[ SECRET POST #3031 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3031 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Going to be a late day, so early secrets!

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 035 secrets from Secret Submission Post #433.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT

I think that's probably part of it; like I said in the comment before the one you're replying to, I think there's also probably some element of women writers taking on aspects of the male gaze. When you combine those two things, then you're having women compete over who's better at being what men want them to be, and thus reducing a lot of their agency in any plot to, as you say, getting a man.

When you're not especially interested or invested in a romance subplot, that makes it even tougher to relate to this tacitly 'this is how you're supposed to be/this is what you're supposed to want' female character. I find it easier on that score to care about m/m relationships because no one's telling me this is supposed to represent me. Same with male characters in general, and the still too true fact that their plotlines and agency very rarely relies on them being someone's romantic interest thus we get presented with a much more rounded characterization where it's possible to find more to relate to.

I think a certain level of wish-fulfilment is also a factor, but that's an even bigger double edged sword. So many people know how it feels to not quite measure up in some way, and women especially so when it comes to self-image. Of course if you get the opportunity to create a character then it's tempting to veer into Mary Sue territory and make her everything you wish you could be, everything you think you should be. But on the flip side, if you know how that feels, how does creating yet another impossible, unattainable ideal help?

IDK. I'm just tired of reading about heroines that reflect no part of me at all above the chromosomal level. Of course I suspect that if media actually did provide 'realistic' characters then we'd call them caricatures and shun them just as much (same as the loud voices who call for diversity of any kind, and then just don't consume the product withdiversity when it's presented to them), but I just find it depressing.