10 mythical female warriors to watch out for

Triple warrior goddess: Morrígan, Badb, and Macha

Kali

Artemis

Sekhmet

Atalanta

Freyja

Demeter

Penthesilea the Amazon Queen's sister

Athena

Durga

And a modern mythical warrior

is a toss up between:

Wonder Woman

Red Sonja

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.

Female pirates: mythological, fictional and real

A little while ago I ran across an article on sexism which just happened to reference pirates as a good example of sexism at play: by our perceptions of pirates as male and our reinforcement of this perception by creating stories centring on male pirates. Apparently the thought of pirates being female, pirate captains in particular, is a little hard to swallow. Well, this was not exactly a shock to me but I still hummed in disappointment over one girl's reaction to the idea of female pirates, which was to say that "everyone knows the best pirates are boys". Obviously, she didn't know enough about female pirates and she had also become blinkered by seeing mainly the male pirates having the stage when it comes to action and leadership. Now, I'm not going to weigh in on the sexism debate, at least not where pirates are concerned, as even in history the number of female pirates and pirate captains were less than those of males. What I will weigh in on is the spreading of information on female pirates so that you at least know of one of two interesting ones when confronted by the female pirate issue.

So here's a few female pirates, fictional and real, you might like and/or fear. There are definitely quite a few I wouldn't have wanted to cross...

The Chinese female pirate Ch’iao K’uo Füü Jëën from 600 B.C. who may be mythical.

Queen Teuta of Illyria who lived from 232 B.C. to 228 B.C. near the Adriatic Sea.

The Norwegian Rusila may or may not be fictional but is said to have fought her brother for the thrones of Denmark and Norway. She is also possible part of or the origin of the Ingean Ruadh or Red Maid from Irish folklore. Rusila also had a sister, Stikla, who became a pirate to escape being married.

Princess Sela, who was the sister of the king of Norway, Koller, in c. 420 A.D., was apparently a skilled and experience warrior pirate. She fought to stop her brother Thrond from gaining the throne. She was eventually killed by the mann who could have been King of Jutland, Horwendil, but gave up the position in order to become a pirate. A man who'd been attacked by Koller only to see Koller dead.

The Norwegian pirate Alvid who lead many male and female pirates.

The Norwegian pirate captains Wigbiorg, Hetha and Wisna who lived in c. 8th century A.D.. Wigbiorg is said to have died in battle while Hetha became the queen of Zealand. Unfortunately for Wisna, she lost a hand in a duel and he career as a pirate is unknown from there.

The Swedish pirate Alfhild from post-850 A.D., sometimes said to live during the 5th century instead, is possibly fictional.

Ladgerda from c. 870 A.D. was apparently the inspiration for Ermintrude in William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

The English pirate Æthelflæd, aka The Lady of the Mercians, lived from 872–918 and was a pirate from 911-918. She was the Eldest daughter of Alfred the Great of England, a military leader of the Anglo-Saxons and commanded her fleets against the Vikings.

The French pirate Jeanne-Louise de Belleville was a pirate from 1343-1356 and was known as the "Lioness of Brittany". The worked to avenge the execution of her husband by attacking only French sea vessels.

The Irish Gráinne Ní Mháille, aka "The Sea Queen of Connaught", lived from 1530-1603. She was the Queen of Umaill, chieftain of the Ó Máille clan and a pirate. She appears in Irish folklore as well as Irish history.

The English pirate The Red Lady Veronica lived from 1500–1534 and was a pirate from 1528 - 1534. She never revealed her true identity and disguised herself as a singer and entertainer so that she was brought onto ships. Once alone she'd remove her disguise to reveal a top and pants, unusual at the time, along with her weapons. Once ready she'd then go kill everyone aboard and steal the ship.

The Morroccan pirate Sayyida al Hurra was a pirate from 1510-1542. She allied with  the Turkish corsair Barbaros of Algiers in order to control the western Mediterranean Sea at the time when Barbaros controlled the eastern Mediterranean Sea. She became Queen at the death of her husband and later married the King of Morocco.

