[OT] Girls who can beat you up

[Ridley's Cohort]

I think that writers have to be aware that it's easy to make a female character a "masculine" one; a character that doesn't really have very many "feminine" traits and is pretty much the same as all the old male action heroes in every way but body type.

I'd like to see more strong female characters because of their femininity, not despite it.

That's why my wife is mildly amused by Charmed but is uninterested in Buffy. The three witches are recognizably feminine characters who play the primary heroes. Buffy is more of a clever take on teen angst but rings true to men at least as well as women; she is not particularly feminine except in supericial characteristics.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

It is no wonder that given our long history of set sexual roles that many women secretly or openly desire to take a more dominant role in society, relationships and action movies. Likewise it is unremarkable (to me anyway) that many men desire the feeling of release that comes with giving control over to a woman. Ergo, they find women who "kick butt" (which is often a thinly veiled metaphor for sex if it is veiled at all) to be attractive because it implies that they might be the kind of woman who would "take over" in the bedroom.

The harsh reality is men just are not up to the task of being in charge any more.

If you are a woman and cannot count on a man to (1) earn enough money to that you do not have to work, and (2) not divorce or treat you like dirt (or both) when he becomes bored, then the traditionally accepted female role no longer makes sense.

 

[KnowTheToe]

I am not much into the female action roles, but have opened up to them more than in the past. The "old school" danger chick flick was full of horrible one liners. All of those girls were just smart mouths with muscle and/or determination. The new model for the tough girls are more thought out and realistic. They don't have to make a stupid one liner or always have the last word, but then, when have men really ever had the last say in anything

I am married (happily), I can say that

 

[Ashtal]

But what's 'feminine'? Is there such a beast, or is it merely a stereotype?

I find Charmed completely banal and its women among the worst stereotypes. Buffy's female characters seem pretty feminine to me, and surely act more feminine than I do! But they have never come across as stereotypical.

How is Buffy not feminine?

 

[LostSoul]

But what's 'feminine'? Is there such a beast, or is it merely a stereotype?

I find Charmed completely banal and its women among the worst stereotypes. Buffy's female characters seem pretty feminine to me, and surely act more feminine than I do! But they have never come across as stereotypical.

How is Buffy not feminine?

"Feminine" is indeed a stereotype.

Buffy's not feminine because you could change her gender (and everyone - except Willow's, really) and nothing would be different about the show. It would be Biff the Vampire Slayer, a big dumb jock trying to get through high school while carrying this giant load on his shoulders.

Now if Buffy gave birth to the cosmos, or something like that - that is, they made the fact that she is a woman central to her character - she'd be feminine. As it is, for me, it (her gender) seems little more than a window dressing gimmick.

Of course, I could be totally out to lunch.

 

[rounser]

There's a quote from Sarah Michelle Gellar about the issue, and her observation/assertion is that girls fighting and otherwise getting physical is basically a socially acceptable form of soft porn - and that's part of the appeal for guys.

Although (as others have said) there's a lot more to the shows than just girls kicking ass, I'm having difficulty faulting her logic. If you accept this line of thinking, shudder when you consider what the Powerpuff Girls may symbolise.

In essence, I think she's answered the original poster's question.

 

[alsih2o]

robnj, check out the thread "(ot) who would you choose" several of the participants have put females in the traditionally more macho role of fighter...these are probably the folks you wanna chat with....good luck with your article!

 

[Berandor]

Well, what can I say?
As I have witnessed handfirst the troubles of a girlfriend with low self-esteem who constantly needs a cheer-up, I can totally agree that confident women are more attractive.

Why? I have several reasons:
1. A woman without self-esteem is stress, work, and time-consuming
2. A woman with her own mind can be fun to be around even when out of bed.
3. I am not under the pressure of being the one to decide everything, from where we go, to what we do, in our time together.
4. A woman with confidence articulates her preferences; I don't have to guess whether "Lord of the Rings" is an interesting picture to take her.
5. A woman with confidence is more inclined to articulate grudges. Less "What's wrong?" - "Nothing!"
6. When some crisis happens, I can concentrate on it without it being the fifth crisis this day.
7. I am free to live one life, and don't have to tell her everything she oughta do, more than once. ("I'm sick." - "See a doctor." - "You really think so?" - "Yes." - "I don't know.")
8. Finally, with a strong woman, you can struggle for power...

Confidence is sexy, intelligence is sexier.

Berandor

 

[Darklone]

Berandor: Right.

I never knew you got the same women in Krefeld as we got here in Stuttgart...

 

[LostSoul]

I can totally agree that confident women are more attractive.

While that may be true, confidence and the ability to "beat you up" don't necessarily go together. The attributes you listed could belong to a "girly-girl", while a bruiser might be very insecure under her bully's exterior.

Confidence is sexy, intelligence is sexier.

I remember hearing about a study that said people only say intelligence in important in a mate to look good on surveys! In truth, people want somebody who is just about as intelligent as they are. Too smart or too dumb spoils it.