Born Sexy Yesterday

Summary

The video critiques the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope, common in sci-fi and fantasy, where female characters are portrayed as naive and sexually innocent, often in adult bodies. These characters are typically highly skilled, yet unaware of their own sex appeal, leading to a lopsided power dynamic with male heroes. The video explores examples from films like 'Tron: Legacy' and 'The Fifth Element,' highlighting how this trope perpetuates male fantasies of superiority and sexual dominance. It calls for more media that presents relationships between equals, where both partners have equal experience and agency.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope is common in science fiction, where female characters are depicted as having the minds of innocent children but the bodies of sexualized women.
• 😀 This trope infantilizes women by making them naive and inexperienced in romantic and sexual matters, while still framing them as desirable and sexually mature.
• 😀 Female characters embodying this trope often lack knowledge about basic human concepts, such as romance, sex, or social norms, which sets them apart from more experienced women.
• 😀 Examples of characters who fit the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope include Quorra from *Tron: Legacy* and Leeloo from *The Fifth Element*, both of whom are portrayed as innocent yet highly skilled.
• 😀 The trope is usually associated with a male hero who finds the naive woman attractive due to her inexperience and innocence, positioning him as the most remarkable man in her life.
• 😀 This dynamic often leads to a male fantasy where the hero is the first and only man to have a romantic or sexual relationship with the female character, reinforcing his dominance and superiority.
• 😀 The 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope also overlaps with the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope, where the woman exists to help the male protagonist rediscover his sense of adventure or purpose.
• 😀 While the trope has been around since the early days of science fiction (e.g., *Forbidden Planet*), it continues to appear in modern media, including anime and Hollywood films.
• 😀 The trope is rooted in patriarchal ideas about female purity and innocence, with the female character often being presented as 'untainted' by other men, making her an ideal partner for the male protagonist.
• 😀 The critique of the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope calls for more media that presents relationships where both partners are equals in experience and knowledge, rather than one being infantilized for male pleasure.

Q & A

What is the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope as described in the script?

The 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope refers to a character, typically female, who appears sexually mature but possesses the innocence and naivety of a child. This character is often depicted as inexperienced with love, sex, or basic social interaction, creating an imbalance in relationships with male protagonists.

How is Quorra from *Tron: Legacy* an example of the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope?

Quorra, an isomorphic algorithm in *Tron: Legacy*, is presented as sexually mature but profoundly naive and childlike in her understanding of the world, especially when it comes to things like romance and social norms. Her character is framed as innocent and sexually alluring, making her a clear example of the trope.

What are some characteristics that define characters who fit the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope?

Characters who fit the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope are typically innocent, inexperienced, and unfamiliar with basic aspects of life, especially romance and sex. They are often presented in a sexually mature form but lack the emotional maturity or life experience typically associated with adulthood.

What role does the male protagonist play in the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope?

In this trope, the male protagonist usually serves as the mentor or guide to the female character, teaching her about the world, love, and sexuality. His role is often central to the development of the female character, who is depicted as dependent on him due to her innocence and inexperience.

How does the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope reflect a male fantasy?

The trope reflects a male fantasy in which the male protagonist becomes the first and most important man in the female character's life, free from any comparison with past lovers. The female character's naivety ensures that the man is seen as extraordinary, and this dynamic reinforces traditional gender roles and power imbalances.

What impact does the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope have on the portrayal of women in media?

The trope often reduces female characters to mere objects of male desire, stripping them of agency and complexity. It reinforces gender stereotypes by depicting women as passive, sexually appealing beings whose primary purpose is to serve the emotional or romantic development of male characters.

How is the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope present in classic sci-fi films?

The trope has been a fixture in classic sci-fi films such as *Forbidden Planet* (1956) and *The Time Machine* (1960), where female characters are portrayed as innocent and sexually alluring, typically learning about love and sexuality from a male hero. These portrayals are often framed within power dynamics where the woman is naive and the man is experienced.

Can you give an example of a subversion of the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope?

An example of a subversion is Seven of Nine from *Star Trek: Voyager*, who initially fits elements of the trope but is later developed into a complex character with autonomy and growth. Her relationships are not centered around male characters teaching her about love or sexuality, but instead focus on her own self-realization.

Why is the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope considered problematic?

The trope is problematic because it fetishizes a power imbalance between a naive woman and an experienced man, reinforcing patriarchal views about female purity and male superiority. It often minimizes the woman’s agency and reduces her to a plot device for the male protagonist's development, rather than portraying her as an independent, fully realized character.

What is the overarching critique of the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope in the script?

The overarching critique is that the 'Born Sexy Yesterday' trope perpetuates harmful gender dynamics, especially in the context of romance and sexuality. It underscores a fantasy where men are positioned as superior, with women seen as innocent and sexually pure, thus ensuring the male character’s dominance in the relationship. The script calls for more media that portrays women as equals in love and sexuality.