ADVERTISEMENT

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman trying to pee

ewillard42 Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
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?

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

Oh what I would have achieved if not for all these Hours spent on the toilet waiting for pee to find the way Out of the maze of my body

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

In fact, women's urethra is much shorter than man's, not like that person is interested in facts.

benlensgraf avatar
Benjamin Lensgraf
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Technically, men have longer urethras, creating more of a 'maze' to go through, than the shorter more direct route women have - even in men with the smallest of penises, like the author of this passage!

jana_makarevitch avatar
Yana Makarevitch
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, why do you even feel the need to describe how someone is peeing in your book in such great detail? Even if it was anatomically correct, it still would be absolutely unnecessary.

moirawestern avatar
Moira Western
Community Member
6 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

Load More Replies...
equine_job avatar
Anony Mouse
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is from Pulitzer Prizing winning author John Updike, from The Witches of Eastwick. He's known for writing women...well not great.

monika-soffronow avatar
Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe he is doing a good job painting the picture of the misogynistic man who tried to hide taking his dentures out? Context? Anyway, I never did get why Updike became such a big name.

Load More Replies...
ispeakcatanese avatar
shelbyp avatar
Shelby P
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly!!!! I as a woman have NEVER had to wait for the pee to come out (not to say other women haven't) but I know men with prostate problems do have this trouble and therefore they are writing women as having a problem they don't have because they know nothing about women!

Load More Replies...
raroararoa avatar
RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He couldn't be more wrong. The reason women get more urinary tract infections than men is because their bladder is closer to the exit, not further away.

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

Besides us being able to "conjure it up immediately" as well lol (if healthy; as our male counterparts).

Load More Replies...
lordmysticlaw avatar
Lord Mysticlaw
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Somebody failed biology. Also this is a hilarious image to imagine.

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

The whole "conjure up immediately" part is pretty wrong too. Especially in older men.

yvonne_e5 avatar
Yvonne Blau
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So my bladder is a maze... I knew there was something wrong with me

elida_lechuga avatar
Elida Lechuga
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish I had to wait for the pee to come out. Sometimes it's heading out before I'm ready.

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

Thats the excuse the guy thought as to why some women take quite a few min when they go to the bathroom. I guess he never thought they do other stuff, all the time is sitting on the toilet in his pathetic mind

jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't tell this poor sap that men and women have kidneys and urethras. His writing career will be over.

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

Ok men; do you feel like Lords standing above the bowl?

lassila-alexander avatar
melloncollie avatar
MellonCollie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This writer's girlfriends generally have some bladder issues, I guess .... or this book's character has. But seriously ... WTF?

erine avatar
Erin E
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe she hides from him in the bathroom, and that’s the only explanation he could come up with.

Load More Replies...
lfnoyes avatar
May Be
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He probably doesn't know any women. Bit of luck for them.

rkingery577 avatar
Granny
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maze lol..I retired from the OR,,I don't recall seeing a maze or PACMAN IN THERE..HAH

boredpandausergirl avatar
Bored Little Panda
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless he has a wife that take 8 minutes to pee, where do people find such "information"

delphinum4 avatar
Zophra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bahahaha... With my husband could consistently conjure it all into the bowl and never the rim.

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

:D I assume you mean "Wish". Thanks, your comment made me laugh!

Load More Replies...
1gowreesaovi avatar
AnInrovert
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uuuuuhhhhhh... we just wait on the toilet because it’s one of our few moments of privacy.... but even that was ruined.

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

bruh.. serioully? He describes the differences through men and women through.. pee issues?

virgoal333 avatar
Purr·maid
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well that was an insulting thing to say. I've never heard this in all my life and I'm a woman.

inkslingerkate avatar
M Kate McCulloch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

jebus cheesecrips - did he completely misunderstand his anatomy classes? Or never, ever bother to ask a woman? Wait, though -WhyTF is he righting about pee, exactly?

sj-dumond avatar
JD Lee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What, in gods name, is this story about? When would this ever be worth a read?... Better yet, how did this get published?-!

leilanoury avatar
Leila Noury
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what in the lord- I may be male but I'm trans, so I was born female... yeah this aint how we use the bathroom.....

invisiblesheep avatar
invisible sheep
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i laughed at this so hard I almost peed my pants, does that mean my body is missing the "maze" here?

izzycurer avatar
Izzy Curer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look, the guy just wants to make sure her uterus doesn't fall out, okay?

