Hello! How can I write a strong character but without making them emotional and maybe a bit sensitive? Like strong females but not emotionless warriors, like just a normal girl who still cries and gets emotional? Is it even possible to have a character like that? I'm super emotional and those "strong" female characters portrayed in media always make me wonder if I'm weak? :/
Let’s Have a Serious Talk About “Strong Female Characters”
That, right there, folks, is why we need to stop using the term “strong female characters.”
Problems with “Strong Female Characters”
1) “Strong” Has No Definition
Originally, “strong female character” referred to female characters who had more going on than being damsels in distress or love interests, but over time, the term evolved and distorted and now means something different to everyone. Some people think it means physical strength, some think it means mental strength/emotional strength, some think it means intellect, some think it means power or skills… but you can make your female character any or all of those things and still not create a solid character.
2) There Are No “Strong Male Characters”
People never worry about writing strong male characters. Males are typically assumed to be strong, so by aspiring to write “strong female characters” we are perpetuating the idea that women are weak by default.
3) “Strong” Alienates All Other Female Characters
The term “strong female character” implies that characters who don’t meet any of the criteria in #1 are weak, boring, and not worth writing about, and that’s absolutely false.
4) “Strong” Puts the Focus in the Wrong Places
If you’re putting all your effort into creating a character who meets the criteria of #1, you’re putting less effort into creating REAL, complex, well-developed characters.
5) “Strong Female Characters” Perpetuate Harmful Ideas About Women
When women are portrayed as better or more desirable because they’re physically/mentally/emotionally strong, intelligent, skilled, or flawless, what we’re doing is telling women that they are weak if they don’t meet those criteria. We need to do better.
Instead of Aspiring to Write “Strong Female Characters…”
If you want to write a good, solid, female character, aim for the following:
create a well developed character with her own goals and motivations
give her a thoughtful character arc
make sure she’s not thrust into the background of a male dominated plot
make sure she’s not there solely as support for a male character
let her and other characters (including males) rely on each other equally
let her stand on her own two feet but unafraid to ask for help as needed
don’t make her a male character in a dress
don’t make her masculine because it’s more practical
give. her. a. personality.
give her healthy relationships with other women
let her talk to other women about something other than a man
let her be sad, if she needs to be sad
let her cry, if she needs to cry
let her fall in love, if she wants to fall in love
let her be angry, if she needs to be angry
let her be maternal, if she feels maternal
I honestly can’t stress that enough.
Best of luck with your story! <3
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