Do Well-Written Female Protagonists Outshine Boring Male Protagonists?

The gender of a character plays a minor role in their overall interestiness. What truly defines a character's likability and engagement is the writer's ability to craft a well-rounded, multi-dimensional protagonist with compelling personality traits, a rich backstory, and relatable behaviors.

The True Measures of Interest

A protagonist's sex is often the least interesting aspect of their character. What truly matters are their personality flaws, skills, history, sense of humor, interactions with other characters, and how they approach challenges. These elements create a dynamic and engaging narrative.

For instance, in Terry Pratchett's Equal Rites, the protagonist, Eskarina, is the first and only female wizard on the Discworld. Her gender sets the stage for an intriguing narrative, but it is not the most interesting element of her character. Eskarina's unique magic, her journey to the Unseen University, and her interactions with the set-in-their-ways wizards are what truly captivate the reader.

Well-Written vs. Boring Protagonists

Well-Written Female Protagonists: When a female protagonist is well-written, she can shine, often outshining even male protagonists. The quality of her character development, dialogue, and narrative arc can make her stand out. However, this still hinges on the writer's skill. If the female protagonist is poorly written, she may not be as interesting as a well-written male counterpart.

Boring Protagonists: Whether male or female, a boring protagonist will always be uninteresting. The gender of a character does not alleviate the need for compelling storytelling.

Comparison of Well-Written Protagonists: If both a male and female protagonist are well-written, they are equally interesting. The focus should be on storytelling quality, not the character's gender.

Comparison of Boring Protagonists: If both a male and female protagonist are boring, they are equally uninteresting. The issue lies in the lack of quality storytelling.

Gender as a Red Herring

If a reader's sole interest in a protagonist is based on their gender, it suggests a lack of depth in character development. Even as a porn flick, engaging characters are necessary. If a story focuses solely on the protagonist's gender without developing their personality and story arc, it risks falling flat.

The takeaway is that well-written protagonists, regardless of gender, are fascinating. It is the quality of their character and the narrative that truly captivates an audience.