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My boyfriend and I were discussing this after he watched a Ted Talk yesterday (link after I can get him to send it to me). We were discussing the fact that in media (books, video games, movies), there tends to be a lack of strong female characters, and it got me thinking--what constitutes a strong character for you? What examples can you give?
Apparently, the idea is that typically the woman is either there to be rescued by the hero, or is someone who acts as a reward for the hero in the end. However, I think it's too easy to say a strong female character holds her own and isn't just there as a reward.
One of the people in the talk said they had three questions to see if you had a strong character:
Do you have more than one female character?
Do they talk to each other?
About men?
I chuckled, but he has a point. On the other hand, I could see a romance where a woman is strong, independent, and makes her own decisions but the story is still about love and romance. Wouldn't that person be a strong character?
The thing that strikes me as a problem is that it seems like "strong" has become equated often with "bitchy." I know that's not true of everyone, and one could argue that society puts that label on women who don't fit the expected role, but I have seen several women in books who are described as strong, but come across more than anything as uncaring and selfish.
For me, I think a strong woman is well-developed with layers and someone who knows herself and is able, to some degree at least, to control her life and her situation.
I worry about creating female characters who fall into old stereotypes and ruts, so I'd love to get some ideas on this.
Apparently, the idea is that typically the woman is either there to be rescued by the hero, or is someone who acts as a reward for the hero in the end. However, I think it's too easy to say a strong female character holds her own and isn't just there as a reward.
One of the people in the talk said they had three questions to see if you had a strong character:
Do you have more than one female character?
Do they talk to each other?
About men?
I chuckled, but he has a point. On the other hand, I could see a romance where a woman is strong, independent, and makes her own decisions but the story is still about love and romance. Wouldn't that person be a strong character?
The thing that strikes me as a problem is that it seems like "strong" has become equated often with "bitchy." I know that's not true of everyone, and one could argue that society puts that label on women who don't fit the expected role, but I have seen several women in books who are described as strong, but come across more than anything as uncaring and selfish.
For me, I think a strong woman is well-developed with layers and someone who knows herself and is able, to some degree at least, to control her life and her situation.
I worry about creating female characters who fall into old stereotypes and ruts, so I'd love to get some ideas on this.