Many of the fictional characters we see or read about on a daily basis are created for or by the male gaze. The male versus female gazes have been buzzwords in the literary and entertainment communities lately. Why is that? The male gaze was created by the patriarchy to serve the white, heteronormative male population. Since men controlled all initial entertainment industries, i.e., film, television, and literature, women could only experience culture and art through a male lens. This is why up until the last decade or so women were only portrayed as sex objects or damsels in distress – because men were controlling the narrative. However, since the creation of the BookTok community on the TikTok app, the phenomenon of male fictional characters giving off “written by a woman” energy has taken off – and this is a step in the right direction for gender equality.
First, let’s break down what giving off “written by a woman” energy means. It defines a male fictional character that either identifies as a feminist, or his behavior implies this. This male character is somewhat mature, or at least his opinions of gender equality are ahead of his time and he’s able to express them articulately. When I think of this phrase, the characters that immediately come to mind are Harry Potter, Fezco O’Neill, Mr. Knightley, Four from the Divergent series, Magnus Bane, etc. However, these characters were created at least in part by women so they don’t fit these criteria; the point of the “written by a woman” phenomenon is that the male characters are so progressive and appealing to female readers that it goes against the usual type of characters that men create. With that being said, here are some of the best examples of popular characters that give off “written by a woman” vibes.
Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars franchise
Luke Skywalker is the titular male lead in George Lucas’s original Star Wars trilogy created in the 1980s. While Star Wars hasn’t always been the most progressive franchise, there are aspects of it that are empowering and modern. Usually, feminists focus on praising one of the other main characters, General Leia Organa (and rightfully so!), but Luke also deserves a shoutout. Male sci-fi characters have a long history of exhibiting sexist behaviors, but Luke doesn’t bat an eye when he first meets Leia and does not object when she picks up a gun and joins the fray. I’ve always respected the way Luke admires Leia’s femininity but also immediately trusts her battle instincts and leadership skills.
Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky, is one of those modern male writers that actually create believable female characters yet doesn’t brag about it. You could easily argue that every member of the main friend group in Wallflower is a devout feminist, but Charlie especially gives off “written by a woman” energy. His behaviors are thoughtful, respectful, and honest, and he truly admires all the women in his life. Plus, we cannot help but admire that he loves his friend Sam in a romantic way but doesn’t want to seem creepy about it. Go Charlie!
Chidi Anagonye from The Good Place
If you’ve never watched the hit television series The Good Place (2016 – 2020), what are you doing with your life? Not only has it won multiple Emmys, but the surprising twists and turns are truly out of this world. One of the main characters, Chidi Anagonye, is particularly adorable. Not only is he crazy smart, but his self-doubt is truly relatable. Even though he’s usually the smartest person in the room, he never talks over the other female characters or belittles them. He always acts as a feminist ally and proves that he’s a fair-minded guy time and time again.
Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender
This tv series gets a bad rap as simply being “for kids,” but Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 – 2008) is a cultural touchstone. Not only are real-world issues discussed, i.e., war, discrimination, sexism, and propaganda, but the characters are all beloved. One of the main characters – the antihero Prince Zuko – is a fan favorite for his relatable and personal struggles as well as the way he treats the women around him. He fights in several battles with his sister Azula, his friends Katara and Toph, and even flat-out states that his sister is a more natural, gifted firebender than he’s ever been. Zuko’s character arc is all about humility, but what’s remarkable is that he was already pretty humble and respectful to begin with.
Percy Jackson
Even though the films were lacking, Perseus Jackson has remained Rick Riordan’s greatest contribution to society. Honestly, Logan Lerman did a fantastic job portraying Percy’s selflessness in the films, and this selflessness is one of the main aspects of Percy’s character in the book series. The guy’s fatal flaw is literally how much respect and love he has for his friends, and it’s rare to see a male character display this kind of vulnerability. Not only is Percy confident enough in his masculinity to be in a relationship with feminist icon Annabeth Chase, but fans of the book series love how Percy tries to treat everyone the same, no matter their social status or struggles. Percy Jackson really is a man ahead of his time.
