Writing Meta rec: the Bechdel Test: mechanical approaches
Fandom's just getting over the brouhaha about all female characters=stereotypes and stereotypes=bad, and here's ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hradzka pointing out that the problem isn't stock characters (what might also be called stereotypes), the problem is how they are used and misused, and pointing how this works in practice and how to make the stock characters work for you rather than against. It's a great bit of writing meta, and useful for far more than just his stated aim of how to get more female characters in fic.
The Bechdel Test: Mechanical Approaches
My favorite bit isn't actually the meta itself, it's where he points out that he's not a feminist himself, but he listens to his feminist friends because he doesn't have to agree with people in order to learn how they want to be treated. Boy, do I wish more people realized that.
hradzka pointing out that the problem isn't stock characters (what might also be called stereotypes), the problem is how they are used and misused, and pointing how this works in practice and how to make the stock characters work for you rather than against. It's a great bit of writing meta, and useful for far more than just his stated aim of how to get more female characters in fic.The Bechdel Test: Mechanical Approaches
My favorite bit isn't actually the meta itself, it's where he points out that he's not a feminist himself, but he listens to his feminist friends because he doesn't have to agree with people in order to learn how they want to be treated. Boy, do I wish more people realized that.