If a female character kicks ass, she’s overpowered. If a female character can’t defend herself, she’s unnecessary. If a female character acts nice, she’s boring. If a female character acts mean, she’s a bitch. If a female character shows no emotion, she’s heartless. If a female character shows emotion, she’s weak. What can a female character do without being criticized mercilessly?
Maybe she could try being well-written.
oh my god yes of course. SHE, the fictional character almost always written by cishet white men, should try being WELL-WRITTEN!!!!!! god it’s so obvious now!!!! this whole time we were focusing on systematic and internalized misogyny creating unachievably high standards for women while we simultaneously give men a free pass on everything under the sun WHEN IN FACT it was just the character’s fault for not being written better!!!!!!!! whew i’m glad we cleared that up