Why are there so many male protagonists in all cool books?

[bingo]

Oh jeez, I don't like Ginny, but I do get the kickass thing. I much prefer Hermione.

Oh, the 'extraordinary woman' isn't really a GOOD thing! Hahaha, the article actually pointed out all of Ginny's flaws and it ended up with Hermione being the best female character in terms of, yknow, feminism and all.

[gypolord]

Perhaps. Though you're right in stating their stubbornness. At times, it feels like I'm reading the same character but with a different name xP

Egwene and Elayne in particular. Min was kind of disappointing. She started out strong and independent. Then changed large part Of her personality for Rand.

[MadCatta]

Oi, Bingo, this article on the internet? Can we read it?

I also read this thing that basically states JK to be a massive ... opposite of feminist. Being that Hermione is only about being smart, Molly being a housewife, Bellatrix being obsessed with Voldy, Ginny being.. Ginny.... Uh, okay, I'm aware this is a rubbish post. I'll find the article.

EDIT: SEXIST! That's the word... JK Rowling being very sexist.

EDIT: http://atheism.about.com/od/harrypotter/i/women_2.htm This wasn't the article but has some of what I mean... Ron and Harry are fine to fight when Hermione is frozen because of fear of the troll... she also makes to save Ron after he gets knocked out by the queen in chess... The main two proper families have the husband as the breadwinner...

[DilanMelis]

Well, I suppose there's McGonagall. She's tough as anything, quirky and cool.

[Pedro-ologist]

Why is it we have no problem with girls with tomboy aspects - they become cool etc. But as a society we shudder when boys show more 'feminine' aspects.

While I agree that girls can be whatever and whoever they want, I don't like MC's post where JKR is suddenly SEXIST because in the main two families of Harry Potter, the husbands are breadwinners. Let's be truthful here, most families are this way. Now you can argue if that is good or bad, but at this moment in time, in the majority of families, the husband is the bread winner. I am not saying this is right.

And the example of Hermione! Remember at the time she is in significant emotional distress, she isn't thinking right! And what is wrong with wanting to help someone who is injured! Shouldn't we applaud that! You are arguing that this shows that women are silly in the face of terror...but what is Ron like in the face of terror!

[bingo]

JK Rowling isn't sexist. What a crappy article. It's basically denying real life, as Pedro was saying. Honestly, if Harry Potter isn't empowering for girls, I don't know what is. Especially Hermione. The fact that she's secondary to Harry says nothing about her status, it simply says that she's not the protagonist. By saying that, it implies that EVERY SINGLE BOOK that doesn't have a female as a protagonist is sexist and demeaning!

Also, "she uses her powers to help others and not herself" - er, how is that a bad thing? You'd think that'd be a plus for her as a female. Not to mention Harry is equally selfless and that's seen as a noble thing. Besides, Hermione freezing up when she sees the troll? How about Hermione being the only one cool in the face of Devil's Snare?! ("Are you a witch or what?!")

I hate this article. It actually argues FOR the existence of the 'extraordinary woman' in literature even though these women don't exist. I think the portrayal of women in HP is both realistic and empowering. Except for Ginny.

Oooh, and Cait - here's the article I was talking about: http://funnyfeminist.com/2011/07/25/ginny-weasley-the-exceptional-woman/

[DilanMelis]

Hmm. While men in the family being the bread winners may emanate real life, it would be nice to see a family where the chick is the breadwinner, not because she was forced into it (single parent style) but because the dad decided to become a stay at home dad.

I'm not saying JKR is sexist - that's just stupid. Hermione, especially towards the end, becomes a lot tougher than Ron. And Molly Weasley fighting Bellatrix?

I just mean in general, it would be good to see characters not defined by what it is girls are supposed to do or what it is guys are supposed to do.

I think the Peta/Katniss example is great. Katniss kind of wears the pants in the relationship. Not that Peta isn't tough or that Katniss doesn't feel fear, but they aren't defined by their gender.

[Schadenfreude]

I think the Peta/Katniss example is great. Katniss kind of wears the pants in the relationship. Not that Peta isn't tough or that Katniss doesn't feel fear, but they aren't defined by their gender.

I should really get around to reading that...

Why is it we have no problem with girls with tomboy aspects - they become cool etc. But as a society we shudder when boys show more 'feminine' aspects.

I actually have a character (who is also the protagonist of the story I'm toying with at the moment) who plays with that whole theme of society, in that he pretty much ignores the gender-lines imposed on him completely.

[Pedro-ologist]

Interesting! I would like to read it!

[Schadenfreude]

In truth I have not written a word...

Shakespeare In Love quote FTW

[scorpiash]

In truth I have not written a word...

Coming up with the idea for a story is half the battle. The other half is actually being bothered to write it (something i completely fail at). Anyways, it sounds like a nice concept.

I have to say there's a certain level sexism in almost every book but that's just the way society is set up. Going back thousands of years even, almost all the protagonists were men. I think another of the reasons that there are more male protagonists is that some stupid teenage boys find it harder to empathise with a girl.

[MadCatta]

Yeah, just generally boys find it harder to relate to girls than the other way around, which is why there are so many male protagonists...

I don't think there's sexism in every book, I think there's things that every book contains which can be interpreted as sexism. Women staying at home with the children - more women do that than men do that. Women being more emotional - well, it's scientifically proven that on average, women are more "in tune with their emotions" than men, and the rate of suicide in young men is so high because often they find it hard to express their feelings...

[DilanMelis]

Yeah, just generally boys find it harder to relate to girls than the other way around, which is why there are so many male protagonists...

I think recently there's been a real switch in this. A lot of the young adult stuff being released is written from either a girl's point of view or at least includes a girl's point of view.

Kind of like what Riordan is doing at the moment. His two new series both have female protagonists as opposed to just Percy's perspective in the first series.

Cassie Clare's books are like that too. Though I do suppose they're aimed at a female audience.

[Pedro-ologist]

Cassie Clare's books are like that too. Though I do suppose they're aimed at a female audience.

Read the first one of those...didn't want to buy the second, and can't be bothered tracking down my Library card...but it was good.

[bingo]

Yeah, I think Cassie Clare's books are quite good. Clary is a bit annoying, NGL, but Tessa is great in the Infernal Devices, for a female protagonist. If the books ignore the whole 'female-aimed aspect' (I mean, just because she has the best male characters EVER doesn't mean they're female-aimed! Female aimed is Princess Diaries. They're so pink even /I/ don't like holding them) but like... they're quite good. Tessa's a great protagonist.