Female Waterbenders

[sukai]

{Thanks, I love it too }

Anyways, I say let them. Why would the Fire Nation leave the NTW alone? The only reason they retreated was because Aang just so happened to get in his Avatar Spirit and drive the soldiers all away. Aang won't be there all the time because he has to master the other elements, and he is not done with water yet (o.o!)

I hope the Fire Nation didn't read that because the might listen to me. I'm scared of the FN. While I was watching the Finale, I'm like, "I hope the FN doen't melt down the NTW!"

[kurosai]

I think the women should be allowed to waterbend like the males for several reasons.

#1: As mentioned earlier, the incident with Katara would trigger the desire to be like her in various girls. It's inevitable and I'm certain that the NWT would rather train more fighters than deal with an internal crisis with all the other problems they have now.

#2: Regardless of whether they have masters or not, girls should still be able to perform waterbending basics other than healing like Katara did during the early episodes. They just need to be curious and determined enough to keep at it.

#3: Not everything needs to be strictly cannon. As long as it doesn't mess with the plot it really shouldn't be a problem. It's also unfair that the water tribes are already so underpowered (both in the series and here from what I've browsed). The whole point of roleplaying is to escape reality (and many of the restraints that come with it) so if everything is too restricted it takes away the fun from it.

You could make this work in a more original fashion such as... the idea of females in the NWT training to be fighting waterbenders could still be just underway. This would mean that while it might be possible for girls to train under masters for waterbending, they'd suffer prejudice from males and dissaproving females. It would be a lot tougher on them then for guys, but still possible. Plus, it would give an interesting side plot for the NWT, working towards their rights to fight alongside the guys etc.

I guess that's all, sorry for rambling. ^^;

[naru]

I agree with Kurosai, after Katara became a master Waterbender other girls would wan't to be like her and if Paku broke the tradition with Katara there would be complaionts all over from female waterbenders wanting to learn, this would all create a change in the NAorthern Water Tribe's tradition

[kura]

First off, I want to say I’m glad to see guys fighting for women’s rights in the Northern Water Tribe ^^ While the decision is not up to me, I would like to express my view on the subject. I’m going to turn to history to do so (bear with me here); the way I see it, women learning waterbending could be almost the same as when women in the U.S. started going to college. Prepare to be educated! *cackles* *cough* Erm, yeah...

Women began to go to college after the Civil War, mostly in coeducational institutions. While the newly established mid-western land grant colleges opened as coeducational facilities, the more established institutions of the northeast resisted the move to coeducation. In fact, many of them added women’s colleges to the traditional male college to avoid having to admit women undergraduates (ever hear of the “Seven Sister” colleges?)

In 1870 only 0.7% of the female population went to college. This percentage rose slowly-by 1900 the rate was 2.8%, and it was only 7.6% by 1920.

I could list many quotes and stuff that would show just how people felt about women going to college (especially what people said in the late 1800’s), but I’ll paraphrase by saying that they didn’t believe women were capable, and it would make them unfit for marriage and motherhood. (-_-;; I totally sugarcoated it.) In fact, 50-60% of the first generation of college women did not marry or significantly delayed marriage.

</random>

Anyway, my point is that if we did allow female waterbenders, it would take a long time for them to be taken seriously (which is what Kuro said).

Then again, everyone in the Northern Water Tribe was raised to believe that men learn waterbending and women learn healing. If someone grows up a certain way, then they aren’t likely to question it…and this includes female benders. Katara was really an exception to the rule; the only reason Pakku trained her was because he knew her grandmother.

I guess that didn’t really help much, did it? I just ended up contributing to the argument of both sides XP *shrugs* Oh well.

[daishuakatsumitana]

I think they should learn to bend. Healing is great, yes, but now the tribe has been attacked, I say they're fully inducted into the war. I believe they need more benders to wage more attacks on the Fire nation now. Who knows how many fatalities they had! *tv show... obviously not going to talk about that sort of thing on nick*

[longxing]

Technically female waterbenders do exhist, only allowed to do healing techniques I believe.

Personally, I don't see a reason not to let femal waterbenders learn offensive moves. While it might not be cannon to the show, do you really want to adhere to the show 24/7? I've seen to some degree of straying from show cannon makes th experience more real. Common sense played a big role though.

But I stray from topic. ^^;

Point is I don't think you need to concern yourself if you choose to stray the site from some waterbending traditions. Give any reason you think would please even an soft core plan. Personally I think Paku would take a page from the earthbenders and the Kiyoshi Warrior either out of fear of a future Fire Nation attack or he realizes the traditions of the past need to change to suit the modern(by their standards) times.

Or something.

[The Lion Turtle]

Dear me, this should have been locked. We made are decision long ago, but thanks anyways Long Xang! ^^