--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men should be able to see themselves in…" description: "\"Men should be able to see themselves in female characters and female strength, just as much as women are able to see themselves in male characters.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/maya-hawke-11372_female-character_men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in_509753.jpg" --- # Men should be able to see themselves in female characters… ![“Men should be able to see themselves in female characters and female strength, just as much as women are able to see themselves in male characters.” quote by Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/maya-hawke-11372_female-character_men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in_509753.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/maya-hawke-11372_female-character_men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in_509753.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/maya-hawke-11372_female-character_men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in_509753.jpg) > “Men should be able to see themselves in female characters and female strength, just as much as women are able to see themselves in male characters.” [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing oneself reflected in characters of any gender promotes empathy and breaks stereotypical limits. **In simple terms:** Identify with any gendered characters. Key Takeaway Seek diverse role models. Themes gender representation identity empathy Mood thoughtful inspired Type cultural educational When to use this quote - reading - watching TV - discussing characters - teaching kids Key Concepts media influence role modeling Questions to Reflect On - How do you find characters that reflect you? - What barriers exist for gender‑fluid representation? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex identity experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Female character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-character/) [Female characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-characters/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [Because I had some roles that resonated with women, I immediately noticed that there were far more male characters than female characters in what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/because-i-had-some-roles-that-resonated-with-women-i-immediately/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [I immediately noticed there were far more male characters than female characters in the programs, even now, in the 21st century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-immediately-noticed-there-were-far-more-male-characters-than-female/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [“I'd been so tired of 'strong female characters' for so long by then. I was so tired of the way female strength was made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carina-chocano/i-d-been-so-tired-of-strong-female-characters-for-so-long-by-then-i/) [Carina Chocano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carina-chocano/) > [I would like to find a more precise way to not only tell the stories of female characters, but also do so in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danae-elon/i-would-like-to-find-a-more-precise-way-to-not-only-tell-the-stories/) Danae Elon > [We're showing kids a world that is very scantily populated with women and female characters. They should see female characters taking up half the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/we-re-showing-kids-a-world-that-is-very-scantily-populated-with-women/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [The funniest things just come from honesty. We have a tendency to see female characters as representative of something larger than what they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-meriwether/the-funniest-things-just-come-from-honesty-we-have-a-tendency-to-see/) [Elizabeth Meriwether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-meriwether/) > [I don't try and write strong female characters or strong male characters, I just try and write, hopefully, strong characters and sometimes they happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-don-t-try-and-write-strong-female-characters-or-strong-male/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I love writing about men. To get by in the world you have to know how men think. Not that all guys think alike,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/i-love-writing-about-men-to-get-by-in-the-world-you-have-to-know-how/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [I don't see female characters as different or inferior to male characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/i-don-t-see-female-characters-as-different-or-inferior-to-male/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [None of the male characters are as powerful or as interesting as the four central female characters. The men work best as representations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-buckley/none-of-the-male-characters-are-as-powerful-or-as-interesting-as-the/) Norman Buckley > [I am certainly proud to add 'Korra' to the pantheon of TV characters, which is perpetually sorely lacking in multifaceted female characters who aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-konietzko/i-am-certainly-proud-to-add-korra-to-the-pantheon-of-tv-characters/) [Bryan Konietzko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-konietzko/) > [It is good that in our TV industry, stories revolve around female characters more than male characters but there should be no sex war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himani-shivpuri/it-is-good-that-in-our-tv-industry-stories-revolve-around-female/) [Himani Shivpuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himani-shivpuri/) > [“As male characters level up and become more powerful, their bodies become better protected and covered. In contrast, as female characters level up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-yee/as-male-characters-level-up-and-become-more-powerful-their-bodies/) [Nick Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-yee/) > [I have this theory that the likeability question comes up so much more with female characters created by female authors than it does with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-have-this-theory-that-the-likeability-question-comes-up-so-much/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [I don't think male characters are as one-dimensional as female characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-don-t-think-male-characters-are-as-one-dimensional-as-female/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) ## More by Maya Hawke > [I would recommend any young person who wants to be an actor to go and get some training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-would-recommend-any-young-person-who-wants-to-be-an-actor-to-go-and/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I've never been interested in a career in modelling, I was interested in my independence. When I was in school, modelling was what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-ve-never-been-interested-in-a-career-in-modelling-i-was-interested/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I keep a diary because I love this writer, David Sedaris, and he writes a lot about his diary, and he inspired me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-keep-a-diary-because-i-love-this-writer-david-sedaris-and-he-writes/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [When I was in my early and mid-teens, my style changed constantly. My clothing was inspired by 'Annie Hall' for a while, by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/when-i-was-in-my-early-and-mid-teens-my-style-changed-constantly-my/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I think success is when the way you talk about who you want to be and what you want to do lines up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-think-success-is-when-the-way-you-talk-about-who-you-want-to-be-and/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I really enjoyed shooting in Ireland. The people are so lovely. I hope I don't offend anyone in saying this, but the nature reminded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-really-enjoyed-shooting-in-ireland-the-people-are-so-lovely-i-hope/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Style icons always change, and they usually inspire my haircuts