I need a new pair of glasses.

[reddwarfer]

One thing I really hate is being called not feminist enough or, worse, misogynist. I'm just the right level of feminist (as is everyone else who identifies feminist) and not misogynist at all

Comments

[darth_eldritch]

I went through a time like this. I found it hard to relate to other women, because of the entire family/fulfullment/juggling career kind of thing that totally turned me off.

I was in the military, and was super fit, and when I did write, it was about some guys I made up for a SEAL team. I was pretty intense at the time, and didn't want to even think about feminist issues, because I wanted to be seen as whatever I was, not a female whatever I was. I just wanted to be me, not what men envisioned women to be and how too many women complied with.

It was even difficult for me to associate with more "traditional" women for any length of time.

But it was a phase for me. It might be for you, too. It was for a long time, but I did to relate to and really understand other women after a while. And, when you are in this phase, you are not any less a femininst, you are only trying to establish yourself as something not sexualised, disenfranchised, etc, because you are strong and you know it. (this was my version of fulfillment) And if it isn't a phase, so what? You are no less a feminist or a woman. I't ridiculous when others of your group try to enframe you into what they think you should be like.

As for "Mary Sues" I don't give one flying fuck if anyone will think my female characters are Mary Sues because I focus on their characters, realistic scenarios, and generally follow the standard formula given by professional writers about character development, challenges, some weaknesses, evolvement, etc. I write my female characters kick ass, end of story. I understand "Mary Sue" as unrealistically upstaging canon characters, being perfect, and bashing a canon female character (bashing a male envisioned character, perhaps?) And I understand why some inexperienced women fanfic writers come up with Mary Sues as their way of challenging male writers/ male enframing. But a strong female character being a Mary Sue? No.

I love writing/ role playing male characters myself. I had a time where I portrayed only males.

*hugs* *hugs* *hugs*