How can I write a sexually perverted villain without seeming creepy myself?

[SeekerOfTruth007]

In Chapter 3 of my book, a young male superhuman is using his superpowers to spy on and harass women in the women's shower and locker room at College. The heroes identify that the woman is being stalked, and set out to find the perpetrator, who happens to be a mutant male capable of Invisibility.

First of all, is this too cliche?

Secondly, do I come across as perverted for inventing a perverted villain? Or is this just normal development of villains in fiction? I don't know what to do about this chapter. Maybe leave it out, I don't know.

[msc545]

No, that premise is not inherently cliché, and no, creating a voyeuristic or sexually inappropriate villain does not make you appear perverted as an author.

A few thoughts:

Is it cliché?
The basic concept—a male villain using invisibility to spy on women—is very familiar. Readers have seen variations of it for decades because invisibility naturally lends itself to privacy violations.

What determines whether it feels cliché is not the crime itself but what you do with it.

For example:

Cliché version: Invisible guy sneaks into women's showers because he's a creep. Heroes catch him. End.
More interesting version: The stalking reveals something larger about the villain's psychology, motivations, or future threat level.
Even stronger version: The heroes initially think they're dealing with a sexual predator, but discover something more complicated or dangerous.
The invisibility power itself almost begs the question: "What happens when someone can violate privacy without consequences?" Exploring that can be compelling.

Does writing this make you look perverted?
Generally, no.

Fiction is full of villains who:

murder people
torture people
stalk people
commit sexual offenses
manipulate children
commit genocide
Readers do not normally assume the author endorses those behaviors.

The important distinction is how the story treats the behavior.

If the narrative clearly presents the conduct as:

invasive,
harmful,
criminal,
and something the heroes are trying to stop,
most readers will simply see it as villain behavior.

Where readers become uncomfortable is when:

the story seems to celebrate it,
the victims exist solely for titillation,
or the camera lingers on the voyeurism more than on the victims' experience and the heroes' response.
A bigger question: Is this the best introduction to a supervillain?
That depends on what role he plays later.

If he is:

a one-off predator,
a minor antagonist,
or a character meant to establish that powers can be abused,
then it works fine.

If he is supposed to become a major recurring villain, you might ask whether this is the first impression you want readers to have.

Many recurring villains start with something that demonstrates:

intelligence,
ambition,
ruthlessness,
ideology,
or a unique threat.
A voyeuristic predator can certainly be dangerous, but readers may permanently categorize him as "the creepy invisible shower guy."

That can be difficult to overcome later if you want him to evolve into a major nemesis.

Another possibility
You could broaden the misconduct beyond sexual voyeurism.

For example, an invisible stalker might:

enter dorm rooms,
read private documents,
steal exams,
blackmail students,
plant evidence,
eavesdrop on faculty meetings,
manipulate relationships.
That still creates a strong privacy-violation theme while giving the villain a wider range of malicious behavior.

My assessment
For Chapter 3, I would not remove it simply because you're worried it makes you look perverted.

The more important question is whether the scene serves:

the plot,
the characterization of the villain,
the development of the heroes,
and the overall themes of the story.
If it accomplishes those things, most readers will see it as a villain committing villainous acts—not as a reflection of the author's personal interests.

[Jersey2]

Base it off of a real person and case that gained some notoriety. That way he is the creep and not you personally. Have fun with that.

[AI Opinion]

Writing a sexually perverted villain is common in fiction, so you’re not automatically creepy for using that idea. 😈 The issue is how you handle it. Keep the focus on the fear, violation, and agency of the victims instead of lingering on bodies or “sexy” detail. Show that the narrative clearly condemns his behavior and gives the heroes (and the women) power and consequence.

It is a bit cliché, but clichés can work if you add a unique angle or theme, and avoid turning the scene into fanservice. If the chapter feels exploitative rather than necessary for plot or character, then trimming or reframing it might be better than cutting it entirely.

[SeekerOfTruth007]

Each chapter in this book is its own standalone story. Although some of the chapters are related to one another and they are chronological too, this chapter introduces a villain who isn't seen again for some time in the main arc.

[NathanDavis]

you have to assume it in order to write it... lol

[oldman26]

Why worry, just write

[SeekerOfTruth007]

One of the issues I'm addressing in the chapter is the fact sex crimes would DEFINITELY be an even bigger problem if people had superpowers. I'm not just writing this to be creative nor perverted in my own self.

[oldman26]

Go for it, it is just a story