On the characterisation of females in action

Last night I was watching a new American version of an older British show (it shall remain unnamed and unshamed for now) and I became rather appalled at the lines given to a female who wanted to tramp out into danger in order to check out something of interest. Out of her mouth were coming lines only a male trapped in an early impression of feminist aggressiveness would write. It sounded like a child protesting to a parent that they could do anything so let them. "I can do this", "I won't be in danger" and then the sudden shock of just what the danger means and surprise that her life is in danger.
To be honest it all makes me want to slap hands over my eyes and ears but I don't have enough. The only other solution is to turn off the show but the rest of the show is fairly interesting, so far at least. While clearly not as good as the original series with regards to characterisation, all round, and drama, as the music is muted and bland, I haven't as yet given up. There's some hope it will improve.
Now, the disgust I feel at this characterisation is because it is completely unbelievable that a physically adept woman used to using a weapon or a smart and physically capable woman unused to using a weapon would pronounce with complete assurance while tramping off into danger that all is fine and she doesn't need that much protection. It just wouldn't happen. The woman used to weaponry and action would be cautious and well aware of just how quickly potential danger can turn into a deadly altercation. And the woman who is smart and physically capable would be well aware that she has some weaknesses to be covered by another. Strong women are strong because they react appropriately to a situation, not because they protest loudly, as a child does, that they can do anything. The woman who is left with only slung words is out of her depth and deserving of the bimbo blonde role. My disgust at watching this particular show was that a smart woman, physically capable with a weapon she has competency in wielding, was issuing the babble of an idiot. And she was supposed to be one to look up to.
At the very least I'd hope that a woman would promise that she'd try to keep herself safe rather than protesting that she would be no matter what. One shows a woman seeing reality as it is and then doing her best to get through while the other isn't a woman but a child seeing that the world will do as she says. 
The problem is that this isn't an unusual case. Unrealistic writing for female roles, born mostly of a repetition of cliche lines used since female roles came to include somewhat unfeasible action heroines, is still being produced en masse. And this is in addition to the usual inclusion of a few brainless bimbos (whether blonde or not) and tartlets who usually just babble at the leading male while he surreptitiously rolls his eyes.

So, here are some quick notes on female characterisation for a range of women-in-action roles. They can be mixed and matched and when doing so it is fairly obvious which points will be cancelled out.

Physically strong female

• Usually trained to some degree and capable of accurately judging her own strength versus another's.
• Analyses a situation before jumping in.
• Always looks out for danger out of habit or instinct.
• Uses other people's weaknesses against them.
• Shows careful consideration of physical situations.
• May be a bit more aggressive than sensible.
• Usually more sensible than aggressive due to the large number of those physically stronger than herself.
• Capable of covering or working around her own weaknesses better than those physically stronger than herself.
• Determined to get through any situation.
• Highly values teamwork as this is one way to work around weaknesses.
• is NOT the same in character as a physically strong gung-ho male seeking to establish himself. There is mainly adrenaline to contend with rather than a testosterone battle.
• Is usually more straight forward in her approach to others.
• Identifies with those of capability not just those in a clique formed of physically strong people.
• If stuck in a group of men, she is likely to joke and laugh with them, if allowed, but not be the same as them.
• May not identify with another woman even if there are only two women in a group of men.
• Is unlikely to run from danger nor barrel in headfirst without thinking and assessing the situation.
• Very deadly when given a weapon she understands and is adept at using.

