movies/tv Strong, non stereotypical female characters

[Captain Brony (MG11) 218]

Im not really sure why people keep saying that Mikasa is a non-stereotype good character.

 

She is badass yes, but not non-stereotypical or strong in characterization.

 

She easily follows the "My background is grim and now im dark and badass" stereotype as well as the fact that her only real characterization is being a skilled teeth-bearing love-sick puppydog for Eren.

 

She's an icon for sure but hardly a character as far as her writing goes.

Edited May 27, 2014 by Captain Brony (MG11)

[Discordian 6,015]

I don't like the idea that a character or person following a stereotype is somehow not a strong or independent personality. "Strong" itself has become a stereotype of sorts because of people wanting to idolize that type of person to the point that everyone tries to be that. People aren't so simple as to be one or the other. They can be a little of both.

[Guest]

Aela - Skyrim

Astrid - Skyrim

Karliah - Skyrim

Lara Croft

Rayne - Bloodrayne

Samus Aran

Claire/Jill/Sheva/Ada - most resident evil girls

Kit Ballard - Blade Kitten

Mulan/Elsa/and the chick from "Brave" - Disney

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

All the female villains of the world. And any character who does not inherently and stereotypically support feminist rights as that promotes the stereotype that being a feminist makes you "strong".

[Captain Brony (MG11) 218]

I don't like the idea that a character or person following a stereotype is somehow not a strong or independent personality. "Strong" itself has become a stereotype of sorts because of people wanting to idolize that type of person to the point that everyone tries to be that. People aren't so simple as to be one or the other. They can be a little of both.

I wouldn't say a stereotype doesn't make them strong (maybe not strong in writing), it does however lack uniqueness depending on the character. Characters who follow stereotypes are often a product of bad writing. It's not inherently bad to follow stereotypes, but the character needs to have something that sets them apart from all the rest. If they don't feel unique then they come off as lazily written and/or unoriginal.

[Ryzu 984]

Zelda from the legend of Zelda, Remember sheik?

[LunaShy 168]

I would have to go with a l

I would go with a bunch of video game characters- Ellie from the last of us, cortanna from halo, yuna from ffx, Jodie from beyond: two souls, chell from portal, faith from mirrors edge, Jill and Claire from resident evil, Joanna dark from perfect dark. All strong characters that are feminine but strong and none of whom are overly macho

[Kay Dreamer 884]

I wouldn't say a stereotype doesn't make them strong (maybe not strong in writing), it does however lack uniqueness depending on the character. Characters who follow stereotypes are often a product of bad writing. It's not inherently bad to follow stereotypes, but the character needs to have something that sets them apart from all the rest. If they don't feel unique then they come off as lazily written and/or unoriginal.

 

Agreed. People aren't stereotypes. People may contain a few stereotypes, but they don't define who we are. Humans are nuanced. We are each of us multifaceted in personality and motivation, and our reactions to situations are moulded by innumerable factors which have evolved through our lives.

 

The problem with building a character upon a stereotype is that it diminishes all this, boiling it down into a pre-packaged 'kit' to assemble a character out of. 'Dumb muscle man.' 'Strong black woman.' 'Socially maladjusted nerd.' 'Tsundere.' 'Rich snobby blonde girl.'

 

I have to mention Merida and Queen Elinor, from Brave. They're both beautifully well written characters with a lot of depth and humanity contained within them. On the surface, Merida could be seen as stereotypical, but she's really a frightened young girl who is terrified of her life changing and feels trapped by the expectations of her family and society. She's vulnerable and fallible, and her selfishness, while justifiable, almost cost her mother her life. Queen Elinor seems at first to be cold and demanding, but as the story unfolds you see the warmth and love she has for her daughter. She comes to realise that in her efforts to do what she thought was best for Merida, she's pushed her away instead, and is humbled and changed by that realisation. (Omg, so many Brave feels right now.)

