Finish this sentence.

[seriousfic]

A strong female character is...

Comments

[parsimonia.livejournal.com]

Joss Whedon! Sorry. I do want to write up an actual answer, but I gotta head to work in a few. Will write one later.

[ladyoneill.livejournal.com]

Heh My first thought was Buffy.

[sinanju.livejournal.com]

Hot!

But seriously (wait, I am serious--they're hot), a strong female character is one who knows what she wants, knows what it will cost her to get it, has decided it's worth the price, and then does what it takes.

[ladymordecai.livejournal.com]

Well-rounded and active in her own life.

There are a lot of other characteristics, but these two cement it for me. They can't be one-(or even just two)dimensional, they must have strengths and flaws. They must also have agency, the ability to be a person in the world. Even if their society doesn't want to let them, a strong female must take advantage of whatever slice she can get.

Hmm. If I think of any other defining qualities, I'll wander back.

[rocaw.livejournal.com]

Not afraid to be strong and not afraid to make mistakes.

[parsimonia.livejournal.com]

I love your icon!

[rocaw.livejournal.com]

*grins* Thank you! =)

[mcity.livejournal.com]

Pretty much any female character in a Tamora Pierce book, ever.

[parsimonia.livejournal.com]

Okay, a strong female character is...one that is shown as consciously making her own choices and in control of her own life, not doing something because it's expected or demanded of her by society or someone/people in her life, but instead because it's something she wants. Someone who respects herself and others when it's deserved.

[parsimonia.livejournal.com]

Also, willing to take risks, pick herself up when/if she falls, accept responsibility and be accountable for the things she's done wrong, and learn from mistakes.

[teh-no.livejournal.com]

A strong female character is one who's a character in her own right, same as for a male character. It doesn't matter how complimentary their portrayal is. What matters is whether they're the heroes of their own story or spear-carriers in someone else's.

John C. Victim only exists to be shot and have Batman swear vengeance. Where people go wrong is demanding there are no Joan B. Victims. Not all female characters need to be strong, some are just there to move the story forward. Can you imagine if an editor said that all male characters had to be credits to their gender?

[teh-no.livejournal.com]

Oh, and some further comments (http://teh-no.livejournal.com/620481.html) at my LJ.

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

able to lift massive amounts?

[galamb-borong.livejournal.com]

A strong female character is a problematic term. Even if you rule out physical strength – not that we don't all love She-Hulk – we're left with a question: are we speaking of a strong character or a strong woman? The two aren't the same. You can have a female character who's weak, shallow, and an all-round failure as a human being who, in the hands of the right author, becomes indelibly etched into the readers mind, and is thus a strong character. Likewise, a metaphorical super-woman who's perfect in every way will likely be a very weak character, despite being a strong woman. All in all, her strength or weakness isn't important as long as the character herself can hold ones attention.

[angel-gidget.livejournal.com]

... like a strong male character, only--y'know--a girl.