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

Charlane Harris is a woman and she wrote it. I guess she never met anyone with prostate issues..

kay_c_maxey avatar
Kay Maxey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Women have a more active part in initiating the act of peeing! It’s only men who stand and wait!

jakobboomgaarden avatar
gilded panda
Community Member
6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“That thunderous splashing as they stood lordly above the bowl” wtf

anna_meyers_1 avatar
Knitting Panda
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone needs to tell this guy the real reason it takes us so long in the bathroom. Ok, Mr. Updike, it is nothing mysterious, it is simply because we have to take off pretty much all our clothes to pee. Then we have to put them back on again. Then, unlike you guys, we actually do wash our hands.

libby6 avatar
Stargazer66
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll bet this author thinks we can control our menstrual flow like we do with our pee. What a ginormous moron.

alinatheowl avatar
Unnamed Hooman
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Two questions… Why is this in a book? And WHY IS IT SO DETAILED

three_treasures avatar
Sylvia O'Neill
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yep, that's why so many pregnant women have to rush to the toilet... cos their bladders are just - waiting!

kenyattaharmon avatar
Kenyatta Harmon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I keep imagining some guy standing above the toilet, chest puffed out proud hands on his hips, looking all proud.

gerardneaux avatar
Gerard Neaux
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep yep this must be exactly what women think about when sitting on the toilet: comparing their own peeing speed to that of men. Everything's competition between sexes!

dariodai avatar
Dario Dainese
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we need a super heroine with the superpower of instant peeing. she will bring justice by rescuing women out from their own mazes!

2138474 avatar
Mandalorian
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excuse me but what. WHAT. Who even writes this stuff? I mean I'm a boy myself but I'm not stupid. Girls don't sit and wait for pee, thats stupid! Did he even research? As I always say, some of us are brighter than others.

rhughes10207_1 avatar
Robert Hughes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Im disturbed by the paragraph. "Men, they were able to conjure it up immediately, that was one of.their super powers." How tf do y write this?

juliebreytenbach avatar
Julie Breytenbach
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

michaelbeswick avatar
Michael Beswick
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That author has absolutely no understanding of basic biology. The female urethral tract is far simpler than a males, and much shorter!?

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

The author is describing the beliefs of the time using language that is intended to make you feel a little startled and uncomfortable. Are we canceling this?

abigailjohnson_3 avatar
Abigail Johnson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

only if we don't really need to pee. i hate that. LEARN SOMETHING

amonireed avatar
purple boi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ima girl so i think dis auther is dumb as h3ll(i aint even tryna be rude)

ellagreenman avatar
Ella Greenman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Men, they where able to conjure it up emideately, that was one of their powers, standing lordly over thw bowl. JESUS CHRIST

klavey avatar
Kathleen Lavey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah. Clearly this guy has never been anywhere near a woman drinking coffee.

alicefabian avatar
Alice Fabian
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What. the. actual. f*ck. Seriously? Dude. What book is this, I want to read the rest of what he had to say.

abigailschnell avatar
MALEC GWITTER
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My god...sorry but, the f**k do men know? My monthly joy started couple months ago and I already feel tortured.

georgetasie avatar
George Tasie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This dude isn't just clueless about female anatomy, he's also clueless about MALE anatomy. Like dude, EVERYONE'S insides is a maze. That's how it works. For our insides to be straight we would need to be illogically tall. WHAT THE F!!!

meeep35 avatar
LotusWolff
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Men, as they stood 'Lordly' above the bowl. The lordly men also spill pee over. Wonderful women dont

info_1545 avatar
Simone Adams
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"... as they stood lordly above the bowl" – this is a poem. Note the vowels and assonance

zoepolitte24 avatar
OrangeChicken
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a biological female who hasn't started taking T yet... WTF???

kevinperry_1 avatar
okpkpkp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OK. I knew this would be scary the minute I clicked on it but what...???

eulaliegrace avatar
Eulalie Grace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Lordly above the bowl ..." Now THAT brings up some serious imagery Lordly 😸 (giggle - snort)

trueblu-canadian avatar
Blue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our pee has a maze to go through to find the way out ?

gayleandrea_h avatar
Gayle Hunter-Gatherer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The murky mysterious path through all those frightening and unmentionable reproductive bits.

