Where are the TRUE Strong Female Characters?

Watch the follow-up, this time about the men's side of things:

Strong Female Characters are in a sad state of affairs in 2022. Be it a result of feminist influences, misguided intentions, or simply a decline in overall writing quality, the modern Strong Female Characters are ironically some of the weakest characters in living memory.

This is my take on the current state of Strong Female Characters, why they're weak characters, what should be done about it, and who's really the strongest female character in film history.

[IaMD.B.]

Watch the follow-up, this time about the men's side of things:

[nosfonader]

How can you talked about mothers but not bring up Elastigirl from Incredibles?! Why does nobody ever talk about her? She's easily the best female character in the last 17 years.

[scottmalkinson]

OG Mulan is another prime example of a strong female character that is incredibly well written.

[kelleyceccato]

I agree heartily that kindness and empathy are among the strongest character traits out there, in fiction and in real life. But as a childfree woman I wince a bit at any implication that femininity can't exist without motherhood. A woman can be kind and empathetic without being, or wanting to be, a mother.

[michaelrowley]

You left out Eowyn from Lord of the Rings. She is a top tier hero. She was the last line of defense for the women and children in Helm's Deep. When the riders of Rohan spurned Merry she gave him faith in himself. When the Witch King was unstoppable enemy on the Fields of Pelenor, she beat him. She did it not because she was faster or stronger. The Witch King beat her down physically. She beat him because she put herself between the enemy and her family and she inspired and nurtured the childlike faith of Merry. The Witch King underestimated what the nurturing soul could do and thus was felled by Merry and Eowyn.

[TheAmeliaNathan]

I think one problem with the motherhood debate is what makes then a younger female character strong?
Female Characters like Lyra Belacqua ( The golden compass) who are not adults still show feminine traits like compassion (for her best friend and the reason why she starts her journey), but also strength ( not physical but through her intelligence) and she is a great example of someone who asks for help from others ( like Lee Scoresby).
She still inspires others ( also men like Lee) with her kindness and her strong will but there is (obviously) no romantic reason involved.
Or like most of the young female protagonists from ´Studio Ghibli are great examples of strength and still embracing feminine traits and amazing character developments.

[MrPGC]

Here are my candidates for at least a couple of those categories:

1) The mom in the first original "Poltergeist" movie. Not only did she brave unknown dangers, facing who-knew-what when she passed through the bilocation to rescue her daughter, but she later braved the powerful demonic forces that threw her around the room like a rag-doll & knocked her clear down the hallway, and yet kept coming back again & again to rescue _both_ her children, literally facing down a huge, scary demon-creature for good measure! To me, that character definitely takes top honors in the "strong grizzly-mom" category;

2) In the 'strong supportive friend" category I would nominate "Astrid" from the "How To Train Your Dragon" movies & TV series. And _nobody_ but _nobody_ could ever describe her as a 'damsel in distress" or anything other than "strong, " yet she was strong but _without_ being an intolerable pain-in-the-ass ballbuster. Hell, in many ways she was the best fighter of the bunch. But she was also supportive, encouraging and unceasingly-loyal to Hiccup, watching his back & giving him valuable feedback & encouragement when he needed to hear it.

[roccoruiz]

I love that you chose Mrs. Brisby and 100% agree. I’m always prone to say that Lt. Ripley is the strongest, for the same reasons you mentioned. But, Mrs. Brisby really is easily one of the strongest female characters ever written, because she’s all heart and she’ll stop at nothing to ensure her children are safe, because of her devoted unconditional love for them. Mrs. Brisby reminds me so much of my own mother 🥲❤️

[MustardSeedish]

More strong female characters who may have not been mothers but shown maternal instincts; Katniss Everdeen and Wonder Woman (The movement with the baby gets me every time). I would even throw in underrated Rita Vrataski for helping to save humanity.

[eunbitpark]

Wow. The last part was unexpected. I didn't even expect to cry because of how touching it is. We don't see characters like her anymore.