The English pirate Lady Mary Killigrew was a pirate from 1530-1570. She was the daughter of a Suffolk pirate and wife of Sir Henry Killigrew who was also a former pirate. Sir Henry became the Vice-Admiral and was put in charge of fighting piracy by Queen Elizabeth I. While the husband was away Lady Mary took her household staff as ships crew. While Queen Elizabeth may or may not have know of this she was at least annoyed when Lady Mary attacked, took possession and sold a ship owned by the Queen's friend. Through means uncertain she managed to bargain for jail time rather than death. While she did give up piracy she apparently didn't give up being a crook as she proceeded to fence stolen goods from then on in.

The Caribbean pirate Jacquotte Delahaye was a pirate during the 1650s-1660s and was also known as "Back From The Dead Red". She had red hair and return to piracy after faking her death. While faking her death she dressed as a man for several years.

The French pirate Anne Dieu-le-Veut, aka Marie-Anne, was born around 1650 and was a pirate from the 1660s-1704 in the Caribbean and the Mississippi. Her nickname means "God wills it" as apparently anything she wanted she got. She married a pirate who was later killed by Laurens de Graaf. She challenged Laurens de Graaf to a duel but he refused. Somehow she ended up his common-law wife and they ended up pirating together.

The possibly fictional Maria Lindsey was a pirate during the early 1700s, operating on the Canadian east coast.

The Swedish pirate Ingela Gathenhielm lived from 1692-1729 and was a pirate from 1710-1721 operating in the Baltic. She was the wife and pirating partner of Lars Fathenhielm and when Lars died she took full control.

The Irish pirate Anne Bonny lived from 1698-1782 and was a pirate from 1719-1720 operating in the Caribbean. She apparently stabbed a servant woman with a butter knife, left home, married the pirate James Bonny and had an affair with John "Calico Jack" Rackham. She ended up joining Calico Jack's crew. Friends with Mary Read. There are multiple fictional depictions of Anne Bonny.

The English pirate Mary Read, known as Mark Read while disguised as a man, lived c.1690-1721 and was a pirate from 1718-1720. She was a Caribbean pirate after joining the British army as a man, going to sea and fighting the War Of The Spanish Succession. She later married and settled down but once her husband died she returned to pirating in the West Indies. She was captured by Calico Jack and, once her identity was discovered, she became friends with Anne Bonny. She ended her days in prison. She also has multiple fictional depictions.

Flora Burn was a pirate during 1751 and worked on the East Coast of North America.

Rachel Wall lived from 1760-1789 and was a pirate during the 1770s, operating on the New England Coast. Married to the privateer George Wall, she's thought to be the first American female pirate. Her husband and his crew we down in a storm in 1782 and she was later accused of robbery in 1789. She confessed to being a pirate and was hanged.

The Chinese pirate Ching Shih was active from 1801-1810. She'd been a prostitute but changed her career to piracy upon marrying a pirate. Upon his death she became the leader of the entire fleet of more than 1,500 ships, worked by 80,000 pirates. She controlled most of the South China Sea and defeated the British, Chinese and Portuguese navies whenever they attacked her. Eventually she was offered peace instead and retired to marry her second in command.

The English/Australian pirate Charlotte Badger, aka Catherine Hagerty, operated in 1806 and is regarded as the first Australian female pirate. She was a convict who helped seized The Venus from its captain while the captain went ashore and sail it to New Zealand.

Sweden's last pirate Johanna Hård was born in 1789 and active as a pirate during 1823. She and 4 men who worked as farmers followed the Danish ship Frau Mette in a fishing boat, requested water, boarded the ship and killed the crew in order to plunder it. The men weren't so lucky but there was insufficient evidence against Johanna Hård so she was released.

The possibly fictional Sadie the Goat, river pirate during 1869 around New York State, head butted and robbed her victims. She was also a member of the Charlton Street Gang. 

The fictional Gertrude Imogene Stubbs was said to be a pirate during 1898-1903 in the Kootenay Lake and river system in British Columbia. She is the result of an April Fools joke mistakenly believed as fact.

Lo Hon-cho from East China was a pirate during the 1920s. She commanded 64 ships and was reported to be the most ruthless of all China's pirates. She attacked villages and fishing fleets around Beihai, imprisoning young women and selling them into slavery. A Chinese warship destroy 40 ships in her fleet in 1922. She was later handed over by the remaining pirates in exchange for clemency.

Lai Sho Sz’en who was a pirate from 1922-1939 in East China and controlled 12 ships.

Huang P’ei-mei who was a pirate from 1937 to the 1950s in East China led 50,000 pirates.

