Trope Detox

A Trope Detox is a relatively new type of fandom trope closely linked to societal changes in normative views on gender expression and the importance of sexual consent. Typically detoxed tropes can range from character archetype tropes (i.e. Brainless Beauty, Bad Boy, Damsel in Distress or Minority Best Friend/Token Minority) or story tropes (i.e. Sex Pollen, Rapefic, Aliens Made Them Do It, Can't Escape The Room Unless or Slavefic). It usually applies to smut or PWP fanfic but can be utilized in any setting or trope where problematic themes relating especially to stereotypical and harmful gender norms (such as toxic masculinity or female docility), harmful sexual scripts (such as rape myths, gendered sexual norms that uphold harmful gender stereotypes, themes of normalised sexual assault) or discrimination (sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.) are usually expected to occur. 
A story counts as a trope detox when it specifically "re-writes" a classic trope where such themes are expected to occur. A plot that is "simply" free from sexual assault endorsement, sexism or discriminatory themes that does not aim to re-create a classic problematic trope does not count as a detox, as it does not contain a original reference to be detoxed. 
FloraOne has summarised trope detoxing as follows: 
Even though the trope aims to subvert problematic themes, it's dependent of the author being able to catch the subtleties of the problematic behaviors addressed. Because of the ever-changing improvements of seeing problematic (sexist, racist, ableist, etc.) themes in society, these stories are to be seen as a product of their time and may in itself age badly as understanding of these problems progresses and more themes and tropes are critically reflected that these stories may contain.
==Canon Examples==
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
* While not having aged favorably in terms of problematic themes depictedRobyn Bahr. Joss Whedon’s ‘feminist’ shows all concealed toxic ideas about women, The Washington Post, 13 February 2021., Buffy has originally been devised to subvert/detox the Damsel in Distress trope, in which the ditzy blonde doesn't get killed by the monster in an alley, but kills that monster right back.Amy Pascale. Joss Whedon: Geek King of the Universe - A Biography, July 2014.
==Fanwork Examples==
Sailor Moon
* The Unintentional Seduction of Chiba Mamoru by FloraOne. E-rated. Subverted Teach Seduction trope in which Usagi Tsukino goes to Mamoru Chiba to learn how to seduce Tuxedo Mask. However, Mamoru is a virgin, has no idea how to do the sex, and frantically hits the books in order to do that.
* Valse Triste by FloraOne. E-rated. A story inverting sexist gender norms in which it is Prince Endymion who is expected to be untouched and "pure" while Princess Serenity is allowed and expected to frolic around as she sees fit, lacing in social commentary about the sexist norms.
* Gilded Silver by Antigone2. E-rated. This story plays with subverting the womanizer vs. inexperienced princess themes in an Endymion and Serenity story.
Miraculous Ladybug:
* The Boiling Point by Speaks. E-Rated. A story subverting expected sexual coercion themes in a Sex Pollen story, where, instead of showing substance-related dub-con, the trope is instead used to bring consenting, mutually pining, aged-up Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng together in a post-reveal/pre-relationship setting.
MCU
*Lassos and Lilies by NotEvenCloseToStraight. E-Rated. A mail-order bride (western au) when stereotypes are subverted into a non-traditional a/b/o trope.
Twilight
*Undercover Ops by franzia. Rated Teen and Up. Every Twilight trope subverted. Edward Cullen thinks he is in love with Bella, who has to play a high-stakes game of pretend to avoid being dinner.
==Archives & Resources==
==References==
Category:Glossary