Physically weak female

• Usually untrained but willing to resort to weapons she understands - from keys through to mace or a gun if she has lessons.
• Usually less aware of what can lead her into danger.
• Usually more aware of what danger can mean to her and more things in life are a threat.
• Aware of her weaknesses.
• Works to cover them up through some bravado in normal situations.
• Will not attempt anything beyond her capabilities even if she wants to.
• Will balk at smaller challenges than a physically strong female would.
• Instinctively looks out for danger but not always as good as a physically strong and trained woman at identifying what is dangerous.
• Unlikely to say she can do something she can't just to make a point.
• Does not always understand the aggressiveness of men but can find it attractive if it is in her favour - due to admiration of strength and the perceived safety their presence creates.
• Can be greatly intimidated by physically strong men approaching her aggressively as there is little she can physically do to fight back successfully.
• Likely to resort to tricks, if smart, in order to escape danger as she is very willing to use tools and weapons to substitute for physical strength. 
• More likely to be a quick problem solver, unless incredibly dumb.
• Unless dumb, will not immediately scream and run when in danger - thereby drawing attention to herself - but rather lie low and think of a solution or an escape route.
• Will work with whatever she's got to survive.
• Determined to survive and will do nearly anything to.
• Will definitely work in a team whenever possible.
• Potentially deadly when seriously attacked by anyone who expects her to squeal and run.

Smart female

• Will recognise all weaknesses as a matter of logic.
• Will work hard to overcome any physical or situational weakness by using tools and weapons.
• Will always think before acting.
• Respects the physical help offered or provided by others as she sees it might well be needed.
• Does not proclaim she can do anything because she thinks she might be able to.
• More likely to underestimate her survival abilities when in danger and therefore overcompensate - she'd build a bomb where a single bullet is all that's needed.
• Unsure of her physical abilities due to an understanding of what different experiences and backgrounds ultimately mean.
• A quick problem solver by nature with greater tools and weaponry options to pull on than the average woman, purely for knowing how to construct or use more tools and weapons - if only theoretically at first. Knowledge is power in this case.
• Usually needs some time or period of calm, however short, to assess her surroundings in order to come up with a complex solution. If such a situation does not arise then she will pick up and use anything available just as a physically weak female would.
• Determined to overcome her weaknesses but not assured she will so she will always accept help.
• Will not scream and run.
• Will lie low or find a place with the equipment she needs and think of a solution.
• More likely to respond to danger with force than a physically weak woman. If she is both physically weak and smart though, she will resort to more powerful and complex tools and weaponry - possibly than needed.
• Will not claim to do what she can't.
• Good at working in a team and possibly the leader of the team due to her ability to plan ahead with care and an eye towards every one's survival.
• Very deadly unless she is without the supplies to make tools and weaponry or any pre-made ones.

Dumb female

• Unlikely to understand what danger truly is until she sees it.
• Likely to scream and run, thereby calling attention to herself and dying first.
• May freeze in shock instead of running.
• Could protest that she's more capable than she is but unlikely to continue to do so when she sees by comparison that she's not as capable as others.
• Easily put in her place.
• Once she understands she's far less capable she's unlikely to go wandering off into the danger field. She's more likely to cower and dream up worse situations than what's coming.
• May be prone to hysteria but can be intimidated into shutting up.
• Unlikely to survive despite wanting to unless helped.
• Unlikely to do anything useful to prevent her death unless helped.
• Is not a child and does understand things once they are pointed out to her.
• More often than not she needs direction.
• Incapable of adequately fighting back the strong in a physical altercation.
• With direction she is capable of using weaponry.
• Will possibly use tools if she has a moment to think.
• Likely to die screaming and too panicked to fight.
• Not very deadly unless directed to be so.

Insane female

• Depending on the condition she has she may overestimate her abilities due to a fantasy based thought process.
• More likely to respond violently and irrationally.
• Fights more instinctually.
• If smart she will use any weapons and tools she's adept in but will less capable of adapting to a new situation - will not change her fighting style so easily as she's mentally trapped by fantasy and a previous victory.
• If she's dumb then she's more likely to fight as an animal, losing her higher reasoning in her drive to survive.
• Often needs help to survive.
• Will go down fighting.
• Is more likely to leap into battle than any of the other women.
• Is less likely to care about any injury received.
• Very deadly in a one-on-one but unlikely to survive in more complex and difficult situations.