[sayenka]

Strong female characters that aren‘t mothers and are not nurturing:
- Azula
- Toph
- Effie
- Beth Harmon
- Komi from Komi can‘t communicate (is instead being nurtured by her male love interest and social environment)
- Tigress
- Amy Dunne from Gone Girl
(- Eun Chan from Coffee Prince (nurtures in an almost masculine way, main provider of her family after her father‘s untimely death))
- Annalies Keating
- Mae and George from Feel Good
- Fleabag from Fleabag
- Hannah Waddingham from Ted Lasso
- Poppy, Ola and Summer from Surviving Summer
- Oh Yun-seo from Touch your heart
- Eleven and Nancy from Stranger Things

You missed a lot buddy. I believe in your feminist journey. Yes, motherhood can be a source of strength and happiness, but that‘s not always the case for every woman. Not every woman is nurturing, but that doesn‘t make her a monster. Prioritising yourself is a choice everyone is allowed to make.

There were good things in that video. Might I recommend "Breasts and Eggs“ by Mieko Kawakami, touches upon motherhood in a very feminist way.

Also, quick note: There are different sub-sections of feminism. So, you should at least change your video description to liberal feminist influences.

[chickenwithhotsauce]

Don’t forget Joyce Byers. Definitely one of the greatest female characters of all time, and a persevering mother regardless of the danger she faces.

[TheJokersCorner]

Perfect explanation of the whole situation and the problems with modern media and entertainment! You hit the nail on the head many times over! Glad to see a clear and concise video on the topic! 😁👍

[alexkogan]

You know it’s bad when Samus Aran in the newest Metroid game is the best woman character in all of 2021 and she only ever talks once or twice in that entire game. Heck, Samus in the Metroid series in general is usually depicted well as far as female characters go (powerful, resourceful, but also caring). Other M even tried to tackle Samus’s sense of motherhood and feelings of inadequacy when a baby Metroid alien she bonded with sacrificed itself to protect her in the events of Super Metroid (unfortunately it did a very poor job at it).

[dansegelov]

Natasha Romanov, Ellen Ripley, Kara Thrace, Buffy Summers, Sarah Connor, Dana Scully, Clarice Starling, Hermione Grainger, Eleven, Zoe Washburne, Rita Vratawski, Laura Roslin, AEthelflaed Lady of Mercia, Beatrix Kiddo, Harley Quinn, Katniss Everdeen, Leeloo, Stiorra, Selene, Enola Holmes, Wanda Maximoff, Lady Olenna, Beth Harmon, Abbess Hild, Princess Leia, Xena, Lagertha Lothbrok, Alice, Leslie Knope, Olivia Dunham, Lana Kane, Olivia Benson, Brienne of Tarth, Brida, Jessica Jones, Mulan, Moana, etc, etc...

[MikeyFazboi]

You know you've fucked up big time on writing a female character when a mouse of all creatures manages to be a better character than the main character of a trilogy that continues what many believe to be one of the best movie trilogies of all time.

[macorte]

Do not forget the very short yet impactful role the mother ‘Longneck’ from Land Before Time played with her son Little Foot. She cared and nurtured him teaching her child how to get to the Great Valley. Then she lays her life down protecting her baby from the Long Teeth! That's true mommy power!!! Damn movie breaks me every time I watch it.

[mad]

I remember arguing with a person about this. She called me a sexist pig who only hated female leads. Sorry but
The original Mulans cast was absolute amazing, especially mulan.
Beatrix from Kill Bill fucking slams, no “I’m a female and can do what ever a man cans” no, she just kills those who wronged her.
Brienne from GOT, at least in the first season, never mentions of being able to do what a man does except when a man questions her, she gets the job done, and does it right.
Here’s my favorite, elsti- I’m kidding. *ELLEN RIPLEY FROM ALIENS*
*HOLY
The most bad ass character in a sci fi movie, I mean you can’t get better than the ripley and you’ll never change my mind, just watch the movie and you’ll see why I should even have to explain.

[informationyes]

Ima huge fan of the anime claymore, they come across as very convincing females that are also stoic warriors but what motivates the main characters are human connections in the end

[Boundlessness]

Galadriel but not from ROP. She was so elegant in the trilogy and books and at the same time you knew she was fully capable of kicking ass if she wanted to.