Butch character: [exists]
Way, way too many people, many of whom are women who genuinely consider themselves feminists: “Well, actually, this is bad representation because it suggests that women need to be like men to be strong. It would be better if she were more stereotypically feminine. Female characters wearing combat boots or practical clothing to a fight just sends the message that women wearing high heels and ballgowns are not dressed for rigorous athletic feats. It’s actually more empowering to show that women can have full faces of perfect makeup and be sexy and feminine at all times and prioritize their appearance, even when they’re hacking their way through aliens 24/7.”
#hot take but like at least 80% of what people call ‘masculine’ or ‘mannish’ is just. neutral.
Not shaving. Not wearing makeup. Choosing clothes and shoes based primarily on comfort and/or practicality. Not excessively styling hair, and/or having a low-effort (short) haircut. These are all neutral actions or inaction. They are easier and often healthier for a person than the traditionally feminine alternatives. Think about whose agenda you’re serving when you posit that just existing in your natural body is “masculine” and one must put in significant conscious effort each day to be sufficiently “feminine.” Think about whose agenda you’re serving when you insist that female representation in media must always be high-effort feminine.
