Discussion Guy Vs. Girl MC

Discussion in 'Novel General' started by Humeniuk, Apr 2, 2017.

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  1. Humeniuk

    Humeniuk Well-Known Member

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    I feel like in this thread I'll be threading a fine line between not knowing anything and subconscious misogyny; but I'm a big fan of all the "trashy" novels most people seem to hate. Y'know the story setup of an arrogant young master being battered by the MC, followed by slightly higher up young masters all the way until ignorant clan heads are being thoroughly destroyed by the badass lead.

    Sooo, I've seen a few novels like Poison Genius Consort, Evil Emperor's Wild Consort and Poisoning the World that seem like the same type of novel but with a female MC, and I realised I've NEVER read any novels with a female MC; I was wondering if anybody had any opinions? Are they the same as the likes of MGA, PMG, MW etc; are they better? are they worse?
     
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  2. Parth37955

    Parth37955 NU #3, [Dead Inside], Mid-Boss, Dark Dealer Staff Member

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    uh...different genre mate. there's no real comparison.

    uh...in CN josei rebirth novels, the MC (female) tends to be trash and/or ugly (but now beautiful) and has a bunch of jealous sisters/stepmothers...it's has it's own batch of cliques.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2017
  3. Hunta

    Hunta shameless

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    i just wondered how guys who read josei novels can relate. like am i missing something here?
     
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  4. Basara

    Basara [Cat and co.] [Nyan] [Furry and Fluffy]

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    Most of the time female mc would be targeting females. I've read a few. Some are decent. Some have the most cringiest ""romance"" I've seen.
     
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  5. OverlyFriendly

    OverlyFriendly I should do something about

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    After reading so many CN female mc novels i find it very hard to distinguish between them
     
  6. DeathStroke96

    DeathStroke96 『President of Sindria Trading Co.』『Uncle』『GOD』

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    tbh i was just going to say how almost all the female mc xianxia i have read have been very similar but Parth beat me to it...
    also is it just or is every female reincarnator an assassin that died because a grenade appeared out of nowhere?
     
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  7. Blique

    Blique Well-Known Member

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    Female leads in that kind of setting are typically sly and eloquent. Asserting power and dominance directly is looked down upon in social etiquette, so they have to constantly pay attention to every single thing they say and do. In addition, the rules back then were "A woman has no power without a man. Marry a powerful husband, stay his favorite even as he gains other wives and concubines, and make sure to give birth to a son, who will be the man you rely on in the future." So, almost all of the stories involve the female MC having a prince/king-class fiance, husband, or love interest. In ancient China, there's no way to "work your way up" for women other than marrying someone powerful (though, you can still gain a name for yourself so that you can attract the attentions of said person).

    In other words, prepare for romance. And there are no harems really; there might be a lot of guys who like the MC, but they never get anywhere with her. Plus the male lead is more often than not super possessive about her interactions with other guys, and the MC herself is typically uninterested/oblivious to their affections anyway.
     
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  8. GuldTasken

    GuldTasken Well-Known Member

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    Hmm, I guess a female MC is harder to relate to as a Male in real life. At least, that is my sensation. I do not understand the potential thinking a woman might exhibit compared to a male.

    Men are simple creatures. Women are more complex. That is our current human structure and thinking. So, being a simple creature as I am, I cannot relate to the thinking of a woman as well as a man.
     
  9. Reddu

    Reddu Well-Known Member

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    I, myself, read those novels more because they contain more romance, unlike some other cultivation novels. The schemes and plot seems to be also somewhat more deeper than in Male Protagonist novels. (In my opinion).

    But now it's just that "thing" in TL corners, so there is more of that kind flooding NU.
     
  10. sinyueliang

    sinyueliang 『World Traveller』『Demon Slayer』『Hinokami』

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    Sometimes it's the same, but it's guaranteed to be a lot more romance heavy than those CN novels with male MC. To top it off, often times it won't be reverse harem, but have one specific love interest (normally possessive guy). The female MCs also tend to be more cunning, but there are sometimes when they'll use their strength (which can also include, say, their talent in like poisons or medicine, which is a fairly common setup) - it's just not as often as in CN novel with those male MC.

    It's a bit different, but the essence of beating down those people who look down on them is roughly the same? So satisfactory face slapping is still included.
     
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  11. H0RR1BL3CPU

    H0RR1BL3CPU [Hotline to Shiroyukineko] [白酒鬼]

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    Just you. Some get thrown off cliffs or buildings others get betrayed. But yep pretty much all assassins
     
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  12. Bikersmoke

    Bikersmoke Well-Known Member

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    I cant get into novels, or games with a female MC.
     
  13. Ishmael

    Ishmael 『Night Owl』『Butler』『Traveller』

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    Read My disciple died yet again I promise it´s good stuff'~
     
  14. Blique

    Blique Well-Known Member

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    It's mostly just a social thing. Guys are more or less allowed to do what they want, while girls have more restrictions and have to mind their actions more. Basically, guys are encouraged to be successful, girls are encouraged to be pretty and elegant in order to attract a successful guy. This, of course, is outdated, but can still be seen in stuff like how often girls are encouraged to marry young while they're "still pretty and can have kids", not to mention all the beauty standard stuff. Anyway, this results in the complexity you mention.

    And it's not that guys can't relate to female characters. If you look at all the Hollywood movies, 90% have male protagonists, yet the majority of film-goers are female. Women had to adapt because men rule over what the content is in most media (*cough*videogamecharacters*cough*). It's just that most guys don't really care to learn what girls have to deal with in order to navigate through society, and that's why they "can't relate" to a female character.

    Since I was raised with all these standards (seriously, I couldn't eat a frickin plate of spaghetti at Applebees without being told I won't attract any men unless I use the elegant "twirl, lift, and bite" method), I find it a lot more rewarding to read about female leads who jump through all those hoops without breaking a sweat. She's an underdog who is constantly looked down upon as less than a man, but still transcends expectations and shows them up. I guess it's just really gratifying and validating.

    Also, try Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? She's a pretty simple girl. Those types exist too.
     
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  15. Avil

    Avil Well-Known Member

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    Agreed, both female and male MC have a lot of boring and stupid cliches but the victimism most female characters are made of is simply disturbing, while it's common for both F/M MC to suffer from tragic past and events during their adventure female MCs take that victimism up to eleven.
     
  16. Ishmael

    Ishmael 『Night Owl』『Butler』『Traveller』

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    If you like Kumo then go check out Empress with no virtue~ got a nose bleed from that one and lung cancer from laughing too much~
     
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  17. Blique

    Blique Well-Known Member

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    Err...Only male MCs pop up in my head when I think of victimization...Which female MCs do you think of?
     
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  18. xalienxgamerx

    xalienxgamerx Mmm friend...

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    The CN novels with female MC's currently being translated all seem to be on the level of poorly written smut novels, therefore I can't get into them.
     
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  19. Avil

    Avil Well-Known Member

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    Every female MC I have ever seen is like that, every guy wants to rape her other girls hate her for her beauty and charisma or simply hate her, too much drama and victimism.
    It's true that a lot of male MC have special destinies and dead parents but they rarely drown in their own misery and find other characters that accept them, they are victims but also aggressors while female MCs are almost 100% victims.
     
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  20. Blique

    Blique Well-Known Member

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    Okay but like...which female MCs do you think of? I dunno what you're reading. I can't think of any female MCs that fit that specific criteria. At least, none that come from a decent novel. Maybe you're reading bad josei? o_O Like were you in a smutty genre area or something? 'Cause those areas can be vast and are meant to be shallow/plotless. Like ecchi harem porn stuff.
     
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