The term “fridging,” which stirred controversy in comic book circles, has made its way into an official dictionary. Gail Simone played a significant role in popularizing this term when she created the Women in Refrigerators list back in 1999. This list served as a critique of comic books for using women as plot devices to drive male characters’ motivations, often through tragic events like deaths, kidnappings, sexual assaults, or other distressing incidents. Regrettably, this practice is not unique to comics. The term “fridging” has gained such widespread usage that the Merriam-Webster Dictionary has included it in its Slang & Trending section, giving credit to Gail Simone for bringing it into the mainstream lexicon.
In simpler terms, the term “fridge” refers to a narrative device often used in movies, shows, comics, etc., where a character, typically female, is killed off or severely harmed for the purpose of motivating or developing another character, usually male. This practice is frequently criticized as a tired and problematic storytelling trope.
Gail Simone acknowledged on X (previously Twitter) her attribution by Merriam-Webster Dictionary for coining the term ‘Fridging’. She expressed surprise and gratitude, stating that they announced it on their social media platform and gave her credit on their website. She found this exciting. In response, Merriam-Webster thanked her and shared an image depicting a large knife with “Fridge” inscribed on it.
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I found myself pondering the origin of the term “fridge” used for refrigerators, and it seems it stems from a chilling event depicted in Green Lantern #54 by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks, published in 1994. In this issue, our new Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner, returned to his apartment only to discover the tragic fate of his girlfriend, Alexandra DeWitt. She had been brutally murdered and hidden inside their refrigerator by the ruthless villain, Major Force. This scene was indeed a heart-wrenching moment, serving as a grim reflection of how women were often portrayed in superhero comics. The original panel showing Kyle’s discovery was censored, with more graphic images remaining unreleased.
creators of comic books have started using the term “fridging” directly in their scripts, showing that it’s now more than just slang and could even be included in dictionaries like Merriam-Webster. Highlighting the issue of fridging has led to its decreased usage, which is always a positive development.
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2025-06-13 21:44