The Strong Female Character
‘Fight or Die’ by steviantoos (DeviantArt)
“Part of the secret of creating vivid personalities is to make characters courageous in their confrontations with their demons and determined in their drive to overcome the obstacles they encounter. This does not mean they are fearless. But it does mean they overcome that fear in order to step up to the plate and be counted.” – Nancy Lamb in ‘The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children’.
The strong female character.
For too long now, that description is used, ad nauseum, to describe many a female main character in books and films.
It’s strange that this female character is touted as the best representation of women, yet she’s described by that single personality trait and nothing else; it’s her only significant feature.
And by strong, the creators mean she’s physically strong.
She can hold her own against any man, and that’s all that matters.
She storms onto the page, the screen, with something to prove… though I have no idea what that might be.
She’s allowed to get away with behaviour that, in a male character, would be called out for being abusive.
Lately, I’ve wondered, when was the last time we had a ‘strong male character’, one described as feisty?
Male characters, the ones who are written properly and who aren’t there simply to showcase the brilliance of the female character, are each depicted with different abilities, strengths and weaknesses, character growth…
They are not limited to any one single description.
Yet, the female characters are.
Instead of writing well-rounded characters with their own distinct traits, it would seem the only way to show how strong a woman is, is to give her traits associated with men.
Why can’t the women be strong in other ways?
Show them standing up for what they believe in.
Having the courage to ‘do the right thing’, no matter the odds stacked against them.
Having to choose between their heart’s desire, and duty and responsibility.
Show them facing their fears and stepping up.
Show us ordinary women thrust into extraordinary circumstances and having to deal with it.
Give us women who are tough yet feminine, women who are strong and gentle at the same time.
Tolkien has been repeatedly criticised for the lack of women in his stories.
Yet, the women he has written are memorable and well-rounded characters.
There’s Haleth, who, after her father and brother were killed, became a strong, much-loved leader of her people.
Haleth by Elena Kukanova (DeviantArt)
And there’s Éowyn, who stayed with the people of Rohan, seeing to their needs when her uncle and brother rode off with the Rohirrim.
When Théoden asked them to choose one to lead them, they chose Éowyn.
She was the one who, when others fled the Witch-king, stood her ground, defending her uncle, despite being visibly afraid.
Éowyn of Rohan by Breogan (DeviantArt)
Surely, at the end of the day, it can’t be that hard to write female characters who reflect real women.
Stop pigeonholing them.
Like men, women can be so many things, so stop limiting female characters to stereotypes.