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justiceischeap

(14,040 posts)
15. I totally get that fiction is not real life and often real life is quite boring
Sat Feb 4, 2012, 02:18 PM
Feb 2012

That doesn't mean though that gives author's room to create these totally absurd caricatures of women (and men). I read a lot (too much) of urban fantasy and I see a recurring them in this genre as I explained in the OP. The female hero is kicking ass and taking names and then a god-like man walks into the room and bam!, she becomes this really gross portrayal of some "other" weak-kneed woman who would do anything for this man to save her.

What often makes it worse is the author will throw in a couple of other guys to create tension (and don't get me started on the whole alpha werewolf/rape thing that goes on). Instead of using action or adventure to create tension, now they're using sex and, to me, that is the sign of a lazy writer (no offense meant if your book has romance) or publisher's trying to cash in on the romance market.

At the end of most of these books, the message I get is that these female hero's are good for only two things: throwing themselves into incredibly dangerous situations and winning because they have Super Hunk helping them now and second, they are for the amusement of Super Hunk (because the hunky guy is usually much more dominant than the female protagonist). It's the Mary Sue syndrome.

Maybe I shouldn't expect so much from the urban fantasy genre (and thrillers and mysteries) but it'd be nice to see something that doesn't follow that formula for female protagonists. I think you can still write entertaining fiction without resorting to these types of tropes.

It would be really nice to see a book with a female and male protagonist that doesn't lead to romance. It's almost saying, if you read too much into it like I'm probably doing, that men and women can't be friends without sex involved. I don't have sex with my male friends, nor do I see them sexually--of course, I'm a lesbian, so maybe that makes a difference (but I don't view my female friends that way either) but I doubt all straight women walk around salivating over their attractive male friends. You know, just waiting for the moment they can kiss his luscious lips and feel his rock-hard body against theirs while falling deeply into his soulful eyes.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

You bring up a very good point. Justice wanted Feb 2012 #1
I have a problem with fiction in general justiceischeap Feb 2012 #2
I know exactly what you mean. It isn't just heroes it has been in movies since they started. Justice wanted Feb 2012 #3
i stopped reading in the 80's cause of the protrayals of women seabeyond Feb 2012 #7
i read a new author kindle book and loved it. truly a kick ass main female character seabeyond Feb 2012 #5
since getting a kindle, i have received a lot of free or cheap books from new authors. seabeyond Feb 2012 #4
I just think it's sad justiceischeap Feb 2012 #6
Some Thoughts From a Writer kurt_cagle Feb 2012 #8
Your book sounds interesting and something I'd probably like reading justiceischeap Feb 2012 #9
Rescue kurt_cagle Feb 2012 #12
love this. and this is what i was thinking reading thru this thread. seabeyond Feb 2012 #14
I totally get that fiction is not real life and often real life is quite boring justiceischeap Feb 2012 #15
Ah yes, the Unholy Triangle kurt_cagle Feb 2012 #17
except you and i are seeing ourselves about the same, and over time and experience, conclude about seabeyond Feb 2012 #13
i think a writer needs to get past the concern of defeminizing and this is why... seabeyond Feb 2012 #11
Yeah, sadly it isn't even surprising to me. redqueen Feb 2012 #10
Caricatures kurt_cagle Feb 2012 #16
I generally base my characters off real people, but tone them down. ZombieHorde Feb 2012 #18
So interesting libodem Feb 2012 #19
Are you a reader? Are you a feminist? If so, you have something to add to the conversation justiceischeap Feb 2012 #20
Yes, I love to read libodem Feb 2012 #21
that is a fun series. stopped reading about 12, 13. seabeyond Feb 2012 #23
I would just like to add this to the thread. Lunacee2012 Feb 2012 #22
It happens with a lot of female writers too justiceischeap Feb 2012 #24
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