... yeeeaaah that is such a stupid argument and i can't believe anyone would say that.
the only thing i think is remotely "progressive" about asoiaf are how the female characters are written in comparison to most "high fantasy/sci fi" epics. they are given strength and complexity in most cases. they aren't flat little damsels there just to be saved or fucked by the male protagonist(s). they think and feel and play their own significant parts in the overall story. that's about it.
the attitude towards them is the opposite. if anything, it's rare to find male characters that treat the women with respect (and not just due to their stature but because they are seen as people and not just a vagina and tits to be fucked and impregnated). but that plays into the whole world as it's been set up. it's not a modern view on things and often times very far from illustrating a modern mindset. anyone who doesn't see that and understand that makes me wonder if we're reading and watching the same series tbh.
Re: canons you don't think are that progressive
the only thing i think is remotely "progressive" about asoiaf are how the female characters are written in comparison to most "high fantasy/sci fi" epics. they are given strength and complexity in most cases. they aren't flat little damsels there just to be saved or fucked by the male protagonist(s). they think and feel and play their own significant parts in the overall story. that's about it.
the attitude towards them is the opposite. if anything, it's rare to find male characters that treat the women with respect (and not just due to their stature but because they are seen as people and not just a vagina and tits to be fucked and impregnated). but that plays into the whole world as it's been set up. it's not a modern view on things and often times very far from illustrating a modern mindset. anyone who doesn't see that and understand that makes me wonder if we're reading and watching the same series tbh.