The problem with sexualizing and eroticizing the Dothraki



In medievalist fantasy, a common trope under the influence of Tolkien and Howard is exoticism and sexualization, especially of people of color. George R. R. Martin does this in his novel A Game of Thrones especially through the description of the Dothraki as a culture. Using this description from the reading, one can draw the conclusion that Martin eroticizes and sexualizes the Dothraki people as a problematic means to make the characters more interesting and with this, allows for Habits of Whiteness to remain a consequence.
In the A Game of Thrones, Martin describes the Dothraki as “big men with red-brown skin, their drooping mustachios bound in metal rings, their black hair oiled and braided and hung with bells,” (Martin 36). As one can understand, some of these things are quite exotic. The bells in the hair along with savage style of socializing are used to create a more exotic vibe when the Dothraki are brought up. It was discussed in my class that the Dothraki as a culture was based off of the Mongols and if this holds true, there was some major exaggeration on Martin’s end. Another major point is the one of sexualization. The Dothraki are very sex hungry and will have whoever they want whenever they want them. At Daenerys and Khal Drogo’s wedding,” one of them (Dothraki) finally stepped into the circle, grabbed a dancer by the arm, pushed her to the ground, and mounted her right there, as a stallion mounts a mare,” (Martin 102). This is a great example of how Martin makes these people sexual animals. This, of course, is quite problematic because the reader understands this culture to be completely savage with no respect for others. While this may be true in the novel though, it is not the same for the cultures that Martin based them off of. These things have and will lead to major consequences.
The biggest consequence for allowing or accepting these descriptions is paving the road for Habits of Whiteness. Habits of Whiteness occur when White people begin to put themselves in a higher class and social ranking than people with darker skin. This is problematic because it creates an unequal society amongst races and even genders. If people were to really believe that the Mongols acted this way and conquered this way or at least that they were the only ones doing it, then their culture is made out to be different than reality and put lower than other more diplomatic cultures. The earlier mentioned example of the Dothraki allows for Habits of Whiteness because it makes the reader believe that the White people were the good people in the book and in the real world when it could be quite different in reality. This understanding could lead to the mistreatment of other races which causes more equality issues.
Martin’s series comes with quite an interesting plot and many interesting characters, but this also includes some problematic themes like racism and sexism. The reading of the description of the Dothraki culture is quite exoticized and sexualized and with these things, inequality and Habits of Whiteness are formed.

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