Women's armor has always been a lively point of discussion when it comes to popular media. The design and general impracticality of said armor continue to inspire criticism, but what specific problems come with some of the more common examples? Turns out an expert on the matter has plenty to say about that.
YouTuber Jill Bearup is an expert on such things, sporting a channel filled with relatively popular critiques on fights, choreography, and anything related in films and other media. Her latest deep-dive video takes a look at how women's armor is depicted in its various fictional iterations, all the while addressing what the actual problems are and how they can be improved. While not quite as quirky as judging shark attacks in films, she still seems to have a bit of fun with it.
One of the main arguments Bearup gets out of the way early is the case against "boob armor." It seems that everyone from Wonder Woman to Skyrim and even The Mandalorian sports some variation of this phenomenon, and she had plenty to say about it. First off, this refers to any armor that specifically maintains a shape that accentuates, to a degree, the form of a female-presenting torso. It seems to have become so commonplace that even media that boasts otherwise practical armor sets can still fall victims, such as Skyrim and its effectively endless armor collection.
Bearup calls out the design for several reasons. First off, it tends to create a divot right in the center of the chest which would draw in weapon strikes rather than glancing them off. She suggests that a convex design is far more practical since it would push most attacks off to the side. There's also the issue of movement, which she demonstrates by trying to swing a weapon while wearing different types of armor. The design she's critiquing tends to get in the way as she moves her arms while a more uniformly shaped piece allows for greater freedom of movement. Nothing like a combat expert to poke holes in fiction.
Many might argue that this particular design is harmless in most media since it's normally fictional, and there's nothing wrong with looking good. Bearup agrees to a point, saying that there's no rule saying practicality and aesthetic value have to be mutually exclusive. She gives a few examples for those who wish to retain a more feminine, refined appearance, such as using cloth and designs to give off a more specific vibe.
It's a fascinating critique, and Bearup goes into far more detail than was mentioned. Really, it helps to gain a potentially new perspective on such things, which in itself is a great way to increase the enjoyment of various forms of media. Even if that enjoyment comes from yelling at Indiana Jones.
Source: Jill Bearup/YouTube