The Brotherhood vs Maidenhood in RWBY
Something doesn’t sit right whenever I think about how Ozpin picks the Maidens. I say “pick” because while it’s said that the power transfer has RNG factored in, Maidens are also said to “choose themselves”.
But can a Maiden choose herself if she has no idea those powers exist in the first place? Ironwood himself says that “this Brotherhood” caused the Maidens to “fade away into legend”, and their existence known only to the select few. So by keeping the existence of Maidens a secret known only to the Brotherhood, they can basically dictate which woman gets Maiden powers. And in doing so, they have put themselves in a good position to use her for their own goals.
Why this doesn’t go over well with me is because one of the issues I have with RWBY is that it claims to be about strong females, yet it has a distinctly male chauvinist streak running through it.
Strong women, or strong tropes?
Most positions of high authority in RWBY are held by males. Ozpin is shown to be the ultimate authority in most things, Ironwood heads the most advanced military in Remnant. The CEO of possibly the most powerful company in the world, the SDC, is male. And apparently he thinks his younger daughter is only fit to be a receptionist. I recognise that was probably a reference to Kara, but it was still pretty jarring.
The only female at the top? Cinder, the villain. In other words, when men run the show, they are good and honourable, but a woman leading is evil.
At Beacon’s middle-management level, two of the three professors shown onscreen are male. Glynda arguably has had the least development and significant interaction with students. Oobleck is shown teaching several times, and accompanies RWBY into the field. Port’s advice to Weiss helps her have a change of heart, and we know enough from his lessons that he’s a more competent version of Gilderoy Lockhart. Heck, we even know Nora’s his favourite student.
Glynda, on the other hand, we know next to nothing about. She’s usually shown to be either an uptight rule keeper or Ozpin’s PA cum janitor. Hey, if you aren’t the one who has to clean up the students’ shit, it’s much easier to talk about being chill with it, ok?
In the secret Brotherhood meeting, aside from telling Winter off, she’s mostly silent while the men discuss the important issues at hand. In other words, Glynda often nitpicks on unimportant matters, but has nothing to contribute to the big picture. What else can you expect from a woman, amirite?
So while the show says the female characters are important, in practice, they don’t get much say or agency when the men are involved. Weiss’ “NO” to Jaune is never heeded and her rejection of a boy she doesn’t like is cast in a negative light. Glynda’s concerns are often ignored or brushed aside by Ozpin. Qrow pushes female characters around with impunity, only respecting male authority figures.
How a Brotherhood controls Remnant
How this ties into the issue with the Maidens is that while only women can be the most powerful entities in Remnant, it’s a “Brotherhood” that allows her to have those powers. She must meet the men’s criteria or she doesn’t deserve to be powerful. Upon receiving the season powers, she’s then expected to sacrifice herself in service, probably towards the Brotherhood’s goals.
That Cinder can take and hold the power, as well as the conversation about how they have to ensure the powers go to the “right” woman indicate that Ozpin’s criteria is his own and not set in stone.
We’re expected to believe this state of affairs is for the best because Ozpin is supposed to be on the side of the angels and his goal is world peace. But what if it wasn’t? He could be replaced by someone with less integrity, or become corrupt himself over time. He’s made a ton of mistakes in his life after all.
So put the end goals aside, and what’s left is a group of men controlling a power meant for females so that the chosen women can serve their world view and purposes.
It’s not like they care about the women as people either. During the walk in the vault, Pyrrha is obviously uncomfortable, almost scared. The men don’t seem to care, walking on ahead. Qrow even adds to the uncertainty. Only Glynda hangs back to try to reassure Pyrrha.
The Brotherhood’s main concern with Amber are where her powers will go, not with her as a person. For all their talk of the power going to the wrong kind of people, they are shown as hugely comfortable with disregarding the ethics of taking Amber’s soul. This would kill Amber and possibly saddle Pyrrha with psychological issues. But it’s fine by the men as long as they maintain control.
This tells me they see the Maidens as simply tools, not individuals with lives or personalities. When the vessel is no longer useful, replace with another.
RWBY has a history of objectifying its women, even the main characters, in service to the men and/or their stories. This might just be the example that shows how systematic it is in the world of Remnant despite claims to the contrary.