Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and Dini @DiniPandaReads! In this discussion meme, participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Learn more about LTB, past topics and future topics HERE.

Today’s prompt: Underrepresented Types of Female Characters. For the final week of March, here is another Women’s History Month topic! What types of female characters do you want to see more of in fiction? Do you notice certain female character archetypes that you think are used to often? Who are some female characters that inspire you?

This is a very interesting topic of discussion and Happy Friday to you all!!

What types of female characters do you want to see more of in fiction?

Oh, boy. I mean, the list is probably long kilometres at this point, lol! But I will try to narrow it down I promise.

• Women in medicine! Especially more women as HCAs (healthcare assistants), paramedics, phlebotomists, pharmacists, gynaecologists, paediatricians, surgeons, and yeah, you get the idea. So far, I have only encountered FMCs who are some sort of lab assistants, researchers or midwives/nurses. Like hellooo these are not the only jobs females strive for, you know?!
• Female chronic illnesses such as endometriosis, pregnancy complications (preeclampsia, this is so close to me I wish people would talk more about it literally could save lives), lupus (which affects more women than men), fertility issues, mental health issues after pregnancy and not only and so much more! Albino/Heterochromia/vitiligo
• Average girls! Can we please normalise this? Not every single FMC should be a cheerleader, this is not how it works in real life.
• Healthy relationships and friendships! More often than not, I see FMC representation in toxic environments, be it in their love life or their family life. I mean, yes, there definitely are these types of relationships, but for the love of God, this is not the norm. We need to show young/old does not matter what age, women, that life is not only black and grey; there are other colours out there, and by showing positive relationships, people can identify the negative ones they are currently in. I hope this makes sense.
• Mixed races, diverse countries, not the usual ones.
• Women in menopause, early menopause
• FMC, who actually talk girl stuff for once, we don’t just talk about boys and who made us angry and makeup, etc. We talk about our children, our families, our grandparents, our workplace, our ambitions and dreams, about that space article we saw the other day of a new star found, cooking, cross-stitching, reminiscing the past when we were kids, our childhood, how our granny used to teach us how to knit or do that and do this, about our mothers our partners, the list is so long, but I rarely see anything else but the usual boys, makeup clothes and this bitch made me angry cause talk… we are not superficial!
• FMC characters as morticians/funeral directors! I know this might sound eery, but only recently, I stumbled upon a non-fiction book where the author herself talks about her job of arranging council funerals. This is a very interesting and meaningful profession.
• Women artists, pottery, illustrators, embroidery, jewellery makers, so many others! Stop with the usual painter it is boring already! I’m not against the profession, lol; I myself paint, but c’mon, there are so many branches in the art industry!!
• Women firefighters! Lawyers, judges, paralegals
• Women as pilots/astronauts/ship captains/sports coaches/pirates
• New moms, mothers with babies/toddlers

I warned you the list is way too long, but I will stop here since I feel these are the main topics I wish I see more often, if ever, in a book.

Do you notice certain female character archetypes that you think are used to often?

Absolutely yes! And not in a good, yes, way!
Women are always and I mean ALWAYS represented as follows:

• Librarians!

Really? Every second, FMC must be a librarian or work in a library/bookshop! Nothing wrong with that, but really?! It pisses me to no end. Time to switch things a bit!

• Midwives/nurses… do I have to add anything else here?
• Nannies!! Every second thriller! Lol
• Teachers
• Housewives
• The bossy boss
• That bitch that only cares about superficial stuff
• Cheerleaders
• The girl next door
• The rebel/outcast
• A strong and independent woman who needs no man, no other human being (lol, this cracks me up every time, it is so unrealistic I laugh couldn’t be further from the truth)
• The sister, mother, etc
• Journalists

Who are some female characters that inspire you?

1. Lila Bard from A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

2. Hazel Grace from The Fault in our Stars by John Green

3. Sarai from Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

4. Allie Hamilton from The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

5. Diana Bishop from A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
6. The foster mother from Foster by Clair Keegan

I think I will wrap it up here, haha, let me know if you agree with me and share your take on this!