 

Truly gifted writers create characters with astounding human depth. Stereotypes, if they're the base you choose to build a character from, have no depth at all.

 

All the female villains of the world. And any character who does not inherently and stereotypically support feminist rights as that promotes the stereotype that being a feminist makes you "strong".

 

Feminism itself has been negatively stereotyped through the years. Everyone can be a feminist, it doesn't matter how 'strong' or 'meek' you are. The only thing it means is supporting equal rights for each gender; that's all. (Which most people do.) It's about dismantling stereotypes, male and female, and giving everyone a fair go.

 

Sadly, that bad 80's caricature of the 'strong woman man-hating feminist' is the one most media likes to play with. Characters with depth like Merida's are few and far between.

Edited May 28, 2014 by Kay Dreamer

[Zekromic 1,054]

And most of the Pokemon Special manga girls, but special mention to:

[ShadowPirateX 600]

- Samus Aran from Metroid. (Hooray for creativity)

- Kuo and Nix from inFAMOUS 2.

[Forlong 1,726]

Helga Pataki

She is easily one the best characters in fiction period.  She has so much depth to her, and yet each layer of her personality flows into the next.  She feels organic.  She feels real.  The only down side to her is that her boyfriend is the most boring kid on the planet, but I guess there's no accounting for taste.

 

I thought of mentioning other characters, but they all pale in comparison to Helga G. Pataki.

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

 

 

Feminism itself has been negatively stereotyped through the years. Everyone can be a feminist, it doesn't matter how 'strong' or 'meek' you are.

That's being an egalitarian. Feminist means advocating or defending female rights... you're confusing the term and in a way feminists are doing that to be more likeable after the often seen extremist side of their movement... 

[LongGoneGr 1,305]

Princess Zelda/Sheik is a prime example of strong female protagonists.

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

Wonder Woman

The Power puff girls

Misty from Pokemon

Samus from Metroid

Zelda or Shiek

Edited May 28, 2014 by ChikoritaBrony

[Forlong 1,726]

Princess Zelda/Sheik is a prime example of strong female protagonists.

Zelda or Shiek

Skyward Sword Zelda is so much better.  She doesn't even need Link to rescue her.

[~*bacon princess*~ 278]

Do video games count? If so i'm saying Samus Aran from the Metroid games.

Stop treating me like I'm a sex object!

Mother Brain's a woman but she gets respect!

Edited May 30, 2014 by Kumo

[Hive King 2,001]

I know this is a weird one, but possibly Zangya from DBZ? Interestingly enough, despite their being three other male henchmen in the same role as her, only she has appeared in the games. It's easy to see why, she was around the longest and did the most

 

Aside from her, there's Elsa from Frozen who comes to mind along with Gwen Stacy in the Spider-Man films

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

I'd say Ellen Ripley, but ya'll already covered that, so how about Mrs. Brisby from The Secret of HIMH. She isn't a warrior or a genius or a super important chosen one, but she doesn't have to be. I think people too often associate a strong-willed female character with someone who can kick all asses, which isn't true. In fact, the most admiral heroes are the ones who brave whatever obstacle comes their way no matter how afraid or vulnerable they are, and that's what Mrs. Brisby is. She's a mom trying to protect her kids, even if it means potentially getting eaten by cats and owls, having to deal with a bunch of morally dubious rats, and risking life and limb. You've gotta respect that.

 

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

http://coutelier.deviantart.com/art/True-Romance-214739204

These three girls from Baldur's Gate don't take shit from none! YOU BETTER WATCH OUT!!!

[Forlong 1,726]

I'd say Ellen Ripley, but ya'll already covered that, so how about Mrs. Brisby from The Secret of HIMH. She isn't a warrior or a genius or a super important chosen one, but she doesn't have to be. I think people too often associate a strong-willed female character with someone who can kick all asses, which isn't true. In fact, the most admiral heroes are the ones who brave whatever obstacle comes their way no matter how afraid or vulnerable they are, and that's what Mrs. Brisby is. She's a mom trying to protect her kids, even if it means potentially getting eaten by cats and owls, having to deal with a bunch of morally dubious rats, and risking life and limb. You've gotta respect that.

