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Making a character in a book seem realistic and interesting is no easy task. It’s not down to just your skills as a writer, though. You actually have to know a bit about who you’re writing about. In other words—do your research. Unfortunately, some male writers out there seem to have major problems writing female characters and seem shy about asking their female friends for advice.

The ‘Men Write Women’ page on X (former Twitter) documents these scary and cringe-worthy examples of men writing about women without having any idea about them or their anatomy. The project was started back in 2019 when Meghan Vondriska launched her version of the ‘Men Writing Women’ Reddit community. Now, the ‘Men Write Women’ X page has over 69k followers, and there are over 2k fans who follow their Instagram page.

“Women just want to be written as human. That’s it. There isn't some wild scientific equation to writing women, and it isn't difficult. Write them as human, with complex feelings, not as body parts that happen to be put together into a feminine form,” Vondriska told Bored Panda.

Let’s take a look at these examples of how men write women and see what Vondriska has to say about this annoying depiction.

More info: MegVondriska.com

#1

This Is The Best One Yet

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wow. so many weird misogynistic stereotypes here. Does this person also believe our wombs detach, fly about our bodies and make us crazy once a month?

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#2

We Don’t Get Real Pockets In Pants Because We Have Tiny Purses In Our Vaginas!!! (Stuart Woods, Desperate Measures)

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is horrifying. Has this man ever seen a vagina? I could not imagine jamming credit cards up it.

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#3

"3 And A Half Milliboobs Per Handful"

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Daria Z
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The picture on the right is quite accurate and can apply to this whole post 😳

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What Does it Mean When a Woman is Written by a Man?

At times, male authors depict female characters as sexualized, unrealistic beings who are mere accessories that meet the desires of these authors. Men portraying women in this manner is called the male gaze. The male gaze or a woman written by a man tends to focus on the body rather than the character itself. When women are objectified without giving them a voice in the story, it’s typically said that the woman is written by a man.

#4

Yes, Men Would Be Amaaazing At Handling Pregnancy - Evolution Really Screwed This One Up. Bonus Points For “No Woman Gets Raped Unless She’s Looking For It.”

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RaroaRaroa
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oo. This writer does not like the look of pregnant women, so has decided that women must hate it - you know, because he hates it and they surely all want to appeal to him because he's so awesome.

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#5

Well Damn, Where Are All My Kids Then??

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh someone needs to tell this person men also get stretch marks and they are not ll from having kids. weightloss or gain does it too

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#6

Let's Not Forget This Gem Either

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Stephanie Did It
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just imagine the reverse: "every hair in my beard becoming a tiny penis"

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Women Written by Men: What Does Vondriska Say?

“I’m an avid reader, but the straw that broke the camel’s back was a novel my boyfriend lent me, where the female character was described by her breasts, and the male character was described by his personality.”

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“Working in advertising, I tend to be Very Online, so taking my anger to Twitter seemed like a natural parallel. I was familiar with the Men Writing Women subreddit, but created a Twitter account in order to craft a consistent narrative and to build a community that wasn’t hidden behind anonymity,” Vondriska revealed what inspired her to create ‘Men Write Women.’

Vondriska, from Wisconsin, devours 3 to 5 books each week. (Meanwhile, our piles of started-but-unfinished books keep on growing.) According to her, a lot of male writers who tend to be thought of as the “founders of the literary canon” are continuous offenders. “John Updike, for instance. But the greatest repeat offender is definitely Stephen King. His portrayal of his female characters is honestly offensive,” Vondriska said.

#7

Ugly Women Without Good Personalities Should Kill Themselves [rivers Of London By Ben Aaronovitch]

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#8

This Made My Breasts Frown

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Rowlie
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lately my breasts only cry and sigh deeply. I miss all the smiling

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#9

That's Not How Any Of This Works

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Male Authors Writing About Women Actually Well

However, it isn't all doom and gloom in the literary world. There are male writers who can write women well, too. “Terry Pratchett is wonderful, and I’ve yet to see a submission from Michael Crichton,” Vondriska shared that she, like many of us, is a Pratchett fan. Vondriska also pointed out that, in her opinion, the best writers are well-read. So, she encouraged all of us to read more and (most importantly) read more widely.