The Fujian province (China) pirate Cheng Chui Ping, aka "Sister Ping", was a active during the 1970s-1990s in the South China Sea. She smuggled thousands of Chinese immigrants to the U.S. and Europe. She was caught and is serving 35 years in jail.

Bêlit from Robert E. Howard's Queen of the Black Coast, a Conan short-story.

The anime character Emeraldas from Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Galaxy Express 999, and Queen Emeraldas by Leiji Matsumoto.

Dragon Lady from Milton Caniff's Terry and the Pirates comic was inspired by Lai Sho Sz’en.

Morgan Adams from Cutthroat Island.

Mary "Jacky" Faber from Bloody Jack.

Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Mistress Ching from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

Angelica from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Nami and Nico Robin from the manga and anime series One Piece.

Ruth from the Operetta Pirates of Penzance.

The Chinese female pirate captain Missee Lee in Missee Lee by Arthur Ransome.

Ezri Delmastro and Zamira Drakasha from Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch.

Elena Dugan, aka Lady Galbraith, in The Seas of Fionnghuala.

Nancy Kington and Minerva Sharpe in Pirates by Celia Rees.

Janme Dark from Aoike Yasuko's Sons of Eve manga series.

Space Pirate Sheila from the Space Thunder Kids anime.

Captain Marika Kato of the Bentenmaru from Bodacious Space Pirates.

Blackboots from Here Comes A Candle by Mary Hanson-Roberts.

The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate from Gideon Defoe's The Pirates! series.

Interesting and great heroines in urban fantasy books

Writing a great female lead is more difficult than it should be and the results are often judged harshly. This is mainly due to the realities of sexism and their impact on what we write, how we write and how we portray our characters. Balance is required on very difficult subjects and such balance is demanded from writers often unused to being in the public spotlight with regards to the issues of women in society. Writers primarily have their minds in the process of writing when it comes to their own works, with little concern for the public at large. But writers are the greatest bastions of culture throughout history, be they writing fiction or non-fiction, simply because they record and provide views on anything and everything. Does this mean writers should be more concerned with their subjects and how they will be viewed? Possibly but then again, with an eye to history and the future, writing what comes naturally might be the way to go. That's a huge argument for another day.

With all this in mind though, I thought I'd list some interesting and great heroines that appear in the newer and massively popular genre of urban fantasy, one where the number of female writers has escalated dramatically over the years.
Those not listed aren't bad or uninteresting, I should point out, but there are some that will make you roll your eyes at times and wonder how a woman could write such nonsense about their fictional heroine and there are others that don't particularly stand out.

Note: I would like to mention that their costuming and covers often don't do the characters justice as they're more aimed towards sales, which is a whole other ball game to writing a respectable heroine. The best most get is their distinguishing features and favourite tools reflected in the cover. It is much rarer nowadays for the stance or attitude to correctly reflect the character's own.

Alexia Tarabotti from the Parasole Protectorate series by Gail Carriger

Cassandra Palmer from the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance

Dorina Basarab from the Midnight's Daughter series by Karen Chance

Maliha Crayne from the Mortal Path series by Dakota Banks

Jaz Parks from the Jaz Parks series by Jennifer Rardin

Anna Strong from the Anna Strong series by Jeanne C Stein

Dante Valentine from the Dante Valentine series by Lilith Saintcrow

Dr Carrie Ames from the Blood Ties series by Jennifer Armintrout

Cerridwen from the A Lightworld/Darkwork series by Jennifer Armintrout

Harper Blaine from the Greywalker series by Kat Richardson

Suzie Shooter from the Tales From The Nightside series by Simon R Green

Kitty Norville from the Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn

Elena Michaels from the Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong

Jane Yellowrock from the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter

Lily Yu from the Lupi series by Eileen Wilks

Rachel Morgan from the Hollows series by Kim Harrison

Mercy Thompson from the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

Jace Valcheck from the Bloodhound Files series by D D Barant

Kara Gillian from the Kara Gillian series by Diana Rowland

Allie Beckstrom from the Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk

Raine Benares from the Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin

Runner's up

Anita Blake from the Anita Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton

(The balance between sex, personality, personal life and career is completely lost for a fair few books as the books become more pornographic than urban fantasy but Anita Blake is making her comeback as an urban fantasy heroine. Personally, I hope she continues in such a light as I always liked her best away from the sheets and fighting monsters and psychopaths.)