Women in fanfiction (or not)

[auronlu]

Apparently, discussions are happening around fandom about the lack of female characters in fanfiction and a similar problem in original (published) fiction. They're also discussing the problem that one may become hyper-sensitive about making women too strong, too flawed, too anything because one is too self-conscious about perpetrating stereotypes. (Something I am not always careful enough about, la.)

I've only seen a few of these posts. I am flitting at the edges of the discussion, since (a) I use fanfiction and LJ  as a brain break (b) most of the discussion seems to be about lack of women in the m/m slash fanfiction community, where I'm not active. When I do speak up in those discussions, I'm afraid I sound too smug/preachy/insensitive. ("Well, just write them!" or "Hey, read some of ours, then...I know some authors who can show you how it's done!")

So I don't have many insightful things to say on that discussion, other than the fact that I'm very glad that people are having it.

Here's what I want to say.

Dear Flist.

I love you folks. Never do I have to look far to find stories with plausible and interesting women of many kinds. Yuri, het, gen, whatever -- women are an integral part of the stories you tell, and it would never occur to you to excise them. Those folks on my flist who write m/m also have many stories with well-developed female characters.

Because of you, I didn't realize that we might be existing in a somewhat atypical bubble of fandom/fanfiction where *gasp* women exist. (Although I'm not quite sure of that -- a wide-angle view of fandom is very dependent on vantage point).

I just wanna say...thank you for being! Keep writing! 

 

Comments

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Hear hear!

I am happy to be able to second everything you say in your open letter.

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

I think the dearth of good female characters in fanfic is a direct descendant of the dearth of good female characters in mainstream media. And I'm puzzled by the discussion of female chars in m/m slash, given that there's been significant discussion of how the men in m/m slash are often coded women who behave very little like "real" gay men and much more like women.

Anyway. It's kind of sad that our extended friends are, in fact, an atypical bubble of writers, but it's nice for us.

[muggy-mountain.livejournal.com]

IAWTP!

[trekqueen.livejournal.com]

*big hugs* I think thats why I thought a Lulu/Dax suggestion might be interesting, both strong women characters.

Speaking of which, I was checking out something and have been talking with a friend about Xena and Gabrielle from the Xena tv show. Xena was a strong female who had her history and vices too while there's innocent Gabrielle tagging along but she really comes into her own in discovering her own strength by the end of the show.

[rushingwind.livejournal.com]

Come on over to Stargate fandom, and watch as the women disappear... *is sad*

That's one reason I've always loved FF10 fandom. Whether it's YuRiPa being featured, Lulu kicking ass, or Yuna being awesome, the ladies never seem to disappear.

[gargantua29.livejournal.com]

I must be rather insulated, or else I instinctually gravitate towards anime with strong female characters. I had no idea such a discussion was going on. But now that I think about all the anime on my shelf, there ARE several titles where the women are absent - Saiyuki comes to mind immediately. Very interesting.