So the criticism is going to have to come from people who realistically would see it as a problem and the problem is, Dean doesn't say most of these things to people who would.
I think it's the show's *responsibility* to put Dean in situations where he is, at the very least, questioned for his language. I agree with you that it can't always be Sam -- that would bog down the narrative at the very least -- but, well, if they want Dean to talk like that, then they need to show the consequences of it -- unless they want to hear words like 'misogynistic' bandied about.
I don't think things that Dean says to Ruby count as misogynist, because even though we think of her as a woman because she's played by one, Dean does not think of demons as human. Dean treats Ruby the way he's treated other demons--he's still trying to kill her occasionally--and does not treat other women the way he treats her. Only in the last two episodes has Dean been aware that Ruby used to be human.
To this, I would argue that there need to be a lot more situations in which Dean interacts with non-demonic women to better highlight the difference you find so easy to see. It's another part of the show's responsibility.
And, well, I'll admit it -- I'm uncomfortable with the idea of 'artistic responsibility.' I write a lot of dark, disturbing things, and the only thing I do to ease that is put vaguely-worded warnings on my stories, and I will fight *hard* against anyone who tells me that I ought to show more care. BUT -- I'm also not spewing out bigoted rhetoric, even when I throw bad guys into the mix. When you have a *television* show aimed, at least in part, at young people, you need to have a bit more of a conscience.
Re: part 2
I think it's the show's *responsibility* to put Dean in situations where he is, at the very least, questioned for his language. I agree with you that it can't always be Sam -- that would bog down the narrative at the very least -- but, well, if they want Dean to talk like that, then they need to show the consequences of it -- unless they want to hear words like 'misogynistic' bandied about.
I don't think things that Dean says to Ruby count as misogynist, because even though we think of her as a woman because she's played by one, Dean does not think of demons as human. Dean treats Ruby the way he's treated other demons--he's still trying to kill her occasionally--and does not treat other women the way he treats her. Only in the last two episodes has Dean been aware that Ruby used to be human.
To this, I would argue that there need to be a lot more situations in which Dean interacts with non-demonic women to better highlight the difference you find so easy to see. It's another part of the show's responsibility.
And, well, I'll admit it -- I'm uncomfortable with the idea of 'artistic responsibility.' I write a lot of dark, disturbing things, and the only thing I do to ease that is put vaguely-worded warnings on my stories, and I will fight *hard* against anyone who tells me that I ought to show more care. BUT -- I'm also not spewing out bigoted rhetoric, even when I throw bad guys into the mix. When you have a *television* show aimed, at least in part, at young people, you need to have a bit more of a conscience.