Possible combinations for sane characters

• Dumb but physically strong - loses the mental aspects and caution of a physically strong fighter but gains a greater ability to survive a one-on-one. May be mouthy if she realises her strength. Likely to be cannon fodder unless helped.
• Smart and physically strong - the deadliest of them all as no matter the situation she will find a way to survive and is most likely to achieve her goal.
• Smart and physically weak - more likely to use her mind to overcome any problem. Less likely to believe she's capable of any physical feat and so greatly in need of company if trying to survive a terrain without potential tools or weaponry. Even quicker thinker than a smart and physically strong woman out of necessity.
• Dumb and physically weak - she dies.

In short, for a female not to be strong in some way shape or form she has to be as thick as a brick. Women tend to rely on their minds a lot more than muscle when in a fight and only extreme fear or stupidity will stop them from coming up with a solution. A physically stronger person may beat them or  the dangerous situation may be too much to handle but the vast majority of women will go down fighting and trying to protect what's important to them.

Rosy's scrawled manga recommendation: Angel Densetsu by Yagi Norihiro

Angel Densetsu

Yagi Norihiro

 Blurb

The story is of Kitano Seiichirou, a very kind and pure-hearted young man, with a horrifying, monstrous face. People being what they are, they think he's a terrifying delinquent, and there are plenty of chance misunderstandings (coupled with Kitano's convenient inability to understand what's happening around him) that propel him into the position of "school guardian", a.k.a. head thug on campus.

Alternative Names

エンジェル　伝説

冷面天使

ANGEL　伝説

Legend of an Angel

The Legendary Angel

Status

Completed

Sites for reading online (free)

Manga Fox, Manga Reader

Rosy's scrawlings on Angel Densetsu

Now, usually when I see the word angel in a manga title I become a little wary. And with good reason, as far as I'm concerned. Usually you'd get beauty, charm, wings, a love story and some sappy boy or girl wondering how a love between an angel and a human is going to work out. In this case I was immediately relieved to note that the angel in question was rather less beautiful than expected and from the blurb I read that he wasn't really an angel at all. It is just a name in this instance, there to denote the fact that this fearful character is a good guy at heart.

This manga is all about not judging people by their appearances and giving people a chance before boxing them up according to stereotypes. So, in this instance I'm not sure if the above reaction to the title and cover was what was desired or the polar opposite... Either way the story's main message is simple and openly expressed from the outset. There are other messages in the story, including ones on loyalty and working as a team, supporting one another, accepting differences and so on. All of the messages are good for the young to read and there's none of the horrid tackiness that often comes along with school drama mangas. Also, for those readers with more violent tendencies or a hope to be strong and capable in such a way, there's plenty of fighting and illustrations of how to escape fighting throughout. Not to mention just what actions can be misinterpreted as aggressive.

Some of the stories in Angel Densetsu seem a little repetitive but this is mainly due to the constant bouts of fighting that occur and the fact that few who approach Kitano or his parents have a good impression of them straight away. Only those with clear eyes and an uncomplicated heart seem to be able to see them for who they are. Otherwise, Kitano is relentlessly bombarded by those who see his features as those of a thug and believe him to be the most fearsome guy about. Not to mention believing his father, a salary man, is in the mafia. But where the repetitive nature of some of the stories may wear you thin the characters of the story are boldly written, make you laugh and pull you along because you just want to find out what happens to them next. There are few who could be said to be truly nasty people, most just needing to see past their own blinders.

