Team Katniss

I understand why girls want to wear t-shirts to display their loyalty to either: "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob". After all, what the fuck does Bella have to contribute-- oh just her role model behavior of emotionally and physically shutting down to become anit-social when the man in her life leaves--OR her role model behavior when she allows Edward to make love to her and beat her in the process because she 'loves' him and he can't control himself--OR her brave showcase of heroism during the battle for her life when she stays atop a mountain huddled in a tent and complains of being cold.

Yet why clad a t-shirt claiming support of "Team Peeta" or "Team Gale"?

Why not Team Katniss? I think for the young women in our world to be sporting "Team Peeta" and "Team Gale" t-shirts detracts from the true power we can absorb from a character like Katniss. It says that rather than supporting her, we'd like to talk about the characteristics of what man we think would be better for her--or for us. We'd like to discuss who is the better man and who she does or does not deserve. What we should be engaging about is how kick-ass Katniss is--and how she defies the odds to stand up for her beliefs.

KATNISS is the team we should all be on. One of the greatest female characters of young adult history, she is fierce and brave and emotional. She struggles with the honesty of her emotions and the weight of her responsibility, which is what women need to learn how to do. We have too few role models to teach how to navigate the responsibility and weight of changing the world, while engaging our emotional selves. She gets it done, she fights, she sweats, she stands up for what she believes in, and most importantly she loves.

Katniss is not a seamless character or a pristine heroine. But we are all full of tears, runs, and broken seams. And, like Katniss, we are expected to do it all and do it all with no mistakes.

The thing is, women can do it all; and do, do it all every single day. Yet the moment there is any sense of emotional disturbance or flicker of frailty, our credibility falters.

We all need to lean on others for support and aid. And I truly believe a love companionship in the form of teamwork is one of the most powerful assets to anybody attempting to do something important. Yet both Peeta and Gale had watch Katniss climb onto her own pedastol and break the marble ceiling with her arrows--and then they helped her fight. Yes the men in her life are consequential and at times paramount in her emotional life, and that is something that is beautiful in itself. I also believe there is a certain important plot centering around her relationships with both Gale and Peeta which should not be downplayed or ignored. Companionships are crucial and brave in themselves. And perhaps Gale's strong and prevailing devotion for Katniss is one of the most courageous aspects of the novel.

Which brings me back to Katniss and the men in her life. She is the main event, she is the orb, she is the girl on fire. The men in her life are incredibly supportive and helpful: perhaps they are even vital to her survival and necessary to her character. She does love them, and she does struggle with her relationships--but who doesn't?

The mission of Katniss in the arena was to show the Capital she was more than just a part of their Games. She re-defined the rules; so let's all re-define the rules and prove to society that we are not just a part of the 'games'--we are not blindly following ideology and societal standards-- but fierce and competitive individuals here to change the world. And I challenge you men to be like Peeta and Gale--support the women you love and fight for what you believe in while still living your own lives.