is an act of rebellion against her strict mother and overall oppressive upbringing. Her mother (another brown latina woman) is the opposite of Izzy, strict, conservative (though still stylish), and intimidating. Maryse demands and commands respect from everyone around her including her children whom she sets up (however indirectly) to compete with each other for her respect and attention. 

Izzy, instead of competing against her brothers, acts out by dresses sexy and “playing” around with Downworlders. Her mother scolds her for this and what follows is what begins Izzy’s arc. She begins to dress more conservatively so to better support her family, her brother, and follow her mothers orders. 

Though she later learns that is a facade. It is not who she is. When she is put on trail and threatened to be striped of her runes and exiled, she stands up against the oppressive nature of the Clave. A brown latina woman stands up against an oppressive culture that promotes violence and disinterest in the lives of Downworlders (whom are all mainly men of color on the show furthering the racial allegory). She then rescues Melion from being tortured in, yes, a moderately “sexy” outfit. 

But by the end of her show, Izzy’s sexuality isn’t a question to anyone, nor a weapon to be used. She is no longer the childish rebellious girl, nor the silently suffering daughter who follows orders. Instead she’s grown into something of a political activist. More so than Alec (which is a good thing) or Clary or anyone else that exists in the Shadowhunters institute. 

Izzy is the one that begins to bring about the change in ideology within the Clave and Izzy is the first one of the Lightwoods to openly and directly challenge them and their culture.

She does so stylishly surely, but she isn’t a Latina Vixen. Her sexuality isn’t a weapon but incorporated into a part of her storyline as a character and it is never shamed by the other characters except her mother. Whom is set up as a narrative emotional antagonist for Alec, Izzy, and Magnus (mainly). 

I have a problem with non-latinx fans reducing Izzy to just her sexuality, when her sexuality wasn’t a major factor in her overall storyline, and instead one piece of a larger storyarc for her. And often brush aside her development as an open political activist, the first of the Lightwood siblings to shed their oppressive teachings, her compassion towards Alec and Clary, and her scientific attributes as well. 

The show could have easily kept her locked into her book persona which would have made her nothing more than a Latina Vixen/Spicy Latina character. But it didn’t. It gave her layers, and developed her instead. Incorporating her sexuality into one part of her overall arc. It’s been mainly non-latinx fans that I’ve seen reducing her to a sex object or a Malec fangirl instead of the would be stylish, political activist/scientist she is. 

@matchateax