In young adult literature, girl characters can range from “damsel in distress” to “strong female character.” The “damsel in distress” can be seen in Bella Swan in “Twilight” because she has no goals or motivations that aren’t centered around Edward.
The “strong female character” sounds positive, but it usually does not refer to a complex and well-written character but rather equates strength with physical strength.
“Strong female characters” are often girls who are excellent fighters, sarcastic and cold-hearted. An example would be Celaena Sardothien from the “Throne of Glass” series. The “strong female characters” derive all of their strength from their physical abilities and have no other traits.
Male characters are defined by a myriad of qualities ranging from brave and intelligent to weak and abrasive. Female characters usually just have the characteristic of strong.
In terms of female empowerment, the “strong female character” actually works against girls because it demeans the more traditionally feminine qualities such as gentleness, empathy and vulnerability. The female character, usually the protagonist, criticizes other girls for conforming to feminine stereotypes.
In having this character, it is implied only one type of girl is acceptable. The girl that has more masculine qualities like defiance and aggression is the best type of girl. The other female characters who exhibit more feminine qualities are portrayed as shallow and inferior.
It’s poor writing and characterization on the writer’s part. There’s no need to make every other female character other than the protagonist into an unlikeable person. It does not make the main character seem more special.
While also degrading other female characters, the “strong female” occasionally will have to battle other male characters who are often incompetent and act like brutes. The stripping of power from the male character is meant to bolster the female character but does the opposite.
It implies a woman cannot be better than a man unless there is some deficiency on the man’s part. It also does a disservice to men by portraying them as imbeciles.
Masculine and feminine qualities are not strictly stuck to men or women. There are men who are empathetic and gentle, just like how there are women who are defiant and assertive. People are a combination of both masculine and feminine qualities.
Therefore, there are women who are physically strong and interested in martial arts or fighting. My problem is not that there aren’t women in real life that fit the part of the description for the “strong female character,” but that there isn’t enough of a variety of women in young adult books. We need more girl characters that are strong in different ways.
We need female characters who are intelligent, brave, complex and even weak. George R.R. Martin’s series “A Song of Ice and Fire” is an excellent example of novels that are replete with complex female characters.
Sansa Stark evolves from a meek and naive little girl to someone who can manipulate and lie in order to survive. She is not “physically” strong but demonstrates strength by living with the people who murdered her family in order to survive.
Cersei Lannister likewise is not strong physically but is still a force to be reckoned with because she is conniving and ruthless. Brienne of Tarth is physically strong, but she is also protective, insecure and vulnerable.
Sexism does not need to be tackled in young adult literature by overcompensating and having the main character be unrealistically strong. We just need different types of women who feel real, relatable and fleshed out.