The illustrations of Angel Densetsu are clear and concise, with a fairly even balance between dark and light. Kitano has a somewhat unbelievable Joker-ish smile at times but otherwise there isn't much to throw a reader off. There were instances when some of the more Gothic and spooky styles found in teen mangas are used and to be perfectly honest I wanted a little more of that. Otherwise, the illustrations were rock solid and then provide a good start to understanding manga illustration styles for anyone yet to give mangas a go.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this manga. It took me back to earlier if not simpler days and left me feeling happier about it all. I greatly enjoyed the fighting scenes and the Gothic touches. I also really loved that Kitano's looks actually grow on you as you read on, almost as if you were one of those meeting him too. I also liked the fact that while Angel Densetsu has Kitano as its main character the rest of the cast is fairly evenly split between boys and girls when it comes to those Kitano befriends and fights, or avoids fighting, with. This aloud me, a female reader, to identify with some girls as they fought while also identifying with Kitano's situation, even if I don't have a Joker-ish smile.

I'd recommend this manga to: anyone who's ever had an inkling they were oblivious to what's going on around them, vilified for no good reason or weren't the picture of pretty and popular when at school. Otherwise, anyone with a love of underdog stories. This is suitable for when you're a little unhappy or for when you're in need of a lazy weekend read that's heartening. Angel Densetsu is likely to appeal mostly to boys and girls of school age but I'd say that anyone who wants to feel a little younger and happier should have a read of this.

Notes on manga reader sites
The quality of manga readers can vary. The uploads are often done cheaply or as a serious hobby by a collective. Be aware that sometimes licence hasn't been given but the sites noted above, Manga Fox in particular, are extremely careful about adding and pulling mangas according to license agreements. So you shouldn't have to worry too much about the material being pirated. There are also translated works and non-translated. Amongst the translated works you will find that the quality of translation may vary according to the skills of the translators. Usually the works are perfectly readable anyway, with only a few added or dropped words or a word in the incorrect tense or with/out plurals. But sometimes the text becomes gobbledygook. In which case, either seek another version or give up and buy an official copy once a printed translation comes out. The other issue of note is you may need to expand the screen to read the text easily as sometimes the scans are minimised a little.
I find that if a page doesn't download properly or some other issue occurs (too slow or someone ordered the pages incorrectly etc.) with one reader then skipping across to another reader and picking up where I was is quite easy and rarely annoying.
Otherwise, enjoy and watch out you don't get too addicted you forget about the necessary things in life.

On females, their weapons and men in paranormal fiction

There is a trend in the new genre of paranormal fiction for females to wield weapons and impress others with their strength, not always physical. For those not in the know, most new additions to paranormal fiction are written by women for women just as fantasy fiction was taken over at one point by men writing for men. It is another wave of that sort that will slowly erode away only to reform into something else. So yes, the trend of women wielding weapons and being strong of character and sometimes actually physically strong is perfectly understandable. Every woman likes to be taken seriously and respected for their strengths so it is obvious that characters of the like appeal to a female audience.

What is interesting though, is that there is a bit of a divide going on between the weapons wielded by the young female characters and those by the older (not old just not teenage). In teenage paranormal fiction it is actually quite common for the female to wield the men with powers as their weapons rather than picking up a stake, knife (see what I did there :P), gun, crossbow, sword etc. The young females, of whom it is sometimes possible to call them women but mostly they are still girls, befriend of romantically entangle themselves with a man of werewolf, vampire, hunter or other paranormal or supernatural nature and when trouble hits they call for help and then send the men out to solve the problem. Granted, it isn't always written as such and is portrayed more as co-working or co-dependence or even being trusting and relying on someone. None of which are exactly bad but the message can easily be misinterpreted, especially when there aren't so many young females fighting their own battles whenever possible.

There is one version of this weak female lead that almost gives them power. And that is the version where they play the mastermind, the one openly calling the shots and being answered to rather than the one pulling strings and making puppets out of others by wielding emotions (I call such behaviour emotional blackmail and manipulation). With being able to call the shots is supposed to come power but such power is limited if you can't act on it yourself. As soon as anyone decides not to play along all the power fades away and the female is left to scream, cry and bewail the loss while begging for help. Such situations aren't always portrayed but they do appear often enough for dramatic purposes. I have little sympathy in such circumstances as I just want to see the character use her brain and pick up a weapon too.

