> do you consider how the character would relate to hirself and society as a person of another gender, which tends to change things somewhat?
That's how I look at it. There are certainly women who have male-i-fied themselves to fit into the corporate world-- seen and dealt with many of those, and they usually strike me as rather sad examples of what unqualified ambitious striving will do. Then you got women who play off their sexuality to manipulate men, most of whom are so stupid they fall for it-- even otherwise intelligent men.
But when you change the dynamic and you have mostly women interacting with women, you really do get a different society. Sex comes out of the equation, either denying it or over-emphasizing it, and you get a bunch of personalities interacting in a different many than a set of male personalities would.
I can see the appeal of that for fanfic. All of fiction is a "what if"-- so why should this "what if" be any more or less valid than a "what if" where everyone is gay or has wings or has magical powers or whatever.
no subject
That's how I look at it. There are certainly women who have male-i-fied themselves to fit into the corporate world-- seen and dealt with many of those, and they usually strike me as rather sad examples of what unqualified ambitious striving will do. Then you got women who play off their sexuality to manipulate men, most of whom are so stupid they fall for it-- even otherwise intelligent men.
But when you change the dynamic and you have mostly women interacting with women, you really do get a different society. Sex comes out of the equation, either denying it or over-emphasizing it, and you get a bunch of personalities interacting in a different many than a set of male personalities would.
I can see the appeal of that for fanfic. All of fiction is a "what if"-- so why should this "what if" be any more or less valid than a "what if" where everyone is gay or has wings or has magical powers or whatever.
Interesting discussion. Thanks for posting!