Male vs. Female MCs

Jamie Stone · Mar 28, 2010

I know in the olden days of Dickens, Shakespeare, and classical literature, the main characters--and, indeed, the major authors--were almost always male. But today it seems like a majority of authors are female, as are main characters.

It's possible that I feel this way because the majority of what I read includes females as an MC because I'm a woman, but I can't help but think of all of the novels that are best-sellers and how, with a few exceptions, they tend to revolve around women.

Is it possible that everyone was clamoring for female MCs and now we have an overabundance of them?

Do you have a preference for reading a male or female protag?

Stunted · Mar 28, 2010

Honestly, I like reading about male characters more. (I'm female, btw.) I don't know why that is, but I know a number of girls who have expressed the same opinion.

Kitty27 · Mar 28, 2010

I write both and I love reading stories from a guy's POV.

BrooklynLee · Mar 28, 2010

I like both, and I write both. Actually, if I think about my favorite novels, they are a mix. I do know from what I've read that in certain categories (like YA) there is a desire (among editors and agents at least) for more male MC books, because boys are less likely to read books with a female MC. I imagine that translates to adult men to a certain extent. However, I've also heard that women, in general, read more fiction, so part of the focus on female MC is an honest response to the market (it's hard for me to say, though; I married a man who majored in English lit, with a focus on the early novel, and so sometimes it surprises me what he's read, and what he's willing to read)

maestrowork · Mar 28, 2010

I read and write both. Doesn't make a difference to me. It depends on the story. Obviously, it depends on the genres, too -- for example, romance tends to have more female MCs.

leahzero · Mar 28, 2010

Totally the opposite in sci-fi. The norm there is still the male protagonist, and most of the authors are male.

In high fantasy, I think it's still dominated by male authors/male protagonists, but it varies by subgenre.

I don't prefer reading one over the other. I find both interesting. But I also find that many authors need to observe and study people more, because they resort to gender stereotypes to compensate for a lack of knowledge. Not all women are blank. Not all men are blankety-blank. Worse is the reverse-stereotype: a woman who isn't "womanly" has to be "manly," and vice-versa. And all of this ignores modern notions of gender as culturally rather than biologically ascribed.

I most enjoy characters that don't feel like they're deliberately written to "sound" male or female, but rather to sound like themselves.

dgiharris · Mar 28, 2010

hmmmm....

never really thought about it. In my top ten list of favorite books, 2 of them have females as the lead character. INcidentally, 2 of the other books (male MCs) are from female authors.

I've recently just started writing female lead characters, i'm finishing up a novella (should be done next month) in which the lead character is female.

WHen I write, I just tend to start with who would be the 'best' character.

If I analyze a few of my stories, I tend to favor female characters for my more emotional stories, especially when my MC needs to have emotional strength/resolve.

I tend to gravitate towards men for action and humor.

Mel...

Nessa · Mar 28, 2010

I am a girl and I like reading about both. It's very dependant but I don't have trouble writing guys or girls. It's easy for me to step into anyones shoes.

Twinwillowsfarm · Mar 28, 2010

I enjoy both male and female MCs in the books I read. What I dislike are female MCs who come across as masculine or macho. When I've run across that it's generally been in sci-fi and some fantasy books. If the genders start to run together, something is lost in the story, the tension maybe? I don't know. I hadn't thought about it until I read the question!

JRainey · Mar 28, 2010

I'm a female who likes reading about males and who more often than not writes from a male POV. I don't really know why that is. Most of my friends are guys, though. That might have something to do with it, but it also might not. *shrug*

Then again, I also like to read masculine literature. I'm that oddity amongst English majors who is female and would much rather read some Joseph Conrad than even touch Jane Austen.

The bottom line, of course, is: if it's a good story with a good, strong MC, gender doesn't matter to me. But I do normally fancy the men.

misha_mcg · Mar 28, 2010

I don't mind which gender I read about. I'm cool with either as long as they aren't vapid stereotypes.

In terms of writing, I tend to like to think about which gender would be more typical for the story/situation, and then go with the opposite. I'm not a big fan of "typical" and gender stereotypes.

Jenifer · Mar 28, 2010

I haven't got a preference when it comes to reading. Female MCs are all that have presented in my writing outside of multiple-MC situations, but I'm not actively avoiding the boys.

legendary bum · Mar 28, 2010

I'm female and I adore writing third-person male... I dunno, there's just something about it.

