Update: While this poll remains open (heck, why not?) I’ve posted a new one called “Design Your Own Heroine“. Take the poll! Be heard! How should a female lead act, look, think?
Literary heroines are everywhere these days. From Anastasia Steele to Katniss Everdeen, books are filled with more multi-faceted, complex women than ever before. Yet even while we celebrate these female protagonists, there remains a shortage of leadership role models in literature. Action heroines are either troubled, sexy loners, or they’re calling the shots in alternative realities like Snow White and the Huntsman or Hunger Games. What is missing in today’s most popular genre, thrillers, is a real-world woman leader who’s as tough in the boardroom as she is on the battlefield.
Or is she really missing?
July has seen two significant posts on the topic of how women are portrayed in fiction. The recent controversial posting on The PassiveVoice complaining that women were not portrayed well was preceded by a top ten list on Flavorwire. Those posts incited some rather vehement comments.
So I figured, why not throw gasoline on that fire? Got matches?
Rather than debate whether Katniss Everdeen was portrayed as incapable of making a romantic decision while reluctantly leading a revolution, I figured: Let’s vote for who is our favorite heroine. Please comment with your raw opinion on what makes a great heroine.
BTW: I’m giving away a signed copy of Jeffery Deaver’s XO to a new subscriber (upper right corner of page) drawn at random!