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“Pay attention to what you’re reading and who you’re reading. You have to make sure your bookshelf isn't made up of just men. Add in some spice—some female authors, some nonbinary authors, or authors of color. And lastly, just because you were assigned a book in high school doesn't mean it’s good!”

#10

Unsurprisingly, The Book's Terrible Writing From A "Proclaimed" Writer Does Not End Here (The Wedding Plot, Jeffrey Eugenides)

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Boobs are testicles. They don't "withdraw" because there is muscle and a rib cage underneath and they are just mounds of fat and milk producing tissue. I feel like so many people here did not pay attention in health class. How can they be so clueless about the female body?

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#11

Male Authors Writing Women Are Actually Just Horror Stories And Here's Why

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#12

Ah Yes, Exactly How I'd Describe Myself (The Diamond Age, Neal Stephenson)

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What is the Female Gaze Theory?

The female gaze theory refers to the female point of view in the story that focuses on the realistic depiction of the characters rather than objectifying their bodies. Usually, when netizens say, “written by a woman,” they are talking about this realistic female gaze that gives depth to the character rather than their physical appearance.

#13

I'm Sorry, Her Breasts Do What

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Rowlie
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess the only breasts the author saw were trying to escape from him

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#14

She's Eleven And Scared But Let's Talk About Her Nipples

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#15

This Whole Book Has Both My Eyes And My Boobs Rolling

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#16

Be Horrified With The Rest Of Us

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Lord Mysticlaw
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Men like Conde should not be surprised that sexy women love other women, and he really should try to help that male chauvinism.

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#19

Plz Put This On My Tombstone #submission (The Dogs, Scott Smith)

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#20

*me To My Friend* Excuse Me, May I Please Borrow Your Eyeballs?

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#21

She Was Flesh And Blood, Not The 2D Woman He Was Used To Objectifying On Television, And For That She Was All The More Special (A Time On Earth, Vihelm Moberg)

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#22

Literally No Woman Would Ever Do This (Misterioso, Arne Dahl)

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Lord Mysticlaw
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the first place this whole soaking thing sounds like a dishcloth, this guy obviously doesn't know how pads work. In the second place, pads stick to underwear, in my experience you don't just "fish them out", this guy obviously doesn't know how pads work. In the third place, of course the only possible rational reason why a woman would refuse sex is because she's on her period!, this guy is obviously an effing asshole.

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Full of Giggles
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's possible to soak through a pad. When I was a teen, I had to wear an overnight pad with Depends. I had to change it every four hours or I'd soak through and stain my pants.

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well she might if she wants him to go away. And since it appears he is creeping on her in her sleep that might be her goal. The bigger problem appears to be that he feels like he as a right to sex

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Zinti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How bad do you have to be at noticing clear body language that the only way to get you to back off is to shove a used pad in your face? #CreeperAlert

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Truth Monster
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, there was this Roman lady called Hypatia. Similar situation where a suitor wouldn't take a clear, firm, "no."

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Trudi McLaren
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um, why not just say "I've got my period, bugger off"...? Even if it was possible to just 'fish it out', if it's 'blood soaked', she'd get blood everywhere, and she now has nothing to soak up any further blood. And it's a bit overly dramatic, isn't it?

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Linda HS
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

@Marnie, I am sorry to say this, but you need to do some research. You'd be surprised about how many women “ bleed when menstruating”...Some cases actually have been emergencies and called for surgical intervention... Please check before you say something so dumb. Thank you

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Alison Boroski
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If he says she “fished”, perhaps he’s thinking of a tampon? Btw, what woman wouldn’t say “I have my period”, instead of showing a dude her lady juice?

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CatWoman312
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From reading the whole entry she did it because he wouldn’t take the hint she wasn’t interested in sex. A woman would have just said I’m on my period instead, but ahh men and their imaginations

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Lisa Tetlow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what happens when you confuse sticky note pads for sanitary pads.

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WildBerry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but you can easily peel them off your underwear. A gal said above here that she has to take her pants off in order to change hers. She must have ones that stick with Crazy Glue. LOL

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Lea S.
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If a guy was doing this and I was politely trying to tell him no - I'd do the same f*****g thing before I got up and left.

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Michael Capriola Jr.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for that image. Pls excuse me while I go have a bit of a lobotomy.