 

HELL YEAH!  I love that movie!

 

Got another one: Mara Jade Skywalker

If anything good came from Disney nuking the EU, it was retconning her totally lame death.  Mara Jade could only be killed by 100 battle droids, 20 destroyers, 4 imperial walkers, and a TIE fighter.  She is the only Jedi that can match Luke skill for skill, blow for blow.  She's the most popular EU character for a reason.

[Kay Dreamer 884]

That's being an egalitarian. Feminist means advocating or defending female rights... you're confusing the term

 

Nope, feminism at it's core is about dismantling the negative stereotypes which lead to gender inequality. This helps men as well. (No more stigma for male abuse/rape, men no longer shamed for being stay-at-home fathers, no discrepancies in family courts, no shame for displaying emotion, no more ideal-macho-manly-man nonsense.) The movement may have formed to lessen the gap between men and women and this is still it's purpose, but it's evolved through the times, much as it's detractors would like to pretend it hasn't.

 

Basically, by eliminating the stereotypes, we eliminate the problems those stereotypes cause. (My Little Pony itself is a fantastic example of subverting stereotypes. Marvel Comics have also been doing a good job recently.)

 

In 50 years or so, assuming society continues to progress, we may just be calling the movement 'Gender Egalitarianism' or something instead.

 

 

feminists are doing that to be more likeable after the often seen extremist side of their movement... 

 

I'm likeable. (At least I think I'm likeable! I dunno. People don't run screaming from the room when I enter, so I'll go with 'probably'.) The extremists are much like extremists in any movement; a very small, yet unproportionately noisy group.

 

And to stay on topic, a few more of my favourite ladies!

 

Tali'Zorah (Mass Effect)

 

Evey Hammond (V For Vendetta)

[Troblems 5,617]

How is it that nobody has mentioned GLaDOS yet?

[Orablanco Account 3,707]

No one's said anyone from Avatar: The Last Airbender, which is surprising because it's one of the best feminist cartoons ever. Every single one of them deserves inclusion in this discussion, but I'll single out Azula, an impressively villainous and surprisingly complex ass-kicker, because there isn't enough villains on here.

 

Edited May 29, 2014 by CITRUS KING46

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

@@Kay Dreamer,http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/feminism That's all i have to say... the rest is simply optional... optional but necessary to have the proper kind of feminism... something that can be equally achieved by being an egalitarian. I've had far too many bad experiences with feministic propagandas to call myself something like this. On the same note however, meaning destroying stereotypes and bla bla bla work the men's rights activists. So yea... whatever...

I am sorry but i expressed my opinion... you didn't have to respond to it. In any case i knew what i was talking about and i'm not new to this kind of discussion we had.

Back to the topic.

Does Queen Chrysalis count or we're non Mlp here?

Amelyssan the Blackhearted... the unexpected villain of the expansion of Baldur's Gate. Fooling everyone and not giving a bloody DAMN about angering the dead god of murder Bhaal himself she claims the essences. DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN GURL!!! That's some hardcore plotting ya got right there!!! 

No one's said anyone from Avatar: The Last Airbender, which is surprisingly because it's one of the best feminist cartoons ever. 

 

"Feminist Cartoons..." I can't begin to tell you how wrong what you said is...

Let's not forget about Sylvannas Windrunner... 
http://carolinevos.deviantart.com/art/Sylvanas-Windrunner-388146555

Edited May 29, 2014 by nioniosbbbb

[Kay Dreamer 884]

@@CITRUS KING46, 

 

I gave a passing mention to Avatar on the first page. You're totally right though. The lady characters in that show are phenomenal in a multitude of ways.