Do you hate weak male characters?

Question

i am a writer, my writing has always been praised for standing out and being creative. But I notice that people seem to streer clear from a weak male character. I've had friends ( black friends) who hated my male characters because they were not traditionally masculine. Now typically the black man would be the tough one or the fighter, instead I'd make a black male character the short, sweet one. He isn't masculine at all, in fact he loves flowers and wants to be a doctor. He has no fighting skills and the people around him protected him from danger a few times. Most guys, hate males like this. Most people like reading about more masculine men or a basketball player. I don't see why a male character that isn't all that masculine is hated so much, but I mainly notice that black people tend to hate characters like this and prefer either violent stupid characters, or traditionally manly characters. But female characters can have a bunch of different personalities and no one cares. Why do we hate weak male characters but love and support weak and girly female characters?

ak666 · Accepted Answer

The dichotomy isn't necessarily between classic and strong male archetypes and delicate, emotional ones.

The heroic male archetype is usually boring and one-dimensional anyway. They're too flawless. I often found the villains more interesting than the heroes in stories like that since the villain might actually be easier to relate to than the hero.

An example of a very delicate and emotional type of male character I can relate to in some degree is Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones:

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Even though it's set in a totally fantasy universe, he's the type of character you can see traces of in real males growing up (perhaps not that extreme, but enough to relate to him in some way and believe a character like this could actually exist). Because of that, it's actually rather easy to strongly dislike him in a very vivid way as though he actually exists. He's basically a spoiled and egotistical bully: highly emotional, highly sensitive, but not the slightest bit empathetic towards others with a sadistic side.

A character that's much more difficult to relate to whatsoever is Ramsay Snow. He's just completely psychotic and sadistic. He doesn't seem sensitive in any way whatsoever. He barely feels emotions of a kind that a normal person can actually relate towards with the exception of perhaps his complex of being a bastard.

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As a result, he's too extreme of a character for most of us to empathize with in any way. Few have probably met anyone even remotely resembling him. He's not monstrous, he's just a monster. There's little resembling "humanity" in him. He's very different from Joffrey in this regard, though not necessarily a poorly-written character since he's just meant to be this terrifying force of chaos. The point isn't necessarily for us to relate to him in any way.

If you take a male and give him no fighting skills whatsoever, that doesn't necessarily alienate audiences. A majority of real males fit this criteria. However, to survive in a harsh world, they might develop other skills that allow them to thrive.

They might become humorous pacifists that everyone likes or manipulative people who get others to fight on their behalf. They might spread rumors, become masters of deceit, something to this effect. There's usually something they develop to compensate for their lack of fighting skills if they grew up in a hostile environment.

FýrdracaDócincel · Accepted Answer

I like diversity, though it has to be within the realm of reality.

I find that most really masculine characters are very "cookie-cutter" in how they're shaped. For example, I don't see a whole lot of laid-back and easy going "alpha male" types. Most of those alpha male characters are extremely serious, always business, always so uptight.

If there's an alpha male who DOES have a more "go with the flow" style, he's usually falling into the "Damon Salvatore" category of killing this person and that person at a whim "just because, boredom."

And I think that's a real shame because I can potentially think up plenty of ways a very dominant male character can be created without falling into the perceived "masculine extremes." When it comes to male heroes in literature, I feel there's definitely a lot of unexplored grey area that really should be covered.
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So, to answer your question, do I hate weak male characters? Honestly, I kinda do. I'm not going to pretend that I look at really weak guys and not get a little disgusted inside.

But I also don't like the current idea of what the masculine hero is "supposed to" be. There's a fine line between "simply having a formula to it" and "having a mile-long list of, often quite conditional, regulations that must be followed to the letter."

EmoKate97 · Accepted Answer

OP i'm going to tell you something different.

The fact that you're asking this is a sign of bad writing. Yes, you have to be self aware, yes snowflake characters are dull and hateable-limpwristed-villain number 1066# characters are boring but overall its your job as a creative writer to find the balance. This isn't a vote A / vote B answer, its a up to you to weight everything down and criticize yourself if you're going overboard.

"Most people like reading about more masculine men or a basketball player."
I don't even believe this but giving you the benefit of the doubt i'd say you're absolutely missing the point. People who read usually have a non-interest for sports, its nothing to do with being a basketball player its ALWAYS about the players backstory, his struggles or his luxury life. Your black friends probably don't give a shit about reading in all honestly.

You don't make characters based on what others like to see, make it based on what you think is interesting or the story you want to tell. People don't know what they want sadly.

"but I mainly notice that black people tend to hate characters like this and prefer either violent stupid characters"
Again, don't take this the wrong way but i find it hard to believe this is your audience. It really takes a rare, and i mean RARE friend to actually critic another's writing. Those are what comics are for, real readers fucking HATE stupid characters and unnecessary violence without meaning. You shouldn't ask you friends to read your work because its very likely wouldn't ever pick up a book themselves and are forcing themselves to get interested in reading for the sake of doing you a favor.

alice55 · Accepted Answer

I like male character that are strong but weak at the same time. It's hard to explain but like he have a very hard past, show weakness (is confuse, have identity crisis stuff like that) or the bullied / rejected guy who go savage.