SirOtter · Mar 28, 2010

leahzero said:
Not all women are blank.

I certainly hope not. I prefer a little definition here and there.

I can't imagine anything I would write with a female protagonist. I live with five females - wife, three daughters and one granddaughter. I escape from the ambient estrogen into my fictional world. It's my main access to the world of men, outside of work.

And yes, a lot of men don't read fiction because the publishing business for fiction does appear to be canted towards women. Most of my close male friends are reading non-fiction war books or nothing at all. There's a gold mine out there waiting for the next Tom Clancy, if the publishers and agents are only savvy enough to spot him. Here's a clue: He'll be the one not wearing a dress.

Kweei · Mar 28, 2010

I read and write both. For me, it really depends on the story. I've enjoyed both.

Smish · Mar 28, 2010

I'm not convinced there are more females than males, actually. I think it probably depends a lot on the genre.

But I like to read (and write) both.

shadowwalker · Mar 28, 2010

Well, I'm female, and I do read both, but I find myself leaning toward the male MC. I think it correlates to the amount of characterization frustration I feel - definitely hits the high-scale with female MCs. As others have said, when the women should be strong but morph into men with breasts, I can't take it. Or when women are bounced back and forth between being strong and then WHAM! their emotions suddenly pop up and they can't make a sane decision to save their lives.

On the other hand, I like my male MCs to be "all male" - if they're too "Modern Man" it makes me squeamish.

maestrowork · Mar 28, 2010

What I don't like is a lot of introspection and navel gazing and internal monologue galore. And it seems like many books with female MCs tend to fall into that trap. So it's not about the gender, but how the book is written. I've put down a few books because the navel gazing was getting to me.

Or like someone said, when something didn't feel right: either they're men with breasts, or too girly (and expect the guys to save the day) to make me want to run away. I remember reading one with a female protagonist, written by a male, and something just didn't feel right. It felt like the protagonist was a guy but the author insisted on calling it "she."

blacbird · Mar 28, 2010

Jamie Stone said:
I know in the olden days of Dickens, Shakespeare, and classical literature, the main characters--and, indeed, the major authors--were almost always male.

I think "almost always" is a great exaggeration. No doubt there was a heavy male-oriented prejudice in the 19th Century, but:

Anna Karenina
Madame Bovary
Vanity Fair
Moll Flanders
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights
The Scarlet Letter

Jane Austen
George Eliot & George Sand (both of whom chose male pseudonyms to defeat publication prejudices)
The numerous Brontës
Kate Chopin
Mary Shelley

caw

Lydia Sharp · Mar 28, 2010

K.L. Townsend said:
I read and write both. For me, it really depends on the story. I've enjoyed both.

Ditto.

Caitlin Black · Mar 28, 2010

I prefer to write and prefer to read female MCs, and I'm male. I don't know why that is exactly...

I have nothing against the guys, but I don't like men in real life, so I guess that has something to do with my preference in fiction.

Chasing the Horizon · Mar 28, 2010

As a reader I tend to prefer male MCs because I usually identify with them more. I also get along better with men in real life, so that's not surprising.

As a writer, I create female characters I can identify with (which probably means most other women won't, but oh well). I write male MCs too. I write secondary-world fantasy with very different cultures, so the gender roles in my books are all twisted up anyway.

Raphee · Mar 28, 2010

Gender doesn't matter, story does.

Recent example of female MC in mainstream:
A thousand Splendid Suns...Khalid Husseni
Blind Assassin ...Margaret AAtwood.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara KingSolver.

goddessofthehunt · Mar 28, 2010

I've noticed that I generally read and write female MCs. I do have a few books on my shelf to read that have males. I don't really have a conscious preference. I'm not going be turned off a great story because the protagonist is the wrong gender.

My first novel, which I'm tentatively beginning the revision stage with, has a male MC in third person. I find it easier to write male MCs in third person than first. I am a bit worried that my MC is a little too sensitive, though. I'm also worried that his love interest likes the guys a little too much. We shall see...

third person · Mar 28, 2010

I'm a guy, but I like to write 3PL (third limited) females more. Why? Because I like stories about strong, capable women--and I am not talking about ones who are also insatiable hoebags on the side a la Anita Blake or really very girly when no one is looking a la Buffy. Talk about cop-out.

Male vs. Female MCs

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