more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/style-icons-always-change-and-they-usually-inspire-my-haircuts-more/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [My parents are actors, and I'm the oldest of my siblings - I have three younger sisters and a brother who's my best friend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/my-parents-are-actors-and-i-m-the-oldest-of-my-siblings-i-have-three/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I really love my family. The more independence that I get and the more freedom that I have, the more interested I am in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-really-love-my-family-the-more-independence-that-i-get-and-the-more/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [As an actor on a film, you have no control over the final product - your job is to make a director's vision come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/as-an-actor-on-a-film-you-have-no-control-over-the-final-product-your/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I have definitely emulated my mom's style more than anyone's. But that may be mostly to do with how often I steal her clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-have-definitely-emulated-my-mom-s-style-more-than-anyone-s-but-that/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Eventually, I realized that there was only so much that I could put in the way of my happiness, and acting made me happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/eventually-i-realized-that-there-was-only-so-much-that-i-could-put-in/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [Reminding myself that listening is just as important a creative act as thinking is key for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/reminding-myself-that-listening-is-just-as-important-a-creative-act/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I hate technology and cellphones. I hate having to have one all of the time. I don't tweet or buzz or bing or whatever!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-hate-technology-and-cellphones-i-hate-having-to-have-one-all-of-the/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) > [I really struggled, growing up, with reading and writing. I had a hard time to do that, but I was really passionate about storytelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/i-really-struggled-growing-up-with-reading-and-writing-i-had-a-hard/) [Maya Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) [Explore all 60 Maya Hawke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/) ## More Female character quotes > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [I've always preferred drag roles, because typically I get better costumes and I've always felt more connected with the female characters in my favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinkx-monsoon/i-ve-always-preferred-drag-roles-because-typically-i-get-better/) [Jinkx Monsoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinkx-monsoon/) > [I didn't grow up a huge fan of the Western genre because there was never a female character to relate to or look up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-bennett/i-didn-t-grow-up-a-huge-fan-of-the-western-genre-because-there-was/) [Haley Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-bennett/) > [I think it's the source material. 27 Dresses was a famous book, and Devil Wears Prada was also a wonderful book, so it's coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bruckheimer/i-think-it-s-the-source-material-27-dresses-was-a-famous-book-and/) [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bruckheimer/) > [When I realised that what I do really well is play women who are tough and vulnerable, it was a moment of clarity. Many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-moss/when-i-realised-that-what-i-do-really-well-is-play-women-who-are/) [Carrie-Anne Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-moss/) > [At the end of the day I have many answers for it. It has to do with my mom, who was an extraordinary woman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-have-many-answers-for-it-it-has-to-do-with-my/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Why aren’t you asking a hundred other guys why they don’t write strong women characters? I believe that what I’m doing should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/why-aren-t-you-asking-a-hundred-other-guys-why-they-don-t-write/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [The fact that my female characters have strong personalities but are also physically attractive probably reflects the women I've known in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-sheldon/the-fact-that-my-female-characters-have-strong-personalities-but-are/) [Sidney Sheldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-sheldon/) > [Strong female characters - even if they don't necessarily make the same decisions that we might - make such great narrative material, especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/strong-female-characters-even-if-they-don-t-necessarily-make-the-same/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [I tend to like strong female characters. It just interests me dramatically. A strong male character isn't interesting because it has been done and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cameron/i-tend-to-like-strong-female-characters-it-just-interests-me/) [James Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cameron/) > [I think every woman character, every female character, has her own arc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katheryn-winnick/i-think-every-woman-character-every-female-character-has-her-own-arc/) [Katheryn Winnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katheryn-winnick/) > [It would be futile to attempt to fit women into a masculine pattern of attitudes, skills and abilities and disastrous to force them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/it-would-be-futile-to-attempt-to-fit-women-into-a-masculine-pattern/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [I'm difficult to cast. In comedy, if there's a female character, usually written by a bloke, she's either the ditsy good-looking one, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-may-cooper/i-m-difficult-to-cast-in-comedy-if-there-s-a-female-character-usually/) [Daisy May Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-may-cooper/) > [All too often, female characters, in particular, aren't multi-layered enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bradley/all-too-often-female-characters-in-particular-aren-t-multi-layered/) [Ruth Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bradley/) > [Feminists are those who cannot stand female characteristics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/feminists-are-those-who-cannot-stand-female-characteristics/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 328 Female character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men should be able to see themselves in female characters and female strength, just as much as women are able to see themselves in male characters.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maya Hawke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in-female-characters-and-female/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Female character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in-female-characters-and-female/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/maya-hawke-11372_female-character_men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in_509753.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/maya-hawke-11372_female-character_men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in_509753.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f01/maya-hawke-11372_female-character_men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in_509753.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men should be able to see themselves in female characters and female strength, just as much as women are…” — Maya Hawke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Maya Hawke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-hawke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men should be able to see...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in-female-characters-and-female/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-hawke/men-should-be-able-to-see-themselves-in-female-characters-and-female/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```