Netflix’s Squid Game: A Look into How Women Use Sex to Survive
Player 212, Han Mi-Nyeo’s storyline is just a brief preview into the harsh reality of women who know no better than to live through the codes of the patriarchy.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s new series, Squid Game.
Beyond exploring societal issues like class, Netflix’s Squid Game also touches on the exploitation of women, and male dominance over women – a result of a patriarchal society – all through Player 212/Han Mi-Nyeo.
Though Han’s storyline was often used as a device for comic relief, should we really be laughing at her bluntness and cringing at the way she sells herself – or should we feel sorry for her belief that there is no way to survive outside of riding on a man’s coattails?
Early in the series, Han reveals her method of survival: Sticking to the largest, most intimidating man in the room, Player 101/ Jang Deok-Soo. “I’m good at everything except for the things I’m not good at,” she says to him. “A lot better than some skinny girl.”
“A lot better? How about it?” he responds, while crudely creating a gesture implying him sleeping with her. “There’s plenty of empty beds."
Though repulsed by his response, they proceed to have sex in the bathroom an episode or so later, where Han implores him to promise to stick with her till the end.
Later, we see Han try to get ahead by putting down other women and using her sexuality in exchange for safety — something she does in the hopes of securing her position by Jang's side.
The constant use of her body for bartering can be seen in several exchanges with other players: “Let me play with you,” she tells other players. “I’ll be your dream girl all night long. I’ll do anything you tell me. I’m not a regular girl”. While other players in the game attempt to promote themselves by listing their physical or mental prowess, Han immediately resorts to the promise of sex.
This is not a new phenomena; in fact it’s been seamlessly woven into the fabric of a near-invisible world where the human body is the main form of currency. Known as Survival Sex, it refers to the exhange of sex to meet subsistence needs like shelter, food, drugs, money, or in Han’s case, protection. It’s horrifying to see her transform her body into nothing but legal tender – which unfortunately is a harsh, true reality for a lot of women.
As Han continues to cling onto Jang for safety, we see him dispose of her the moment he believed she wasn't going to be of any use during the game of Tug-of-War. Publicly, he humiliates her with derogatory names as she pleads for him to take her for the rest of the games as he had promised. She tries to kiss him or hold him in any way affectionate to get him to keep her safe: he obviously doesn’t, and in fact, comments about how he was disappointed he didn't get to kill Han and her group in the next game.
From Han’s irrational, reckless behaviour on the inside of this game right from the beginning, it previews a very scary possibility that this was completely normal behaviour for her in the real-world. When survival sex becomes a normal occurrence, the victim assumes that’s all they are good for. For those looking to survive (such as Han), the experience can be traumatizing, and victims are described as "becoming objects for masturbation".
The patriarchy can only be overcome by revealing and critically analysing its manifestations– which despite the celebrations, is still a privilege not many have. So should we be laughing at Player 212’s comedic character? Or dissecting the complexity of her character in Squid Game– plus the sinistry of how desperation is dangerous in a world not built for women: exchanging sex for survival is merely the tip of the iceberg for many.
