Challenging Normative Mindsets in Writing: Why Male Authors Struggle with Female Perspectives

In the world of literature, it is often assumed that male authors struggle with capturing the essence of female characters fluently. However, the underlying issue often lies in the ldquo;normative male mindset.rdquo; This perspective suggests that many writers believe rejecting femininity is the only way to create a lsquo;strong female ; This article explores why male authors sometimes face difficulties when writing from a female perspective, highlighting the pitfalls of this approach and offering insights on how to improve portrayal through better character development and understanding.

Normative Male Mindset and Female Characters

Many writers, predominantly male, tend to adopt a mindset that sees all stories through a male lens. This means focusing primarily on male protagonists and assuming that female characters are largely defined by their relationships with men. This restrictive viewpoint is problematic because it often results in the narrow and stereotypical portrayal of female characters. Female characters whose actions and conversations revolve around how they affect male relationships may lack depth and authenticity.

Our understanding of female characters is often limited by the ldquo;normative male mindset.rdquo; This mindset incorrectly assumes that rejection of traditional femininity is the key to creating strong female characters. However, this approach can ultimately harm the portrayal of such characters. Instead, it’s important to recognize and celebrate the diverse aspects of femininity, just as one does with masculinity, in order to create well-rounded and relatable female characters.

Practical Insights from Female Editors

The insights shared by female editors can provide invaluable guidance for male writers looking to write more believably from a female perspective. According to female editors, male writers often overlook several key aspects when constructing female characters:

Height-Awareness: Male writers may fail to consider the perspective of how a woman looks at the world due to their own height. For example, a short woman (like one with a height of 5’3”) might more frequently look up at objects rather than over them. Similarly, a writer who is 6’1” might not consider the challenges that a shorter woman might face, such as the physical intensity of certain actions. Personal observations from editors have shown that these details can significantly impact the portrayal of female characters. Physical Strength: Females who are the same size as males are often not as physically strong as men. Writing that assumes otherwise can result in inaccurate depictions of female characters performing actions that would be unusually challenging. For instance, heavy lifting or even certain activities like climbing over obstacles can be portrayed more realistically by considering the average physical capabilities of women.

Character Development and Realism

One of the key pieces of advice for male authors is to consider how many conversations a female character has that are not about men. This emphasizes the importance of developing female characters who can live life independently, with their own thoughts, desires, and experiences. A well-rounded female character should be more than just an accessory to male stories or relationships. Instead, she should have her own narrative arc, goals, and motivations.

In supporting this advice, I can reference a recent blog post titled ldquo;10 Tips on Character Development.rdquo; In this post, it is mentioned that correctly depicting a non-native gender requires a conscious effort to understand the unique experiences and challenges faced by that gender. Specifically, the sixth tip in that list focuses on the importance of considering the physical and emotional nuances that are often unique to female characters.

The Pitfalls of Inauthentic Characterization

It’s crucial for writers to avoid writing from a hyper-feminine perspective or from a hyper-masculine perspective and instead aim for authentic and nuanced portrayals. For instance, hyper-awareness of women’s bodies can lead to inauthentic character descriptions. Exaggerated depictions such as a character named Cassandra who wakes up and tittles down the stairs are highly unrealistic and may detract from the narrative. Such portrayals are often a sign of a writer focusing on personal fetishes rather than the broader narrative arc and character growth.

Beyond just avoiding clichés, it’s important to recognize that different groups of people have different lived experiences. A Latinx queer person with brown skin would have significantly different experiences from a white, middle-class writer. Writing from a position of privilege can result in bias and inauthentic portrayals if the writer fails to listen and understand the unique experiences of the characters they are writing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, male authors can improve their portrayal of female characters by challenging their normative mindsets and approaching female characters with genuine understanding and respect. This involves considering the physical and emotional nuances that are unique to female characters, avoiding hyper-feminine or hyper-masculine portrayals, and being mindful of the lived experiences of the characters they create. By doing so, they can contribute to a richer, more inclusive literary landscape where all characters, regardless of gender, are represented in a authentic and compelling manner.