--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We only see female protagonists who are…" description: "\"We only see female protagonists who are likeable, with one cute flaw, such as adorable clumsiness. I'm fed up with it.\" — Catherine Reitman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/catherine-reitman-14373_cute_we-only-see-female-protagonists-who-are_866396.jpg" --- # We only see female protagonists who are likeable, with one… ![“We only see female protagonists who are likeable, with one cute flaw, such as adorable clumsiness. I'm fed up with it.” quote by Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/catherine-reitman-14373_cute_we-only-see-female-protagonists-who-are_866396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/catherine-reitman-14373_cute_we-only-see-female-protagonists-who-are_866396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/094/catherine-reitman-14373_cute_we-only-see-female-protagonists-who-are_866396.jpg) > “We only see female protagonists who are likeable, with one cute flaw, such as adorable clumsiness. I'm fed up with it.” [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker is frustrated that female leads are often portrayed as likable but with a single, trivial flaw, limiting representation. **In simple terms:** Female leads are often given only one cute flaw. Key Takeaway Demand richer, varied female characters. Themes media criticism representation gender Mood critical analytical concerned Type commentary observation When to use this quote - film reviews - scriptwriting - casting decisions Key Concepts character depth stereotype critique storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What would a more nuanced female protagonist look like? - How can creators avoid tokenistic traits? A Different Perspective Simplistic flaws can reduce character complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adorable Clumsiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adorable-clumsiness-906218/) [Cute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cute/) [Cute Flaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cute-flaw-906219/) [Female protagonists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-protagonists/) [Flaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaw/) [Flaw Adorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaw-adorable-906217/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Protagonists Likeable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protagonists-likeable-906220/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [Crime is a very hard genre to feminise. If you have a female protagonist she is going to be looking after her mum when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-mina/crime-is-a-very-hard-genre-to-feminise-if-you-have-a-female/) [Denise Mina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-mina/) > [My female protagonist will not be this promiscuous, beautiful, dark-haired, thin lady. It will be a plump, blond, healer and so forth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/my-female-protagonist-will-not-be-this-promiscuous-beautiful-dark/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I'm not interested in making movies only with female protagonists. I think it's ridiculous to think that a female director can't direct men. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-banks/i-m-not-interested-in-making-movies-only-with-female-protagonists-i/) [Elizabeth Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-banks/) > [I don't understand why people still behave as though making movies with female protagonists is risky, given that - hello - we do make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-don-t-understand-why-people-still-behave-as-though-making-movies/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [It's not my business to remedy deaths! It's my business to tell stories. Lyra and the other heroines didn't come with placards saying, "Make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/it-s-not-my-business-to-remedy-deaths-it-s-my-business-to-tell/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [I think boys don't always like to read books with female protagonist - I don't even know what to say about this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-think-boys-don-t-always-like-to-read-books-with-female-protagonist/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [For the blockbusters, people were always telling me that if you write female protagonists, the boys won't go, so you have to put the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-woolverton/for-the-blockbusters-people-were-always-telling-me-that-if-you-write/) [Linda Woolverton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-woolverton/) > [I had a list of things that science fiction, particularly American science fiction, to me seemed to do with tedious regularity. One was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/i-had-a-list-of-things-that-science-fiction-particularly-american/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [Out of 10 projects I get sent, seven or eight are female protagonists, and that's not the only thing I'm interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-morano/out-of-10-projects-i-get-sent-seven-or-eight-are-female-protagonists/) [Reed Morano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-morano/) > [We "chicks" have munched our popcorn while romantic comedies became just comedies, and then each female protagonist got recast for Mathew McConaughey or Seth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/we-chicks-have-munched-our-popcorn-while-romantic-comedies-became/) [Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/) > [I really get fired up with female protagonists. I can really feel the difference in myself when I am writing a script that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-woolverton/i-really-get-fired-up-with-female-protagonists-i-can-really-feel-the/) [Linda Woolverton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-woolverton/) > [I'm always drawn to female stories with female protagonists, and I particularly yearn for more older actresses to take centre stage in 2018.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-elliott/i-m-always-drawn-to-female-stories-with-female-protagonists-and-i/) [Marianne Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-elliott/) > [I've always read broadly: literary fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, chick lit, historical, dystopian, nonfiction, memoir. I've even read Westerns. I prefer female protagonists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-ve-always-read-broadly-literary-fiction-sci-fi-fantasy-chick-lit/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [Films with female protagonists don't attract many eyeballs. Most of them are perceived as feminist films. If Bollywood starts giving women major roles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bipasha-basu/films-with-female-protagonists-don-t-attract-many-eyeballs-most-of/) [Bipasha Basu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bipasha-basu/) > [For me, the banner that I want to wave in terms of giving a jump start to writers of any gender is just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/for-me-the-banner-that-i-want-to-wave-in-terms-of-giving-a-jump-start/) [Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/) ## More by Catherine Reitman > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [I love my kids more than anything. I love them more than me in some ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/i-love-my-kids-more-than-anything-i-love-them-more-than-me-in-some/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [There's been times I've been paralyzed by guilt when I've had to work crazy hours or miss a parent-teacher interview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/there-s-been-times-i-ve-been-paralyzed-by-guilt-when-i-ve-had-to-work/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [Humans are incredibly selfish. And in parents, flaws become hyper focused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/humans-are-incredibly-selfish-and-in-parents-flaws-become-hyper/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [I had such a crush on Sasha Mitchell from 'Step By Step.