Harsh criticism of Michonne leaving to find Rick disregards the complexities of her decision and fails to consider her children’s safety. The Walking Dead‘s treatment of Michonne highlights societal pressures on mothers to prioritize children over personal pursuits, even in an apocalypse. Criticism of Michonne’s actions in the series can be seen as misogynistic, with male characters facing less scrutiny for similar choices.
The following contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 1, Episode 2, “Gone,” which premiered Sunday, March 3 on AMC.
As much as The Walking Dead has tried to give a voice to women by highlighting their unique experiences in the apocalypse, it doesn’t save them from misogynistic blows outside the show. Michonne has been a consistent target of harsh criticism, and has specifically been referred to as a terrible mother for abandoning her children to find Rick Grimes. Fortunately for Michonne and her fans,…
