I think that the internalized misogyny of most UF protagonists definitely comes from trying to build a strong female character, which unfortunately instead creates a 'Strong Female Character'.
Female writers see a plethora of weak women in fantasy who just serve to support the manly male character, and so they don't want to produce yet another weak willed woman. In order to give their character authenticity as powerful, they have them reject their femininity, and since femininity is often tied with this, their femaleness. This all ignores that you can be a badass in heels; that you can be soft and gentle (if you choose to be), and still be powerful (but that's harder, because you have to navigate around 'traditional women's strength roles that reenforce stereotypes).
In short weakness= feminine= female= my character is better than those stupid guuurls, nyeah.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2013-02-06 02:08 am (UTC)Female writers see a plethora of weak women in fantasy who just serve to support the manly male character, and so they don't want to produce yet another weak willed woman. In order to give their character authenticity as powerful, they have them reject their femininity, and since femininity is often tied with this, their femaleness. This all ignores that you can be a badass in heels; that you can be soft and gentle (if you choose to be), and still be powerful (but that's harder, because you have to navigate around 'traditional women's strength roles that reenforce stereotypes).
In short weakness= feminine= female= my character is better than those stupid guuurls, nyeah.