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Catherine Bartholome
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, God. No girl would ever do this!! And, he was thinking with his d**k only.

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WildBerry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I hated the guy, I would. I'd want to gross him out so he left me the hell alone.

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Bianca Du Toit
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The writer needs to be smacked with this pad he talks of. Dear lord.

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Esther
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh come on person who wrote this!!! There is only like, I wouldn't even say 3 drops of blood when you have your period!

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Audrey Conrad
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my life is ruined. also it shouldn't be "soaked" in blood. if it was dripping, you need help

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あんぱんまん
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you show me a woman who does this after reading this book i will do everyone a favour and kick the author..... It will be a favour for myself but whatever

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Wonderful
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well this guy has never had period sex. Just put a towel down and have some fun.

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Key Lime
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All I can think of this is the line " Today I woke up in a pool of my own blood, would you like to end your day this way?"

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Chris Challis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

completely overlooking the fact she didnt want his erect penis that she had no part in arousing...

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Kyle Bartz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are women out there that paint with and eat their menses. Is this really that much more strange....?

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Lacey Metzger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If your pad is soaked with blood, you need to get a different brand!

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Rita Maneata
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, sounds like a good tactic to scare off a persistent mans.

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IdJo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

NB: this book was originally written in Swedish (by a man), and was actually translated into English by a woman (Tiina Nunnally). So, well ... even if "no woman would ever do this" was actually true (which it is not, in my opinion - first of all, if we should judge everything in books by the question "could this really happen in real life?" NO books would ever be liked/sold/written. Second of all: the problem here is that the man clearly is trying to ignore the woman's signals so she sort of has to resort to something ... unequivocally clear. Not a very unlikely situation at all, at least not in a Swedish crime fiction setting.), I'd say the translator would have "corrected" it if she thought it needed it. My only slight problem here is with "fished out" which I agree sounds "too easy" - I would perhaps have gone for "pulled out" or smth like that.

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WildBerry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Obviously the point he was trying to make is that the male character didn't wish to have sex any longer for that reason.

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Mumof1
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh please...this is not only inaccurate but revolting.

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Iris Wolfie (づ ◕‿◕ )づ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

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Eric Lafleur
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only time this would happen would be at Walmart, with a Karen having a tantrum at the cashier.

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WildBerry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Karen [kəˈren] NOUN 1.a member of an indigenous people of eastern Burma (Myanmar) and western Thailand. 2.the language of the Karen, probably Sino-Tibetan. ADJECTIVE 1. relating to the Karen or their language.

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#23

Only Sluts Have Hairy Legs (The Things They Carried, Tim O'brien)

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

dry sounds like she just needs to use more lotion. dry skin is horribly itchy

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#25

Wish I Had Pillowy Breasts! Taken From Ben Fountain’s Brief Encounters With Che Guevara

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm more concerned by the fact he seems to routinely check out boys' butts and uses that as the benchmark of sexy.

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#26

The Rest Reads “Dad Is Looking Like He Made A Better Decision Every Year”. What?!?

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#27

This Is A Totally Anatomically Normal Thing For Breasts To Do #submission (We Can Remember It For You Wholesale, Philip Dick)

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Lord Mysticlaw
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These male authors are making my breasts pulse with resentment. They're really pissed off.

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#28

#menwritingwomen No Wonder Some Of Them Think Our Breasts Stop Us From Doing Stuff If They Think We’re As Obsessed As They Are. We Can’t Get Away From Them. Oh Must Do This Important Thing But Wait!

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well this seems to reinforce every ugly stereotype of men being sex crazed horndogs

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#29

'the Shining', By Stephen King. Its Always Breasts

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Chez
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, this scene is where he is describing a woman who has been dead in a bath for however long (a ghost of her anyway). And when I read it it's actually made perfect sense in that context.

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Note: this post originally had 78 images. It’s been shortened to the top 29 images based on user votes.

Female Characters Are More Than Just Their Bodies

We understand your anger. It’s impossible to read the thread without getting infuriated about this poor depiction of women. You can take out your anger about these male writers and express yourself in the comments. After all, women are so much more than just their bodies. Share this not just with your fellow feminists but with other friends and family, too. It’s high time we call out these unfair depictions, don’t you think so?