Men Act, Women Are: Difference between revisions

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=== [[Audience Reactions]] ===

* A female character's competencies are more likely to be seen as innate rather than earned through action, thus undeserved. Thus female characters who ''are'' unusually competent are far more likely to be accused of being a [[Mary Sue]] than for "unusually competent" male characters to be accused of being a [[Marty Stu]]. This of course creates a vicious cycle, as authors may try to avoid Sue criticisms by making their female characters [[Anti Sue|less capable]] which in turn causes them to be criticized for being [[Unpleasable Fanbase|too imperfect]].

* A female character's competencies are more likely to be seen as innate rather than earned through action, thus undeserved. Thus female characters who ''are'' unusually competent are far more likely to be accused of being a [[Mary Sue]] than for "unusually competent" male characters to be accused of being a [[Marty Stu]]. This of course creates a vicious cycle, as authors may try to avoid Sue criticisms by making their female characters [[Anti-Sue|less capable]] which in turn causes them to be criticized for being [[Unpleasable Fanbase|too imperfect]].

* Often used to justify personal interest in [[Slash Fic]] amongst, say, straight men or lesbians, with its authors saying that the male characters tend to be more interesting and better written as a result of this effect.

* The is a common criticism of [[The Chick]] archetype of the [[Five-Man Band]], especially if [[The Chick]] is the only female in the band: [[The Hero]] leads, [[The Lancer]] helps, [[The Big Guy]] fights, [[The Smart Guy]] thinks, [[The Chick]]... is a girl?

** She may be expected to serve as [[The Heart]] or [[Team Mom]], but these are seen as mundane non-achievements unless [[Lampshade Hanging|the writer calls attention to them]].

* Sexualized imagery involving men is often called homoerotic. Mysteriously this holds true even if there is no actual touching between two men being depicted. One reason? Women are supposed to be [[Male Gaze|passive objects of desire]], [[All Women Are Prudes|not agents of desire]], so when men are presented as objects of desire they are obviously [[All Men Are Perverts|also objects of desire for other men]]. Conversely sexualized imagery involving women is rarely called homoerotic, [[Girl On Girl Is Hot|even if does involve touching between two women!]]

* Sexualized imagery involving men is often called homoerotic. Mysteriously this holds true even if there is no actual touching between two men being depicted. One reason? Women are supposed to be [[Male Gaze|passive objects of desire]], [[All Women Are Prudes|not agents of desire]], so when men are presented as objects of desire they are obviously [[All Men Are Perverts|also objects of desire for other men]]. Conversely sexualized imagery involving women is rarely called homoerotic, [[Girl-On-Girl Is Hot|even if does involve touching between two women!]]

* Might explain the high number of women who are [[Stuffed in The Fridge]] in comic books, as well as fiction in general- a superheroine who is brutally murdered is a tragic victim who warrants our outrage, while a male superhero who gets killed except in the most extreme circumstances runs the risk of being perceived as a failed superhero.

* May explain the extreme [[Damsel Scrappy|antipathy]] many female fans have for some types of [[Real Women Never Wear Dresses|female characters]]. [[Men Are Generic, Women Are Special|Because men are seen as 'generic', they have to distinguish themselves through action, whereas women who are 'special' can coast on their femaleness.]] This coasting is annoying for audience members who share the same attribute(femaleness) because while men see femaleness as interesting and remarkable in and of itself, women often do not.

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[[Category:Double Standard]]

[[Category:Men Act Women Are]]

[[Category:Trope]]