To think all female children’s authors should write books with girls in

[Bigmango]

I find it so depressing how many children’s books feature only boys or at least boys in the main role. I recently read a book about pirates to my daughter where every one of the four main characters was a boy (for absolutely no reason - it would have made no difference to the storyline if one or more were girls). I was then shocked to realise the author was a woman. As a female children’s author, wouldn’t you see it as your job to try and redress the balance a bit?

It's not the job of a writer to correct historical imbalances.

@Writersblock2 thanks for the insight. That makes lots of sense. Why is it though that women seem to find it so much easier to get into the head of a male character than vice versa? Again I’d assume it’s because we’ve had to (jn order to get our work sold).

And yes I’m well aware there are exceptions but you have to admit that way more women will write male protagonists than the other way around.

@hazell42 why not? Who else will?

Eva Ibbotson had some great female protagonists.

I write, and have slightly more stories with male protagonists than female, though they are very diverse in other ways. I think that as I grew up with male friends, then went into a career where I was often the only female, I find it easier to write male society. I'm aware of my bias though and try to balance it, both on the individual book level (making sure the females are strong characters, even if secondary), and by questioning myself, does x character have to be male, when writing.

@NoSquirrels I don’t want my daughter to only read or be read books written in the last 5 years. In fact one of the year 6 reading criteria is to compare fiction across different time periods. But this means being exposed to mainly male protagonists therefore ensuring there are more than enough female protagonists in modern fiction means than hopefully she will end up with a 50/50 exposure.

I have to serve my story, not a particular agenda, no matter how worthy it may be.
My last novel had a male protagonist.
The novel I am currently writing is narrated by a male but the 3 main characters are women. But i cannot write on a quota system.
If you tried to write like that it would make for horrible fiction, the sort of thing you get in infomercials where the message is more important than the story. You can always tell.
There is a diverse range of books available, written by writers who are serving a diverse range of stories. It's up to you to pick the ones that you feel will inspire you, or your class.

For a not-new book on the same lines - my copy of Bill's New Frock by Anne Fine arrived this morning. All about a boy who wakes up one day and is a girl. He's made to wear a pink dress and go to school and the book talks about all the things that are different for him. I've not read it yet so can't comment too much on the story but it has great reviews and was written in 1989!

Ok, another whinge...

I also object to the idea that I should write purely strong female characters.

I have strong women, ambitious ones, gentle ones, moody ones. And the same for men.

How do you expect women to be respected if they are only respected if they fulfil a certain 'strong woman' archetype? More bullshit, IMO. One of my most difficult characters to write is a very gentle woman, who very easily gets swept up by stronger characters. But she's probably the only character who doesn't do anything wrong the entire series.

@thecatsthecats

Couldn't agree more

@GruntBaby interesting to hear how you decide on the sex of your protagonist. What is it that boys can do differently to girls that would make you write a male lead? (Not trying to be goady - genuinely interested).

The secondary strong female role doesn’t help address the balance in my eyes though - that’s what women have always been doing in film and literature.

@thecatsthecats when did I say they had to be strong? (Though generally heroes and heroines in children’s literature do have to have some kind of strength to defeat the baddies...)

It yes totally agree - there should be more sensitive characters, more introverts. In short there should way more characters that aren’t confident, strong, white, males. I was just focussing on sex here but totally valid point.

Oops *gender

@Blatherskite Anne Fine is a legend!

You are absolutely right. I can’t believe so many people here don’t seem to agree. As women it is our duty to further the cause of female empowerment. No one else is going to do this for us. It’s a real struggle to find books and tv shows with an equal gender balance and even harder to find them with lead female characters. Female authors have a duty to lead the way in this.

Julia Donaldson seems to prefer a male lead character for some reason.

I wasn't responding to you specifically, but to multiple others on the thread, and the general trend in literature to valorise strong females in writing.