Of course, there are young female supernaturals and paranormals who can hold their own but they run into the same old problems they had when human (if they were) and that is that despite the upgrade in strength and fighting skills they often remain weaker and less politically clued in than the men in the pack, flock, group or whatever. Young females newly introduced into a coven suffer the same problems but at the hands of older and more ferocious women and unfortunately for young coven members there aren't any men to go begging for help from.

Older unprepared women in fiction tend to go running for the nearest knife block to pick up the biggest, sharpest knife they can find (not always the best choice but that's another point entirely) rather than scream for help and get a man to save the day. At a pinch they might even have a gun about, a heavy frying pan or a mop that can be broken and used as a stake. Men of any paranormal or supernatural status tend to spring to mind after all these choices have run out. It is in the older unprepared women that you see what the average woman nowadays would do in such a situation. Doors would be boarded, the old softball bat pulled out from under the bed and the kitchen would instantly change from a place for cooking to a weapons stash. Not to mention the chemicals lying about the house, if they know how to use them. In the unprepared the everyday objects find new (or old) uses and that edge of practicality that we all love and respect in one another comes to the fore. Romance is out while manipulation of the man is pointless and too slow. Instead, give a woman a weapon and a place to defend herself from. Especially if she has to defend others.

It is from the older unprepared woman that we get the most go-ho weapons laden female characters from in paranormal fiction. The unprepared woman's dream as shit hits the fan is to have been prepared and to have better weapons and more of a clue as to just what is happening. So in paranormal fiction you find a lot of the older women have exactly that. They wield those knives, guns, swords, crossbows, wands, fangs, claws, fighting skills, knowledge and powers with great gusto and only some care as to the consequences. And of course, having someone to protect makes them just that little bit more dangerous again as will always be the case. Rarely do you find lady fighters who hold back. If the older woman doesn't initially pack a weapon or wield a power that will let her survive it isn't very long before she learns her lesson and does. Ladies don't remain ladylike in this manner. They might be polite and a little freer with their squeamishness but they will still pack poison, knives or a small gun to protect themselves and others and they don't exactly hesitate to use them. Meaning ladies are dangerous too so don't judge them when they're fretting over which hat, shoes or dress to wear.

The current divide in the choice of weaponry in the young and old is something of concern, at least as I see it. One sort teaches you to be co-dependant and reliant, which all seems well and good but when life gets extremely tough you need to know that you can stand on your own and fight on your own. Co-dependence and reliance are things to be found after sorting out just how strong and capable you are. Why? Because you can't protect anyone if you just rely on them and never do anything useful yourself. If you haven't found your own strength yet that just means you're still a child.

The other sort of life, where you only rely on yourself and never branch out to rely on others or work as a team with others, is also a tad worrying but not nearly as much as being a screamer. Being one to work solo is fine usually but everyone has their strengths and weaknesses so working as a team might help to cover some of those weaknesses and help make everyone less vulnerable. That's the essence of fighting in and as a pack. Humans are both solitary and pack animals. We need others now just as we always needed others. Yet there are some of us who prefer to be alone and can easily survive like that, once they've been brought up and gain the knowledge. But they are few and far between. In reality there are few who will work totally solo and disregard all help when its offered or even all that's produced by someone else (for the extremists). A solo heroine is, when looked at this way, completely unreasonable too.

But I will say this. I'd damn well prefer to be a prepared, weapons wielding woman or even an unprepared but practical one than a screamer. Screamers just end up dead or deeply regretting they didn't rely on themselves more. They are the teen female red shirts and writing or portraying them as teen heroines isn't a great idea. Encouraging foolishness and immaturity is how I see it. Such characters have a lot to learn and need to be shown actively learning it.

And I must say, I just cannot bring myself to respect an older woman acting like a teen screamer. At least run to the knife block. Then men aren't weapons, they're also ones to protect if you care about them.