Analysis of Gender Equality and Female Character Portrayal

This essay analyzes Sophia McDougall's perspective on gender equality and the portrayal of female characters in media. McDougall critiques the stereotypical depiction of strong female characters, arguing that their strength is often emphasized because it's seen as exceptional for women, unlike male characters whose strength is assumed. The essay examines characters like those in Shrek and Angelina Jolie's Salt, and discusses the author's desire for more realistic and complex female characters who exhibit both strength and vulnerability, rather than being confined to heroic roles. The author connects each paragraph with clever use of words and techniques. The essay also references Enid Blyton's character George, highlighting how some female characters adopt masculine traits to prove themselves. The essay concludes by emphasizing that true gender equality requires a balanced representation of both genders, and the inclusion of women in diverse roles, not just as heroines.

Running head- GENDER EQUALITY
GENDER EQUALITY
Name of student
Name of university
Author note

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1. McDougall begins her essay with the statement that she hates strong female
characters. However, she adds that this might seem odd and says that she loves
women character that is portrayed as brave and courageous. This she terms as an odd
statement to say because when a woman says something like she hates strong women
characters it is always shocking to others. Which is precisely why though Sophia
McDougall begins stating how she dislikes strong characters but quickly
acknowledges that it might be an odd thing to say because she loves many female
characters that show bravery and resilience.
2. McDougall’s dislike for strong female character has a deeper meaning then it looks on
the surface. She explains in the later paragraphs how it is always the female character
who are especially emphasized to be strong. However, a male character does not carry
that description ever. She further explains that a strong female character is
emphasized because it is considered that it is exceptional for a woman to be strong
since they have usually been viewed as timid and weak. However, a man is always
thought to be a superior stronger race, which is why they do not need further emphasis
on their strength.
3. Sophia McDougall goes on talking about few characters like the princess in Shrek and
Angelina Jolie in Salt who are depicted in ways that shows these women to be
stronger than other normal women. Thus these characters are portrayed to prove to be
everything, which a normal girl cannot be. The author further writes about the modern
day princesses who are all presented in a certain stereotypical depiction who have all
mastered the art of self-defense with heavy punches, one liners they go out to march

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among the group of men around them. That is how they become strong women
characters.
4. In the first paragraph the author keeps saying I love and I hate whereas in the last two
paragraphs she changes her tone to I want. This signifies the change that she wants to
see onscreen. She explains instead of these characters who are either strong or
extremely weak, she wants to see women characters that are more realistic. Characters
more humane, more complex who are both quiet and shy at the same time capable to
fight their own battles. Then the author concludes stating the women characters
should not be restricted to only heroes but to every kind of roles like comedians,
villains and mentors.
5. Sophia McDougall moves from one paragraph to the other with ease never digressing
or moving away from the flow of writing. She connects each paragraph with clever
use of words and techniques with the help of which she never loses her sight. At the
start of each paragraph she forms the sentence in a way which would complement the
structure and thought of the previous paragraph. She ends her first paragraph saying
her love for female characters who are humane and brave at the same time. Thereby
she begins the next paragraph with “but” indicating the continuation of her thought.
6. The author in her essay refers to the character of George from Enid Blyton’s Fantastic
Five. The author says that strong women onscreen mostly have something to prove in
life or a mission to execute. This is similar to the character of George from fantastic
five who gets angry whenever anyone refers to her real name Georgiana or calls her a

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woman. She acts and dresses up like a boy and is strong and haughty and goes on
adventures. She is like those women who are afraid to own up their feminine side
hence to hide that side of them they portray qualities that are traditionally linked with
masculinity.
7. Sophia McDougall ends her essay emphasizing on equality, which she wants. She
says that equality is not achieved by the way these women characters are portrayed
onscreen because that is not what reality is. Abandoning their feminine sides and
adopting the manly qualities like strength, ambition, ruthlessness does not bring
equality between the genders. Equality would be when the ratio of male and female
stars would be 1:1 instead of 3:1. Equality according to the author would be visible
when apart from the heroine side characters too would be females. When women
would be both strong and weak depending on the circumstance she faces.

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Reference
Siegel, L., 2015. Why I defaulted on my student loans. New York Times, p.4.