Female Characters in Stories - Comments

I agree with the rape thing. I actually got really pissed at a writer for doing it and told her her rapist should get hit by a bus. Now, I'm not a woman who needs a man to swoop in. But some women have that fantasy and want a man to come in and fix everything. There's another trope where the man rescues the woman from abuse at home. For some people, that's their legitimate fantasy. And I don't knock fantasies.

@ sobre mi cadaver
Why cant I like comments on here. *pretends to like repeatedly*

This here articulates my issues with most of the stories I find on any writing site nowadays. Internalized sexism is an ugly thing and if we, as women, can't overcome these stereotypes and outdated gender roles and insist on representing ourselves in the media through them, then the change that we want to create about how the world views women will be very slow and ineffective.

I agree with everything you stated about the glamorization of rape and I especially despise stories in which rape is used simply to further the love story between the female character and the male character. Rape is not a plot device nor a nifty thing to give to your character so her SO falls for her and protects her.

You would probably like all my female characters then. ;) In all seriousness though, I can't stand weak, vapid or simpering "Mary Sue" heroines. I like chicks who kick ass and take names, and all my female leads are tough in one way or another. Occasionally I write a female who suffers something terrible, but then she overcomes it and finds her inner strength, then goes to kick ass and take names.

As for rape, I think it's disgusting and abhorrent, and I cannot understand why people write about it like it's erotica. There's nothing sexy about a man forcing himself violently on a girl/woman. And if a victim of kidnap and repeated rape "falls in love" with her tormentor, that's a sign of a mind splintering and trying to survive the trauma it's being dealt. That's not sexy or romantic either; it's tragic.

That is why I make my female leads Latina, lol. I'm joking, but I honestly agree with you, I came by a few of those stories...it's a morbid interest and curiosity that I read 'em, but I get what you're saying. It's not cool.

Kidnapped and raped and fall in love with your rapist seem like a dime a dozen on this site--moreso in the band fic sections I believe. As someone whose been subjected to a man who won't take no for am answer I can tell you now, there's nothing romantic about it. I find it sickenning. If I see a story hinting at that topic I back out.

Weak female characters bore me; the Bella Swam factor has been over played. I want strong female characters who don't depend on a man to magically fix all their problems. Give them flaws; I love flaws. They csm still have flaws and be strong; those are the most interesting ones.

I personally get tired of reading about weak female characters being saved and fixed by their 'stronger' male counterpart I guess. Why not the other way around?

@ Death The Angel
I don't know, there are some real life instances that happens because there was this girl, Jacee Duggard who was kidnapped on her way to or from school one day and during her fourteen years of being raped and held hostage, she gradually began to have feelings for her captor since she's had three kids by him either that she relied on him for protection and for survival since he was the one who took care of her while he held her hostage. But I do agree with you, no one would fall in love with their rapist, at least not in the manner that some of authors on Mibba writes them. It takes time to fall in love.

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I agree with this blog a lot but what psychotic secrets said makes sense as well.

I can't understand glorified rape. I know many young teens are intrigued with a man (as many stories show) dominating a woman though words or actions. The man is aggressive when it comes to sex and that is new and different to young girls (or women, which ever. I see it more often with young teens). So they write about it, and they think that is what rape is. All they know is rape is "violent" but they don't take into consideration how emotionally traumatizing rape really can be. It isn't just a woman being penned down or forced into sex, that is only fraction of cases. It bothers me so much how it can be glorified like that. However, there is men and woman who get off to scenarios a like that, it is consensual though. Point of this is everyone needs to learn there is a line between a fetish, and glorifying rape. Don't call it rape in stories, or imply that the man is raping the women, unless it really is rape. Rape isn't a "sex position" it is a monstrous act by people unto others. Rape most certainly isn't a way to a woman's heart, so it shouldn't be written as that.

I know more passive women than dominate women actually. It is a character trait, not a character flaw for the female gender. There is girls and women only interests in shopping and the male gender, there is girls and women only interested in drug and sex and there is women who are only interested in their futures. Each person is different and there should not be standards on how a woman should be. Isn't that what equality is? Letting women be who they want without being persecuted for it. All because Sally loves reading and politics doesn't mean Jill has to. We are individuals. So I don't mind in stories when the character isn't strong willed, not many women are. We aren't supposed to be anything but ourselves. That is why even in this day and age there is women who still chose to stay home with their children and take care of their families. Like the stereotype those women don't work, instead they cook and clean. That doesn't mean they are letting all women down, they are doing what they want. If they choose it, I say let it be. If a woman is forced into that, we should fight for her. But not everyone should be the same person though.

That is just my two cents.

I agree with you.

I have realistic rape oneshots on here where the raped one isn't falling in love but is either broken or tries to take revenge later on and stuff.

I full heartedly agree with you, this is why I think twice about some stories. Sure maybe there's an off chance that someone learns to take the rape but of course becomes withdrawn however I highly doubt that they'd end up falling head over heels for their abuser.