I cannot stand weak female characters either. And I unfortunately run into them a lot, being a fantasy fan–a genre somewhat dominated by misogynistic male authors (Christopher Paolini being the most insufferable; Arya is strong but she is demeaned by Eragon's pathetic mooning). Same with old classic novels by people like Alexander Dumas who apparently consider women only as…love interests, to put it mildly.

Luckily, though, I grew up on a fare of books by women like L.M. Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, and Laura Ingalls Wilder, which proved quite forcibly the power in ordinary girls. And that's also why I love Robin McKinley, who writes about strong female characters that, unlike Tamora Pierce's Alanna, retain their femininity while being the fierce heroine the fantasy story requires.

@ Bookbug: I KNOW. I don't understand why boys are constantly viewed as being more capable than girls. Even in a day and age where girls are allowed to do far more than our ancestors were, we still aren't given the respect and we aren't truly thought to be able to do it. I think it's fantastic if you want to be a doctor! Go for it!

@ SaVVY44x: Exactly! I get so tired of people defining others by stereotypes. If I'm blonde, I'm not weak or unintelligent. The color of your hair makes no difference as to what you're like or what you think or say or do. It's soley up to you.

@ Everinne: I know, it's infuriating to be bombarded with the idea that women are only there to tend the home or only there to promote the romance of the story. I can't stand it. Like you though, I grew up on Anne Shirley and Jo March characters that helped to round out the poor female characters.

I agree with you all, but I also don't enjoy books in which all the female characters act SO strong and independent that it makes them hateful and cold toward the other characters. Jo March, Caddie Woodlawn, and Anne Shirley are strong and face situations with a can-do, I've-got-this attitude, but are capable of being loving to and dependent upon their family and friends as well. One such kind-but-capable character is Honey Lemon from Disney's Big Hero 6. She is smart and strong, but is still there to support Hiro as he makes his way through grief. She retains feminity without being, well, like Barbie. 

So, in conclusion, I believe that all humans are inately interdependent.  

If you have ever read (or watched) Percy Jackson or Harry Potter, you will know that there are ACTUALLY movies with strong girls. *gasp*

I was reading Old Yeller and all the men in the neighborhood went on a tough trip leaving one man behind to "protect the womanfolk." Come on!!!!!! Also when Burn claims Yeller, he says "Why don't you keep the dog to protect your family while your man is gone, and I'll come get him later." What???? No!!!! Later, he agrees to let them keep Yeller if Mama cooks "a real jam-up meal of woman-cooked grub." SERIOUSLY? WOMAN-COOKED?? 

How sexist. 

For those who are looking for a fictional (though, I admit, nowhere near sci-fi) with a strong, believable female lead; try The Kronos Chronicles by Marie Rutkoski. I remember it being a fantastic book, but it's been a very long time since I read it, so . . .  I'd say it's good for 8-10 age-wise. o-)

(That was supposed to be a cyclopse smiley face, but . . .) 

The thing I hate is, generally, if there is a strong female lead — in movies or books — it is; 1. their main focus to "get a man" or 2. not at first and then a man miraculouslly comes and saves her behind. This is ridiculous, considering that there are plenty of strong females out there who are pretty much good on their own.

Ther is something called the Bechdel Test. It has three criteria. Try and look out for them  while you are looking for movies;

1. Is there more than one female character in the book?

2. Do these two women/girls ever meet? 

3. When they do, do they talk about anything other than the MALE LEAD (or character)?

You'd really be surprised how many Disney movies that test excludes. :-/ 

Ella Enchanted has a strong female lead that isn't dependent, except in the end. 

SPOILER

She falls in love with Char and moons over him for the rest of the book. 

This is why I love characters like Elphaba and Elsa (both played by Idina Menzel, who is awesome at parts like that) and Matilda and all those people who stand up to unfairness and stop caring what other people think, not just about gender.

1: I agree with the blonde thing… I mean, I'm blond and am really smart! I'm not a girly-girl, like people expect blondes to be!

2: Yep, I don't understand why girls are signified as "weak". It's happening less and less NOW, but  for things like the Grimms' Fairy Tales? Gosh, either the girls are really weak or they just have way too much help to be heriones.

3: Also, have you noticed? In fairy tales, there usually isn't a wicked stepfather or wicked stepbrother. It's almost always wicked stepSISTERS and stepMOTHERS. 

But someday, hopefully, al of that will change.