The Alienation Caused by the Label of "Big Heroine"—Narrowing and Reconstructing Female Roles in Chinese and Foreign Dramas from Deconstructing Male Roles
Abstract
Some common traits include independent and powerful lead actresses, often called "big heroines." Most of them achieve success through persistent effort. Although different types show various forms, they all share a common theme that impresses audiences with the growth and resilience of these female leads, providing a sense of satisfaction. However, attention should be given to the trend of labeling these characters as "big heroines." Such characters often serve as symbols that blindly pursue positive images while neglecting the complexity of human nature. Based on this phenomenon, the research will examine how male characters in these dramas contribute to the alienation of female characters and then compare the asymmetry of opposite-sex characters in female-led dramas and male-led dramas. Firstly, some screenwriters of female-led dramas highlight the female protagonist’s shining moments by instrumentalizing and stigmatizing the male characters in the drama. This is a low-cost but unreasonable approach that will reinforce the audience’s gender stereotypes in the opposite direction. Moreover, after comparing the opposite sex characters in female-oriented and male-oriented TV series, it is obvious that male-oriented TV series emphasize depicting the background and personalities of the female characters, which have a more mature narrative perspective. Modern dramas can focus not only on creating a perfect female image to attract viewers but also on promoting feminism. It is urgent to deepen the complexity of male characters to counteract the stereotypical label of "big heroine."
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