Why Are Warrior Women Never Ugly?

[Aaron L]

So, for example, if you were a fighter and suddenly found yourself faced with this twin sword wielding opponent, it would be safe to say that she would be very distracting to you?

Artwork by Bruce Colero

Ummmm...... I think I'd fall over. No blood going to my brain, IYKWIMAITYD.


Nice tummy.

I've had a goddess (Ascension Warlord) in my game world called only the Blue Lady for a while now. Now I have a picture of her

 

[Aaron L]

I can't think of any series where the main "tank" warrior was a woman and the main spellcaster was a man.

Interestingly enough, I've been writing a story where the main fighter of the group is a woman, and the wizard is a man. I really need to finish that up.

She isn't ugly, though Not spectacularly beautiful, but not ugly.


As for the topic, as others have said, this is fantasy and most peoples fantasies are populated by pretty people, men and women alike. Ive read stories where the main female character was specifically described as plain looking (Crypt of the Shadowking came to mind immediately) but usually not ugly. Most of the stories Ive read male lead characters were usually said to be good looking as well. I dont think its a matter of women exclusively being portrayed that way, although it is women shown visually more often than men. There is a bigger tendancy to have women be beautiful than men (big surprise there!) because in our society it is unfortunately more forgivable for men to have doggy looks than it is for women.


The usual is for all the main characters in fantasy to be sexy, but women do have a fairly substantial edge on men in the sex object area, everyone knows that. Its what comes of men doing most of the writing in the genre.

However, as someone pointed out, romance novels tend to have beautiful guys all over the covers, and I think women own the boat in that writing team

 

[Aeson]

... Them's fightin' words.

No fighting words would be if I said Halle Barry was ugly. I might have too kick my own butt for that one.

How about Cate Blanchett? Not my idea of an Elf.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

I first notice the blue skin, then the horns. I barely notice the boobs.

She has horns?

 

[Particle_Man]

There was some movie (perhaps tv only) that had a woman who is/was a *real* kickboxing (or maybe boxing, but not the "Fake" boxing) champion, and she did her own stunts (a la Clint Eastwood man with no name "go through hell and keep coming" stuff). It was incredible to see a movie lead that was muscular and not at all pretty. I am not even sure she had more than a dozen lines. Never said she could act...

Anyone remember this movie?

 

[Ranger REG]

GOOD fantasy doesn't always fall prey to those cliches.

Brienne of Tarth, for example, in a Song of Ice and Fire, is a monstrously ugly warrior woman. There are a fair number of good-looking warriors (Ser Loras, King Renly, etc) but just as many ugly or unremarkable ones (Sandor Clegane, Barristan the Bold, Greatjon Umber, etc).

It's definitely the most human and "realistic" fantasy setting I'm aware of, and it certainly doesn't have chicks in chainmail bikinis.

Boy, if such an adapted film got greenlighted, I wonder who'd want to be assigned to cast the ugly chicks?

Conan wasn't supposed to be particularly attractive, as I recall.

Yeah, but one normally doesn't have to. I've seen cheerleaders go out with pug-faces with a six-pack or a washboard or just plain buff with muscles.

I've also seen mature chicks -- that is 18 and up -- go out with Bill Gate clones (rich nerds).

 

[Ranger REG]

How about Cate Blanchett? Not my idea of an Elf.

That's funny. Most believe the American Liv Tyler did not live up to her species role.

 

[Ranger REG]

Movies with Drew Barrymore in the lead.

Nah, I wouldn't call her ugly, and I have been to gaming and sci-fi conventions.

(SKR can prove me wrong by putting out his annual "Babes of Gencon" web sites.)

 

[Sanackranib]

thats an easy question to answer: good looking woman are a distraction, ugly ones not so much, granted you might go :whow shes really ugly" but you wouldnt have any qualms about runing her through with your broadsword either. now a real "hot babe" on the other hand you are not as likely to view as a threat after all, she's "just a woman" so your guard is down.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

That's funny. Most believe the American Liv Tyler did not live up to her species role.

Me, I think the movies are overrated . . .

. . . they didn't throw out enough of the books.