I Haven't Been In The Fandom Long But After Learning Of The Freemance Wars, I Have Something To Say.

I haven't been in the fandom long but after learning of the Freemance wars, I have something to say.

The interpretation that Gordon Freeman is grooming Alyx Vance or is a predator in some way is laden with misogynistic undertones when you take the time to think about it.

"Surely this grown woman cannot make decisions for herself about who she likes. She must be being manipulated by a white man! We have to protect her from herself!"

It's deeply infantalizing and horrifically misogynistic. Alyx is 24 years old. Dr. Freeman is physically and mentally 27 years old. The notion that she is being manipulated completely strips her of her autonomy.

Does a woman choosing to like a man scare you? Does it scare you so much that you have to turn against her and make her out to be a helpless and naive victim in order to make it better? Pathetic.

It's not protective. It's sexism packaged as modern sensibility and completely deprives a grown adult woman of her agency, sexual autonomy, and maturity.