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Something I've Notice
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Something I've Notice
Something I've Noticed in Literature~ Just Me Thinking Out Loud
OK, so I was reading this book called Michael Vey this morning (which is a relatively popular, YA book, at least where I live), and I noticed something that I've been noticing a lot in books. When introducing characters, male characters are often described first by their personality, talents, or backstory, while female introductions almost always are centered around looks.
For example, these are paragraphs taken straight from the book:
...Ostin Liss, who is one of the smartest kids in the universe. Ostin's name looks European or something, but it isn't. His mom named him that because he was born in Austin, Texas. It was his private curse that she had spelled it wrong. I suspect that Ostin was adopted, because I couldn't figure out how someone so smart could come from someone who couldn't spell the name of the city she lived in...
...Taylor Ridley, who sat in the desk to my left, turned and smiled at me. Taylor is a cheerleader and one of the prettiest girls at Meridian. Heck, she's one of the prettist girls in any high school anywhere in the world. She has a face that could be on the cover of a beauty magazine, long, light brown hair, and big brown eyes the color of maple syrup...
I understand that describing people's looks is important and necessary, but seriously? It's just kind of getting annoying, having the first impression of a character be 'oh she has such beautiful eyes' instead of describing her fiery attitude or soft demeanor, her nervous finger-tapping or what kind of music you can hear through her headphones. Much more than half of the CB is female, so you know girls are so much more than looks. I want books to start teaching that.
What are your thoughts on this? Somebody said they wanted a debate thread, well, here's a topic to debate on.
submitted by Bluebird
(May 7, 2017 - 9:59 pm)
(May 7, 2017 - 9:59 pm)
I completely agree with you, Bluebird! Have you seen Emma Watson talking about this? I love Emma Watson! Even aside from being an amazing actress, and being just like Hermione, she speaks on feminism, and equal rights for everyone. I agree with almost everything she says.
(May 7, 2017 - 11:45 pm)
(May 7, 2017 - 11:45 pm)
I agree, Bluebird. Much more than half of the CB is female, and-correct me if I'm wrong- much more than half of those girls care nothing whatsoever about their looks. And they don't need to- they're all amazing, funny, creative people.
Okay, I'm done.
(May 8, 2017 - 6:35 am)
I think some girls on the CB, including myself, do care about their looks. I wear makeup, and style my hair, and other stuff like that, but my point is that while it's OK to describe looks, it's not OK for that to be all the character is, or to only focus on that. Even stuck-up, bully drama queens in books have to have some personality, even if it is them turning up their nose to everyone. I don't know, I'm kind of just thinking out loud here.
(May 8, 2017 - 3:40 pm)
Some girls do, and that's perfectly fine! But what I mean is, you don't need to.
(May 8, 2017 - 4:57 pm)
Is this from a boy's point of vew or girl's...sounds male.
I agree, a lot of YA does that....I'm not sure why, it gets annoying... @Admins...have you ever read anything like this? Do you know why authors write like this?
To be honest, I've never really thought about this or noticed it. I just started a new book yesterday, and the first characters introduced were not first described by looks. However, in a few pages, the only visual description I remember about either of them is that the man has shaggy hair and a beard. I've not read a visual description of the woman yet.
I don't really know why authors might do this. I can propose that maybe it's because there is a greater variety of clothing and hair styles for women, and authors think a visual description tells something about the woman's characteristics and acitivities. ??
Admin
(May 8, 2017 - 6:00 pm)
I'm a female, if that's what you're asking.
(May 8, 2017 - 8:15 pm)
No, I meant that description from the book. Sorry. I know you are female :)
(May 9, 2017 - 1:35 pm)
Thanks Admin!
(May 9, 2017 - 1:33 pm)
Yep, it's definately a problem. This is why feminism needs to exist, people! Anyway, I can suggest some books that are more equal if you'd like!
(May 8, 2017 - 6:08 pm)
And when I meet Thomas Jefferson? I'm gonna compel him to include women in the sequel, WORK!
Bluebird, if this is from a schoolboy's point of view, they tend to describe girls by their looks.
But it happens so much, and it isn't right.
Challenge--find an example of this in a book (I can find a few in Cricket, but luckily those are followed by personality descriptions)
(May 8, 2017 - 7:42 pm)
I've noticed this too!!! I reccomend looking up some Emma Watson quotes about the power of females, because she is wonderful.
(May 9, 2017 - 10:07 am)
I hadb't noticed that, but I do think there might be more to it then that people think looks matter more than personailty for girls. In the example you gave, the boy is known for being smart, and I feel like the girl might be known for being pretty. I also feel like the narrator might like the girl, and if he likes her for her looks than that would be what he thought of first.
(May 9, 2017 - 12:20 pm)
Well, the paragraphs from the book you're describing are told from a guy's point of view, right? So perhaps thinking of guys by their skills/personality and girls by their appearance is just part of his (simplistic) way of looking at the world. Not that most guys think that way. But I think it's part of his narrating style.
(May 9, 2017 - 1:13 pm)