“Male writers can’t write female characters” & a theory on why this is a western cultural issue
I hear a lot of women saying that male writers have trouble with creating believable exciting female characters that are not: a) the damsel, or b) the femme fatal. And I kinda find myself agreeing.
I don’t read that many books by male authors, just because I’m a naturally attracted to books that women tend to write -kick ass romance.
But when I do pick up a thriller, horror or fantasy by a male author, I usually never end up identifying with any of the female cast. I can like them, I can want to read their story, it can it still be my fave book. But I can’t see myself in their stead. I can’t actually feel their emotions.
And I donno if it’s because of the books I reach for, it could be that I’m a lil under-read in certain genres, however, I propose a different theory:
Maskulinity is further away from femininity, than femininity is from masculinity.
Ah, you would think the distance is the same whether you start from M or the F point, but really it’s like this in western culture:
(Yes this is a shit graph that shows next to nothing, but I have a point)
If you are a woman it’s more acceptable that you embrace male traits and/or values, than if you’re a man that embraces feminine traits.
Partly because they are associated with everything that ensures survival in a capitalistic society, but partly because women have been demonized since the dawn of biblical times (why is that btw?) which still unglued our sociaty, though it might not dictate our mundanity.
Think about it, it is culturally accepted that women can wear pants, but men cannot wear skits (yes they can and look both awesome and cute), women can wear blues and men cannot wear pinks (again duh, of course they can and should if they wanna) and then there’s the matter of tight clothes!! And this is ONLY retail.
This problematic, that creates a cultural divide for men to be feminine or exposed to the feminine in there personal sphere, could perhaps be the reason why some male writers find it extremely challaging to write believable female characters?
And to write, is to be immersed, so deeply in you character, that you can imagine what they would say and do, when channeling them.
Or that’s how I write anyway.
So, because women have been more allowed to try our or test, maybe adapt, certain stereotypical male traits, we might have a better understanding of the sexes? And therefore a better channel?
!!Also!! Importaint to mention that none of the books I thought about was written by a LBGTQA+ person, that I know of, and that might have something to say. And not all male writers now a days are conform (the baby boomer gen through) so please note that I actually do not want to call out Tha Guys.
I do think you can be a wonderful writer of girls and women as a guy, but if you haven’t researched your stuff, it will show. And the same goes for female writers writing superficial men.
My professional advice: Do the fieldwork. Play a lil.
And you know what? All this just s a theory, and it’s built on literally nothing other than air and my world perception, so do debate!
I wanna hear your stand on this!