I like character like Red hood, Arkham Knight, the son of Sammo Law in the show Martial law, Green Goblin / Harry Osborn (They're strong physically but have weakness, mental ill problem).
Andrew Detmer too in Chronicle is cool, he's the bullied kids who after get his power get a bit insane.

I like reading about "weak" male character but generally when it's about their mental more then their body. I don't really know if we can call that "weak" I think it's more of a "broken" "disturbed" mind than really weak.

Joonam · Accepted Answer

I don't like reading books where the female character is the strongest one. I enjoyed Hunger Games though but because even though she was strong, the guys were also strong.

I prefer the male character to be protective one even if he is weak.

oddwaffle · Answer

That depends. Most people hate weak willed characters rather than physically weak characters.

You know, in Japanese stereotype characters, you can have a slick, long hair, womanizer who is extremely feminine. It's a normal side kick character. Usually there would be a story to why a guy could end up like that.

I think the perfect example of a seemingly weak guy with a strong heart would be Waldo Butters in The Dresden Files. The guy is a nerd who is so shy he has a doctor's degree but ended up as a mortician. Short, bald, fat and likes polka. Has a cartridge with a MEEP MEEP plate. He is a normal human in a world of supernatural. Zombies, wizards, werewolves, dragons and all the terror. Somehow, this guy makes it even though he cries, fainted, get beaten and peed himself but he didn't give up. He would hold his ground against a zombie horde for a friend.

The guy ended up with a sexy, kick ass werewolf girlfriend and holds the most terrifying skull of knowledge (even though they only talk about starswars since they are both nerds).

0112358 · Answer

Personally I like reading about them all. And could find all likeable as individuals.

Your key observation was 'female characters can have a bunch of different personalities and nobody cares". I think this is true and doesn't pertain to just stories.

The rules for masculinity are much stricter on personality than are the rules for femininity. The rules for women regarding appearance are stricter.

Women can be strong or weak, feminine or tomboys, sarcastic or delicate. As long as they are -ultimately- good hearted and pretty they are liked.

Men have lower requirements for looks and good heartedness but better be emotionally tough and capable of handling difficult situations or they're garbage.

Crapulux · Answer

Well, I'm French.

We had Marcel Proust and Chateaubriand. Both wrote about the inner ramblings of weak and romantic males mostly worried about the first world problems of the time. And both created masterpieces of literature.

mermaid175 · Answer

if the development is there for it and it makes sense then go for it. I think the gender construct that men are strong is hard for people to get over in books and movies so kudos for trying because it's hard.

Aizou · Answer

Good question. I'd assume it's because they want to be able to relate to the character, and don't like to see themselves as being "weak". Personaly, I prefer an adventure in which the protagonist starts with nothing, or close to nothing and has to work his or her way up. But then again, my favourite books has female leads.

Paris13 · Answer

Yes. Blocked One, hun, Recently on Here who had Blue Balls and All, but also a Big Mouth... He went South. xx

Mr-Kabuki · Answer

Here's why. The male hero archetype is exciting and it's usually not common in real life. People want stories about things that excite them and things that are out of this world. Nobody wants a boring ordinary type of person. Unless that boring ordinary type of person goes through a tradegdy or obstacle, that helps him develop and grow stronger.

ra7mea7 · Answer

It depends on the story. The character has to fit the story. say for a action based story you might want a strong manly man type. however for another story a shy more feminine male character might work better. as a writer you want your stories to be interesting and believeable. for example if you have a weak male character attempting to save the world it wouldn't work very well.

Anonymous · Answer

It has nothing to do with masculinity. I don't like weak and whiny characters period.

Pomegranate139 · Answer

I like your Arthur character. He's different and like you stated above, that makes him more interesting.

Bananaqueen1 · Answer

It's all about preferences Because it looks pathetic for a guy to be like that in my opinion. A girl should have her strengths but i prefer the guy to do most of the savings and stuff. it's just how I like it.

Sabsies · Answer

I think it depends on the story really, but if you can pull it off and make it work then I'm not against it at all. It almost creates an underdog story. The only trouble is actually making it work.

fauchelevent · Answer

I dislike weak and boring characters, regardless of gender.

Zendrya · Answer

As long as your character is portrayed well it is fine by me

MamaMax · Answer

As long as a character is well written ans likable, everyone should like that character it's their problem if they don't.

Imhotep99 · Answer

I don't hate weak male characters. Frodo Baggins from LOTR was weak but he had a different kind of strength in him.

Rish1995 · Answer

Every single person has strong & lovable side. I find that and love all the creature.

lovelylia · Answer

I like the mysterious kind or bad boy, but I wouldn't mind him being quiet or shy.

WriterAndPainter · Answer

Weakness isn't necessarily a bad thing for a character. It leaves room for empowerment and becoming who the book wants him to be

aaj_08 · Answer

Nah... I'm actually into guys that can be protected or needs help constantly. I think they are cute.

Anonymous · Answer

i dont like weak male characters due to virtue signalling reasons.

Anonymous · Answer

i don't hate nor like it

WhiteQueenn · Answer

Strong is the best

jacquesvol · Answer

I don't hate.

dogfish · Answer

no <3

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