Raising the Avatar: No One Woman of Color Should Have All Them Haters

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

In this chapter, William Evans declares his refusal to tolerate insults toward Avatar Korra, whom he defends against common criticisms by attributing them to sexism. He contrasts his experience watching the show before and after becoming a parent. After introducing his young daughter to The Legend of Korra, he watches her become obsessed with the character—she tackles him pretending to be the Avatar, requests Korra’s hairstyle, and uses Korra as a comeback when a boy comments on her muscles. Evans connects Korra’s emotional arc and unfiltered confidence to what he wants for his daughter, arguing that representation provides subconscious validation. He concludes by describing how he and his daughter mimic the four bending arts in everyday activities, with airbending still in progress.

Key Events

Evans states he will “still fight people who … throw dirt on Avatar Korra’s name.”
He debunks two common criticisms: that Korra is too cocky (her power justifies it) and that she lost the Avatar line (the show explicitly writes this into the plot, similar to Aang’s loss of the Avatar state).
He divides his fandom into two eras: before and after his daughter’s birth.
On a lazy weekend, he lets his five- or six-year-old daughter watch The Legend of Korra; she quickly requests it over other shows.
Over ten days, the family watches all of books one and two, and his daughter becomes deeply invested.
His daughter physically enacts being the Avatar—tackling him, demanding three ponytails and rolled-up sleeves.
When a boy at school tells her she wins at dodgeball because of “big girl muscles,” she replies that Korra has muscles too.
Evans teaches her waterbending (splashing in the bath), earthbending (digging in the garden), firebending (lighting a fire), and continues working on airbending (whistling).

Character Development

William Evans: Moves from a fan who defends Korra in online arguments to a parent who uses the show as a deliberate tool for raising his daughter. He becomes more aware of sexist double standards in fandom and more intentional about representation.
Korra: Presented not just as a powerful Avatar, but as a character with a real emotional arc—brash, stubborn, yet wide-eyed and open to growth. Evans emphasizes that her flaws are integral to her maturation.
Evans’ daughter: She is initially attracted to the show because the main character is a young girl. Over time, she sees herself in Korra (a person of color with physical power and agency) and begins to adopt Korra’s confidence and resilience in real life.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Representation as subconscious validation: Evans argues that seeing characters who look like you doesn’t require billboards; it quietly sits in the subconscious and helps people avoid talking themselves out of their gifts.
Sexism in criticism: He directly ties negative reactions to Korra to the “unlikable political woman clause,” noting that male characters are not judged with the same scrutiny.
Parenting and media: Evans uses The Legend of Korra as a bridge between child-friendly characters (Doc McStuffins) and more complex young adult protagonists. The show becomes a vehicle for teaching resourcefulness, maturity, and self-worth.
The four elements as life lessons: Waterbending, earthbending, firebending, and airbending are turned into real-world activities that bond father and daughter while instilling a sense of mastery.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter personalizes the broader debate about representation in nerd culture by grounding it in a father’s lived experience. Evans takes a concrete, emotional stand against sexist fandom gatekeeping and shows how a fictional character can shape a child’s self-image. It challenges readers to consider why certain flawed protagonists are celebrated while others, especially women of color, are attacked—and it makes a compelling case for why those characters matter to the next generation.

Study Questions and Answers

What two common criticisms of Korra does Evans address, and how does he counter them?
Answer: Evans counters the claim that Korra is too cocky by noting that she knew she was the Avatar as a toddler and could bend three elements immediately—her confidence is earned. He counters the claim that she “lost the Avatar line” by pointing out that Aang also lost the Avatar state and was healed; both are plot points, not character flaws. He attributes both criticisms to sexism.
How does Evans contrast his daughter’s reaction to Korra with her reaction to characters like Doc McStuffins?
Answer: Evans says his daughter liked Doc McStuffins but sees herself in Korra because Korra looks more like her (a person of color) and represents power, growth, and agency. He wants Doc to be his daughter’s best friend, but Korra to be the woman she aspires to become.
What does Evans mean when he says he wants Korra to be “the woman my daughter aspires to” while Doc McStuffins is a “best friend”?
Answer: He means that Doc McStuffins is a lovable, comforting figure for friendship, while Korra embodies the kind of strong, complex, and powerful woman he hopes his daughter will grow into—someone who fights for herself and others, learns from mistakes, and matures emotionally without losing her fire.

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