An awesome article on the difference between ‘strong female’ characters and ‘strong characters’, female that I found while searching for reviews of HBO’s GIRLS to validate my new found love for it (only 4 episodes left, sob).

The idea that its okay to have only one type of female character so long as they are ‘strong’ should be obviously ridiculous if you take about two minutes to think about it. What we want are girls who are weak and strong and messed up and funny and vindictive and cruel and kind and loving and clever and dull and impassioned and bored and independent and needy. We want all types of girls in our stories, and we want them to be up front and center some of the time, and supporting characters and villains and heroes and best friends. Most of all we want girls who are lots of things, who are complex and unique and likeable and inconsiderate and selfish and charming and weak. All of it.

Changing the flat characterization of women as half the species isn’t really progress, and if you think it is, you probably haven’t thought about it much.

Anyways, its a great article, check it out.