Article created by: Austėja Akavickaitė

Writing a captivating piece takes way more than putting pen to paper. The author spends countless hours developing the plot, writing and rewriting it, crossing out hundreds of unnecessary lines, and doing the research—lots and lots of it. Some writers could work more on the two, wiping out some of the information or researching it better. Otherwise, they might end up being shamed for some of their inaccurate, unrealistic, or plain foolish lines. As these male writers depicting female characters did.

The subreddit “Men Writing Women” is dedicated, as the description suggests, to “how men who create films, books, TV, and graphic novels characterize women”. Members of the community clearly don’t shy away from sharing their finds, and we have gathered some of their best examples into this list today. If you feel like it’s too short, check out our previous pieces about “Men Writing Women” here and here.

#1

I Feel Christopher Pike’s Spellbound Could Fit

Excerpt depicting a poorly written female character taking a "s**y bite" of a hot dog, highlighted in red.

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    #2

    What Else Could A Woman Want After Coming Out Of A Coma? Beyond The Darkness (1979)

    Nurse tending to a hospital patient, caption says "Could I please have some makeup?"—a critique of male authors writing women.

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    Jack Snodgrass
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    as my mother is getting carted off to the ambulance... BRING MY WIG!! BRING MY WIG!!! I had to also bring makeup to the hospital. I am not sure that this is too far off.....

    #3

    Scientology, A New Slant On Life - By L. Ron Hubbard (1965)

    Highlighted book excerpt portrays male author writing female characters poorly.

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    #4

    How To Kiss A Girl…sure

    Vintage comic showing poorly written female character advice by male authors, titled "Do You Know How to Kiss a Girl?"

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    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They don’t bother how to explain how he should find out she uses Listerated Pepsin gum, though, which is a shame since the explain everything *else*. I’m imagining young girls reading this, swooning, and then waiting fervently for their first kisses. I hope they can manage to change their height rapidly like the girl in the drawing, who seems delighted the milkman is about to kiss her!

    #5

    Women Have Useless Faces (A Happy Death By Camus)

    Highlighted text in a book criticizing how male authors write female characters.

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    #6

    There Are Many Different Types Of Arm Folds, I'm Glad Robert Cleared That Up For Me

    Meme satirizing male authors writing female characters poorly, with a distracted boyfriend scenario.

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    #7

    Liana Finck, Women In Literature, 2022

    Comic depicting how men write women, highlighting humorous and critical observations of female characters in literature.

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    #8

    "But Whatever" (The Night Shift, Alex Finlay)

    Text excerpt highlighting male authors' poor writing of female characters.

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    #9

    Lake Of The Dead By André Bjerke

    Text excerpt highlighting how men write women in literature, showcasing a male author's portrayal of female storytelling.

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    #10

    Lots To Unpack Here [the Road Back By Erich Maria Remarque]

    A book excerpt by a male author describing a female character's neck and shoulders in a problematic manner.

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    #11

    I’m Sorry, What?!? The Body Keeps The Score By Bessel Van Der Kolk

    Highlighted text example from a book page criticized for poorly written female character depiction by male authors.

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    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone likes little girls in”that” way, doesn’t he? Eeeeuw.

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    #12

    Nod By Adrian Barnes

    Text highlights male author writing female character poorly, comparing women to eggs.

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    #13

    "A Fine Porch Door"... From The Stand By Stephen King

    Text excerpt depicting how male authors write female characters with unrealistic descriptions.

    guitarguy12341 Report

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’ve seen it referred to in LOTSA colorful ways, but never as a “porch door,” which isn’t colorful at all, and here’s yet one more reason I can’t get through more than five pages of a Stephen King book.

    #14

    Go Home Everyone About To Post Stephen King. Alizee Yeezy Has Trumped All Of You

    Red arrow points at video duration about male authors writing female characters poorly, shown on a screen with microphone.

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