I can't answer for @GruntBaby, but as I've said - my characters pop into my head fully formed, as does the start of their story. In fact I knew within minutes that my female lead had twin older brothers, a younger sister and brother, was her father's favourite, her only real friend being a wealthy but reserved girl, that her hair was brown... for me, it's very quick, and intuitive.

As women it is our duty to further the cause of female empowerment. No one else is going to do this for us. It’s a real struggle to find books and tv shows with an equal gender balance and even harder to find them with lead female characters. Female authors have a duty to lead the way in this.

Right. Ok. I'm not disagreeing with you. As you can probably tell, I've given this plenty of thought.

But please, please give some thought to what I and other writers have said on this thread - it's not as simple as deciding to sit down and write good female characters.

Maybe authors are the wrong ones to target here. Publishers? Those who choose books for schools? Editors?

Leave me out of it is all I'm saying - I write the characters that come to me!

I don’t want my daughter to only read or be read books written in the last 5 years. In fact one of the year 6 reading criteria is to compare fiction across different time periods. But this means being exposed to mainly male protagonists therefore ensuring there are more than enough female protagonists in modern fiction means than hopefully she will end up with a 50/50 exposure.

Yes. I think we’re saying the same thing, aren’t we?

In the past, the bias was for more male protagonists. There are historical reasons for this - gatekeepers, primarily: editors, publishers, agents etc.

Now, there are absolutely LOADS of female protagonists written by brilliant female authors. Good.

There’s also loads of older books with great female characters too, although less of them.

You can’t compel writers to write to order. It’s simply not possible. I think choosing to write a male character is fine if you’re a female author- it’s about balance in the narrative not just who the ‘lead’ is. Quite often - as with Harry Potter - the ‘hero’ is not the heart and soul of the story, imo, particularly in children’s books.

Ok so maybe the answer then is getting more male authors to write female protagonists (at least in children’s books - adult books..hmm yeah dunno). Women seem to have mastered developing male characters of both genders (because = patriarchy). Men, not so much (because they haven’t had to I assume).

YANBU to think it would be better if there were more books with girl main characters but you are being v v unreasonable if you think authors should write ‘the right thing’ instead of what is most likely to sell.

The average full time author makes £12k per year. Books with male central characters sell much better than books with female central characters. (JK Rowling has said this is why she chose to have a male protagonist and make the girl the sidekick.)

Authors are trying to make a living to support their families.

In short there should way more characters that aren’t confident, strong, white, males.

You’ll find the trend is entirely the opposite way at the moment. I assure you, if you write a book with a strong, white, male ‘hero’ right now, you’re at an actual disadvantage in selling your children’s book. Diversity is pretty much publishing’s watchword right now.

I haven't noticed that trend.

Why do women also mostly write Male protagonists? Same reason as why females are invariably preoccupied with pleasing daddy then later getting a boyfriend/husband - females are socialised to put the needs of males first: their fathers, their brothers, their husbands and then their sons. Look at how boys vs girls are raised (stereotypically). Look at what the “ideal” girl is meant to be like vs boy.

@thecatsthecats, yes I should have made clear that my characters come to me, I don't construct them from the ground up. And I think my background is why men tend to come to me more. Main characters either come to me as alive as a real person, with traits and history, or sometimes they develop organically out of the themes and setting which can lead to them being a certain gender, race, orientation etc.

What I do try to do is interview any character that is white and male, straight and able-bodied, and ask them if they really have to be. Sometimes they will tell me, "well actually..." and I find out a new facet which is often more diverse, sometimes that character's skin colour will change in front of my eyes, or they'll (as in my current WIP) start using sign language. Sometimes they stare me down and tell me that white and male is exactly what they are, and could I kindly piss off and leave them to it.

I think any other writer will agree that you can't force a change on a character, but I think you can ask a character if there's anything they'd like to tell you, and be open to what that might be...

It’s annoying me my autocorrect keeps capitalising male. Oh the irony!