In recent years, the representation of female characters in media has undergone a significant transformation, particularly in how femininity is portrayed. This shift has brought about a wave of censorship, shaming, and redefinition of what it means to be a woman in storytelling. Just as I discussed in my previous blog, The Unjust Censorship of Masculine Male Writers, there has been a growing trend of censorship driven by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, political correctness, and a wider cultural movement referred to as “wokeness.” While these movements aim to correct societal imbalances, they have also intentionally contributed to a troubling side effect: the demonization of feminine characters and the stripping away of their natural-born right to be feminine.
In films, television shows, video games, and literature, there is a growing pressure to depict female characters who reject traditional femininity or are shamed if they do not. Groups and companies who champion progressive narratives often portray natural femininity as weak, outdated, or politically incorrect. These companies often take an extreme approach, forcing women into hyper-masculinized, overly aggressive roles that diminish their natural qualities. This is especially problematic when feminine characters serve as valuable counterparts to their masculine counterparts, yet are still demonized simply for embracing their womanhood.
The Taboo of Femininity in Modern Media
In the age of wokeness, certain portrayals of women in the media have become a taboo topic. Rather than celebrate the diversity of womanhood—including qualities such as grace, beauty, emotional intelligence, and nurturing—modern portrayals often insist on rejecting these qualities entirely. The idea of a woman as a supportive or complementary character, especially in relation to a male lead, is seen as archaic or even oppressive. As a result, feminine women are not only being sidelined but are also being turned into caricatures or subjected to "uglification."
Take the phenomenon of "uglification," for example. It's become more common to see female characters depicted in ways that diminish their beauty or sensuality to avoid being seen as "appealing" or catering to the so-called "male gaze." These characters are stripped of their femininity, appearing drab or even purposefully unattractive to fit a more acceptable narrative of what women should be in today's world. The idea of a beautiful woman with feminine charm and grace has become synonymous with an outdated, anti-feminist image, even though these traits do not inherently detract from a woman’s strength or value.
Terms like "birthers" or "chest feeders" further degrade the natural aspects of womanhood, reducing femininity to mechanical, sterile functions. These terms suggest that being a mother, a life-giver, or a woman who embraces her physical traits is something to be ashamed of. This kind of rhetoric perpetuates the false idea that femininity is inherently oppressive or that embracing femininity is a sign of submission rather than strength.
When such portrayals become widespread, it devalues not only the depth of female characters but also the diversity of experiences that women can bring to storytelling.
The Rise of Hyper-Masculine Female Characters
As part of this censorship, there has also been an explosion of hyper-masculine female characters. While it’s important to show women in a wide range of roles, from warriors to mothers to professionals, the problem arises when only a narrow definition of strength is allowed—specifically, a hyper-masculine one. In this version of storytelling, strength equals physical power and emotional suppression. Women in these roles are stripped of vulnerability, empathy, and softness—all traits that are often viewed as negative or weak in modern narratives.
Action films provide a perfect example of this shift. Female leads who were once celebrated for their ability to balance strength with emotional depth are now expected to take on roles traditionally associated with male characters—often with little nuance. These women are portrayed as invincible, emotionally closed off, and impervious to the challenges that humanize them. They can fight, lead, and survive, but they are not allowed to be nurturing, emotional, or even sexual without fear of being criticized for "playing into stereotypes."
This trend stands in stark contrast to the strong yet feminine characters of past eras. Consider Maggie Q’s portrayal of Nikita in the television series Nikita. Nikita is a highly skilled assassin who is fierce and lethal in combat, but she is also a character with emotional depth, beauty, and vulnerability. She doesn’t have to reject her femininity to be taken seriously. Similarly, Bridgette Nielsen’s portrayal of Red Sonja from Conan the Barbarian fame is another example of a strong female warrior who balances her strength with a sense of feminine grace and allure. These characters stand as reminders that women can be both beautiful and deadly, strong and vulnerable, without being forced to choose one over the other.
However, today’s climate often forces filmmakers and storytellers to shy away from such portrayals. Female characters are expected to reject anything that might be considered “too feminine,” as though that would diminish their value or power. As a result, we are left with characters who lack depth and complexity. By stripping away the very essence of what makes them feminine, these women become one-dimensional, turning what could be a compelling narrative into something bland and predictable.
The Problem with Overpowered Female Characters
Another issue related to the rejection of femininity is the creation of overpowered female characters. These characters often exist in action films, fantasy, or superhero genres, where the balance between strength and vulnerability is essential to character development. Overpowered female characters are often so flawless that they are virtually untouchable, lacking any real challenges or growth. This trope, while designed to empower women, ironically does the opposite by making them less relatable and less human.
What makes characters compelling is their journey, their flaws, and the struggles they face. Yet when female characters are written as overpowered from the beginning, they lose the very traits that make them interesting. They no longer grow, learn, or evolve, because there are no stakes—nothing to challenge them. This type of censorship robs women of the opportunity to be fully realized characters, and it deprives audiences of the chance to see women navigate real struggles and growth, just as their male counterparts do.
In earlier action films or literature, even the strongest of female characters had moments of doubt, fear, or vulnerability. These elements gave them depth and allowed audiences to connect with them on an emotional level. Take Ellen Ripley from Aliens or Sarah Connor from The Terminator series—both are iconic, strong female leads, but what makes them compelling is that they are also vulnerable. They experience fear, pain, and sacrifice, and their ability to face these emotions is part of what makes them heroic. They are allowed to be women in all aspects of their lives, rather than being forced into a single, narrow definition of strength.
The Danger of One-Dimensional Female Characters
The removal of femininity from female characters also results in their transformation into one-dimensional figures. With the push for politically correct portrayals, characters are often pigeonholed into roles that fit current ideological trends, leaving little room for nuance or complexity. This erasure of femininity takes away from the depth and diversity that female characters can bring to a narrative.
When women are portrayed as being devoid of traditionally feminine traits, they become predictable and uninspiring. They are not allowed to be nurturing, to show vulnerability, or to express emotions like sadness, doubt, or affection. Instead, they are boxed into a narrow portrayal of "strength" that, ironically, weakens the overall character. Their stories become less about real human experience and more about checking ideological boxes.
Conclusion
The unjust censorship of feminine characters is a concerning trend in modern storytelling, one that is depriving audiences of rich, multi-dimensional female figures. By insisting that femininity must be rejected in favor of hyper-masculinity, the media and entertainment industries are doing a disservice to women and the stories that could be told about them. Women are not one-dimensional beings; they are complex, capable of being both strong and vulnerable, nurturing and independent, beautiful and deadly.
Characters like Maggie Q’s Nikita or Bridgette Nielsen’s Red Sonja remind us that femininity and strength are not mutually exclusive. By allowing female characters to embrace their full range of qualities—both masculine and feminine—storytellers can create more compelling, relatable, and engaging narratives.
The current trend of "uglification" and hyper-masculinization takes away from the rich diversity of female experiences, and in doing so, it makes female characters less interesting, less complex, and ultimately less human. It’s time to move beyond these one-dimensional portrayals and celebrate the full spectrum of womanhood, allowing female characters to be strong, feminine, vulnerable, and powerful all at once. Only then can we reclaim the depth and richness that has been lost in the censorship of feminine characters.
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