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/i-had-such-a-crush-on-sasha-mitchell-from-step-by-step/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [It's not the most relatable thing for working moms to have freshly painted claws all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/it-s-not-the-most-relatable-thing-for-working-moms-to-have-freshly/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [I was lucky enough to be raised not only by a really talented man but a really good father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-raised-not-only-by-a-really-talented-man-but/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [Whether I was working or not, I am not a good cook or a good seamstress. I love my kids, and I provide for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/whether-i-was-working-or-not-i-am-not-a-good-cook-or-a-good/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [I talk about postpartum depression and all these things I don't hear a lot of women talking about on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/i-talk-about-postpartum-depression-and-all-these-things-i-don-t-hear/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [Breastfeeding takes a toll on your body... your spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/breastfeeding-takes-a-toll-on-your-body-your-spirit/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [Flaws are really interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/flaws-are-really-interesting/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > ['Workin' Moms,' obviously, is about mothers who also work. But we're also expected to remain graceful when we return to work, and that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/workin-moms-obviously-is-about-mothers-who-also-work-but-we-re-also/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [We've all been in that metaphoric place, having to scream out what you want in the face of your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/we-ve-all-been-in-that-metaphoric-place-having-to-scream-out-what-you/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [Hire women. Trust women. Let them succeed. They are a pleasure to work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/hire-women-trust-women-let-them-succeed-they-are-a-pleasure-to-work/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [There's a different expectation, not just on mothers but on women. We're expected to do it all, to have it all, and look good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/there-s-a-different-expectation-not-just-on-mothers-but-on-women-we/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) [Explore all 47 Catherine Reitman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) ## More Cute quotes > [BOY: what do u want more than anything? GIRL: to stand in the middle of the street in the pouring rain and have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana13/boy-what-do-u-want-more-than-anything-girl-to-stand-in-the-middle-of/) [Ana13](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana13/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [Beauty ain't always a little, cute colored flower. Beauty is anything where people be like, 'Damn.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/beauty-ain-t-always-a-little-cute-colored-flower-beauty-is-anything/) [Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/) > [Look at her like she's the only one you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshy/look-at-her-like-she-s-the-only-one-you-see/) [Ewshy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewshy/) > [Wherever I go I'm always wearing my smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshy/wherever-i-go-i-m-always-wearing-my-smile/) [Ewshy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewshy/) > [I want a cute relationship where we can laugh, play, cuddle all day long and just be damn happy together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-a-cute-relationship-where-we-can-laugh-play-cuddle-all-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Cute beautiful ugly or Ok??????](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-crosby/cute-beautiful-ugly-or-ok/) [Cassandra Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-crosby/) > [“Gorgeous,” he murmured. She chuckled. “Think you’l say that in five months or so? When I waddle like a duck and you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrie-lynn/gorgeous-he-murmured-she-chuckled-think-you-l-say-that-in-five-months/) [Cherrie Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherrie-lynn/) > [My dream would be to hear rocks at my window n to look out and see u just standing there, in the pouring rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blondie/my-dream-would-be-to-hear-rocks-at-my-window-n-to-look-out-and-see-u/) [Blondie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blondie/) > [Lol u silly, I love u :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lol-u-silly-i-love-u/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Relish love in your old age! Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/relish-love-in-your-old-age-aged-love-is-like-aged-wine-it-becomes/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [In the night all I think about is you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-ramkran/in-the-night-all-i-think-about-is-you/) [Christine Ramkran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-ramkran/) > [When we built Roomba, we explicitly designed it to not have a face. We didn't want to think it was cute; we wanted people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-angle/when-we-built-roomba-we-explicitly-designed-it-to-not-have-a-face-we/) [Colin Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-angle/) > [“Dylan stopped at an intersection and gave Chris a long look. 'Not you. You are original. Unique.' 'That good or bad?' 'Oh definitely good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-fielding/dylan-stopped-at-an-intersection-and-gave-chris-a-long-look-not-you/) [Kim Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-fielding/) [Browse all 3,077 Cute quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cute/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We only see female protagonists who are likeable, with one cute flaw, such as adorable clumsiness. 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