Women have always had inherent value owing to their ability to birth children. By contrast, men have always had to accrue value unto themselves by their works and deeds. I think this fundamental reality is reflected in our media depictions of male versus female protagonists.
The hero’s journey is essentially the coming-of-age story of boys becoming men via trials and suffering. We become worthy of our stations in life, and our women and our families, through accomplishment and overcoming challenges. Or we fail, and we die, literally or spiritually. Either way, it’s interesting.
Women don’t experience the same climb. They begin the game with tremendous, society-sustaining value. It literally cannot be overstated. It is, however, automatic and requires no effort. There’s no progression or arch or triumph. The only potential for drama is the tragedy that results when a woman squanders her greatest value.
Injecting women into traditionally masculine “hero’s journey” stories is a recipe for boredom. Because women begin the story with all of the value they require to be accepted and promoted by the tribe. Whatever motivations are concocted for these female protagonists are inevitably shallow and pointless. Their arcs are flat and uninspiring. The most they can muster is obnoxious and entitled subversion; they rebel against the “unfair restrictions” placed upon them by nature - as if men are so privileged in their mandatory pain and labor.
I think this theory maps pretty well onto modern girl boss characters. I’m sure it has been explored. Just connecting my own personal dots on this one.
Not just "can't be shown" fucking up; shouldn't be fucking up.
The woman's journey involves avoiding the fuckup in the first place. A man can fuck up and fix it, but when a woman fucks up, in an archetypal sense, she's just screwed.
That's why so many women stories are about realizing inner strength or embracing her own wisdom, rather than learning and growing; a woman's path is laid out for them. They don't need to change. The change happens to them and all they need to do is accept it.
What can a woman become that's better that the progenitor of life for her species, her family, and herself?
Or worse, a woman doesn't need to change. She's already a perfect being, it's the world around her that needs to change and accept her perfection.
Basically the "How many narcissists does it take to change a light bulb?"
One, they just hold it in place and expect the world to revolve around them to screw it in place.
Sort of.
She's going to change, whether she wants to or not. She's going to become valuable without any act of will or sacrifice.
The challenge of women is understanding what this means.
A woman could take this to mean she is perfect and everyone should worship her, but that's a bad idea. Being valuable does not mean you are powerful, rather it actually detracts from your agency and puts a pretty big target on your back. Using your inherent value to play suitors against each other can obtain pretty bad results.
For example, if a woman sleeps with a dozen men and picks the best fuck, it's highly unlikely that she will pick the best man to protect her. Worse yet, the man she picks may not respect her at all given what she values.
It's up to women to set the game properly, to choose for loyalty, competence, social standing, etc, rather than superficial qualities. The men around her must take risks and make sacrifices, but her goal is wisdom and resilience, not courage or strength.