1gowreesaovi avatar
AnInrovert
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

‘As they stand lordly over the bowl’ he’s literally bragging about how men can pee.....

henshaven avatar
Sandy Kavanaugh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this for real? If men can stand lordly over the bowl, why do they miss such a big target?!

stonetramp avatar
Colleen Hindson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This segment has been mistitled. It is a lot more about misogyny than ignorance.

stonetramp avatar
Colleen Hindson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Conclusions men come to out of their ingrained misogyny, of which they are probably only vaguely aware.

susanduberstein avatar
Susan Duberstein
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God help me, I know what this is from. It’s “The Witches of Eastwick.”

natigirl1 avatar
Lisa Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WTAF is this? Someone needs to spend some time researching anatomy.

babzzz1 avatar
WildBerry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Has nothing to do with anatomy. Not all women can void on cue, just like not all men can. The author had no need to apply this to all women and really, no need to mention it at all.

Load More Replies...
kymmersb avatar
Kymmers Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know what? This is POV. Written from the point of view of the woman on the toilet. Doesn't necessarily mean the author has no idea. This could just be an opinion of the woman on the toilet... maybe she doesn't know she has a medical condition?

johanna_zamora avatar
Grumble O'Pug
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

omg. Mazes? You are in for a big surprise when you actually crack a biology book open. Idiot.

mallee49 avatar
Anne Mitchell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was so badly written I did not get to the end of the paragraph.

darkangelnickay avatar
Nic Dudley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL! Women's urethra is about four inches (or actually maybe a little bit more) but Men's is like triple the length - the proof is in the different lengths for catheters. Women having short urethras is why they get UTIs more easily.

diva_satanica_666 avatar
Tania Dubodiel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Female urethra is around 1.5 inches and male one is around 7-8 inches, but the rest is absolutely correct.

Load More Replies...
cassandra_4 avatar
Cassandra
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Just ask any woman who’s ever been pregnant about that “have to wait a few minutes for the pee to come” bit. Go on.

babzzz1 avatar
WildBerry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's because the fetus is pressing on the bladder. Do not assume that ALL women can start their stream of urine easily, especially if they're older.

Load More Replies...
gracenote avatar
Grace Note
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

This man is a mental. I can pee at will and produce a stream that a cow or a horse would be proud of when I've taken on a lot of liquid. Foolish man!

babzzz1 avatar
WildBerry
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait til you get older, hon. You won't be doing a horse imitation anymore.

Load More Replies...
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman purse

menwritewomen Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

"3 And A Half Milliboobs Per Handful"

Book page with a paragraph describing breast measurement

Christimay , www.reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
dariazotova avatar
Daria Z
Community Member
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 😳

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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.”

Book page with a paragraph describing pregnancy

cheribella Report

Add photo comments
POST
raroararoa avatar
RaroaRaroa
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

Well Damn, Where Are All My Kids Then??

Book page with a paragraph describing woman with stretch marks

lilycama Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Let's Not Forget This Gem Either

Book page with a paragraph describing females' nipples

isapphic Report

Add photo comments
POST
ortaduchess avatar
Stephanie Did It
Community Member
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"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“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]

Book page with a paragraph describing woman with a good personality

reddit.com Report

#8

This Made My Breasts Frown

Book page with a paragraph describing woman breast

lordeandsaviour Report

Add photo comments
POST
dhejno avatar
Rowlie
Community Member
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

That's Not How Any Of This Works

Book page with a paragraph describing woman being aroused

menwritewomen Report

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

“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)

Book page with a paragraph describing woman looking at herself in the mirror

menwritewomen Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
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?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman talking about college girls d

isapphic Report

#12

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman telling about herself

menwritewomen Report

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman breast

alexis_writes1 Report

Add photo comments
POST
dhejno avatar
Rowlie
Community Member
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman nipples and lips

Professor_Owl Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

This Whole Book Has Both My Eyes And My Boobs Rolling

Book page with a paragraph describing woman breast

icomebearingpoop Report

#16

Be Horrified With The Rest Of Us

Book page with a paragraph describing woman appearance

meganaderr Report

Add photo comments
POST
lordmysticlaw avatar
Lord Mysticlaw
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

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

Book page with a paragraph describing Ambers' appearance

menwritewomen Report

#20

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman eyes

menwritewomen Report

#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)

Book page with a paragraph describing woman appearance

menwritewomen Report

#22

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman and man being intimate

menwritewomen Report

Add photo comments
POST
lordmysticlaw avatar
Lord Mysticlaw
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman legs

menwritewomen Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#25

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman body

inquisitorial_25 Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

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

Book page with a paragraph describing son talking about his moms' appearance

sadhairahcaz Report

#27

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman breast

menwritewomen Report

Add photo comments
POST
lordmysticlaw avatar
Lord Mysticlaw
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#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!

Book page with a paragraph describing woman breast

KathrynEvansInk Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

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

Book page with a paragraph describing woman breast

GodfreyCrane Report

Add photo comments
POST
cherylchilds avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

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?