First, the warning label. I'm going to attempt to keep this linear and coherent without turning it into a rant, but I'm fairly agitated and that just might not happen. This is no way targets any specific writer because I have the upmost respect for those who take time without pay and solely love for the fandom to publish their hearts and souls.
Despite my occasional attraction to fiction that exhibits a classical "white knight" and "damsel in distress" plot line, when it comes to female characters I prefer a strong, independent, character who perhaps is only a "damsel" in one regard, i.e. abusive ex, illness, inability to find work, whatever, and who ultimately "saves" herself. I want a character who doesn't necessarily need saving, but does need help. Also, strong, independent, female characters, in my opinion, do not necessarily have to be man-hating, feminazis who consider lipstick and heels to be societal subterfuge in the equalization of genders. Furthermore, it doesn't mean a married female character who raises children and likes to cook is weak and curtailing to the expectations of The Man. This is all besides the point.
I have never been one of those women who feels it's necessary for a man to ask me out on a date, or wait the allotted three days before calling him, and I do not feel it's necessary to declare my independence by paying for the date or snarling when he opens a door just to further my "I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR!" feminism. I like to believe that I recognize the disadvantages women face in comparison to men based solely on that fact that they are women without pigeonholing them(us) into stereotypical roles of what this or that is.
Recently, I've been reading a story I truly enjoy. However, in one of it's most recent chapters, Bella (whose characterization to this point has fit the strong, funny, independent type with a small "damsel" aspect) expected a non-mindreading Edward to read her effing mind.
Though the rest of this is a complete generalization of my own gender, in reference to the majority of comments on this particular story it's apropos: women expect men to read their minds. I do not understand the games that women play, and I am a woman! The "I like you, but I'm going to make you confess it first so I don't put myself out there and you're the man so you should be strong and go first" game. The "I'm going to date your best friend/brother/archenemy/guy who lives down the hall" game. I hate it. I hate it in real life, and I especially hate it in stories especially since it seems to happen so frequently and be deemed acceptable behaviour. First of all, if a man I was attracted to went on one, ONE date with my sister/best friend, it wouldn't matter if he was the second coming of Jesus Christ and Jason Mamoa combined. He is OFF LIMITS! However, this isn't the crux of my annoyance. The crux is that readers sympathize with Bella when Edward(non-mindreader) doesn't read her damn mind and misses these vague (to them obvious) signs. They find it acceptable that she uses, yes uses, other seemingly genuine characters to manipulate the man she essentially desires.
I say all this with love and annoyance and without any offense to you, the reader.
My questions: Why are certain character traits admirable in stories when they would be reprehensible or cray cray in real life? What do you believe? What do you do? Do you believe it's acceptable to date one person to make another jealous? Do you expect your boyfriend/husband/partner to know what you want without telling them? Are we, as women, hypocritical when demanding equality and then falling to the stereotypes of overtly emotional, manipulative vixens? Am I just going on an obnoxiously long and redundant tangent?
I'm giving you three one-shot recommendations just because I took up so much damn space and made you suffer through this. All three will make you a sad panda. Done.
Memento Mori by BlueIsSoul
Damned forever. Doomed for eternity. Condemned to walk alone. Every generation is spent searching for my love but no matter what happens, I don't save her- I can't. (A Judges Choice winner for the Age of Edward Contest 2013).
www.fanfiction.net/s/9891568/1/Memento-Mori
Metastasis by lellabeth
From the first time I saw him there, Edward shone like a glint of sunlight breaking through the clouds. I didn't know what he would come to mean to me; couldn't imagine all that we would eventually share, but even then I knew that he would change my life forever. Entry for the TLS Angst contest. Jaxon22's Judge's Pick, Best Angst mention.
www.fanfiction.net/s/9619997/1/Metastasis
So Darkness I Became by Livie79
Fate. Such a small, insignificant grouping of letters for a word possessing such insurmountable power. It twists and pulls the threads of life until one day they snap, and your world becomes engulfed in darkness. AU
www.fanfiction.net/s/8372462/1/So-Darkness-I-Became