"We had a strong independent female"

"We had a strong independent female" is an excuse made to dismiss criticism on Mary Sue characters.

Background
It is well known that most female characters are shown as weak back in the 1960s and earlier before the gender equality movement became more common. It was not until the late 20th century that this problem is now fixed. However as SJWs came into the picture, they started to make a female character that is a Mary Sue or a propaganda type character. Just because you made a strong and powerful female character does not mean you had to make them bland, overpowered, and a tool.

Often when a strong female character ends up being criticized for either poor writing, being sexist to the male audience, being a Mary Sue or even there to promote an ideology and nothing else, some people might use the "We had a strong independent female" as an excuse for doing so. Saying that statement shouldn't be a good enough excuse for making low-quality and effortless strong female characters in general. This excuse also treats its audience like they are unintelligent beings or idiots with no real taste, which isn't true. In fact, critically acclaimed trilogies like Star Wars have had worse off sequels because they try hard to be "politically correct".

Even if a strong female character is mostly aimed at female audiences, male audiences may also be interested in this character as well. There are many examples of this, but the most well known one are Ochaco Uraraka, Amethyst, Lyn, Raven, and Spinel, just to name few. The aforementioned characters are for female audiences, yet they have enough substance and real effort put in to be relatable and entertaining for the male audience and don't pander towards feminists.

There is no excuse for making a strong female character poorly written just because you want to pander to SJWs.

Examples of a poorly written strong female character

 * Abby Anderson (The Last of Us II)
 * Admiral Holdo (Star Wars sequel trilogy)
 * Agent M (Men In Black: International)
 * America Chavez (Miss America)
 * Batwoman (Arroverse, "strong independent lesbian")
 * Bella Swan (Twilight)
 * Captain Marvel (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * Charlie's Angels (Charlie's Angels (2019))
 * Dani Ramos (Terminator: Dark Fate)
 * Disney Princesses (Ralph Breaks the Internet)
 * Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters (2016))
 * Grace (Terminator: Dark Fate)
 * Hua Mulan (Mulan (2020))
 * Ironheart (Ironheart, "strong independent black female")
 * Jade West (Victorious)
 * Jailbreak (The Emoji Movie)
 * Jane Foster (Thor (2014-present))
 * Jasmine (Aladdin (2019))
 * Jes and Zofia Blazkowicz (Wolfenstein)
 * Jyoti Kaur (The Magic School Bus Rides Again)
 * Supergirl/Kara Denvers (Arrowverse)
 * Kim Possible (Kim Possible (2019))
 * Lady K (Oggy and the Cockroaches)
 * Michael Burnham (Star Trek: Discovery, "strong independent black female")
 * Miss O (Letter People)
 * Mystique (X-Men: Dark Phoenix)
 * Nella the Princess Knight (Nella the Princess Knight, "strong independent biracial")
 * Rey (Star Wars sequel trilogy)
 * Rose Tico (Star Wars sequel trilogy)
 * Ruby Daly (The Darkest Minds (film))
 * Sarina Shizukume (Magical Girl Site)
 * Thirteenth Doctor (Doctor Who)
 * Vanellope von Schweetz (Ralph Breaks the Internet)
 * Yukari Takeba (Persona 3)
 * Zoey (Total Drama All-Stars)
 * Zoey Brooks (Zoey 101)

Examples of a well written strong female character

 * 2B (Nier: Automata)
 * A2 (Nier: Automata)
 * Abigail Lincoln/Numbuh 5 (Codename: Kids Next Door)
 * Ada McGrath (The Piano)
 * Ahsoka Tano (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, and The Mandalorian)
 * Aigis (Persona 3)
 * Akane Owari (Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair)
 * Akeno Himejima (High School DxD)
 * Alice (Alice in Wonderland (1951))
 * Alice Zuberg/Alice Synthesis Thirty (Sword Art Online)
 * Alita (Battle Angel Alita and Alita: Battle Angel)
 * Amelia Vanek (The Babadook)
 * Amethyst (Steven Universe)
 * Android #18 (Dragon Ball)
 * Anne Boonchuy (Amphibia)
 * Annie Leonhart (Attack on Titan)
 * Ann Takamaki/Panther (Persona 5)
 * Arriety (Arriety)
 * Arya Stark (Game of Thrones)
 * Atlanta (Class of the Titans)
 * Athena Asamiya (Psycho Soldier/KOF)
 * Asajj Ventress (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
 * Aisling (The Secret of Kells)
 * Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
 * Asuka (Senran Kagura)‎‎
 * Aurora (Sleeping Beauty (1959))
 * Ayane (Dead or Alive)
 * Azula (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
 * Baiken (Guilty Gear)
 * Barbara Gordon (pre-New 52)
 * Bayonetta (Bayonetta)
 * Belle (Beauty and the Beast (1991))
 * Beth Heke (Once Were Warriors)
 * Betty Barrett (Atomic Betty)
 * Black Widow (Black Widow)
 * Blaze the Cat
 * Blossom (The Powerpuff Girls (1998))
 * Bo Peep (Toy Story 4)
 * The Bride (Kill Bill)
 * Bubbles (The Powerpuff Girls (1998))
 * Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
 * Buttercup (The Powerpuff Girls (1998))
 * Candy Chui (Gravity Falls)
 * Cameron Phillips (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles)
 * Carmelita Fox (Sly Cooper)
 * Cammy White (Street Fighter)
 * Calamity Jane (Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary)
 * Cara Dune (The Mandalorian)
 * Cassandra Cain (Batman)
 * Cassie Cage (Mortal Kombat)
 * Cathy Gale (The Avengers (British TV series))
 * Charlie Magne (Hazbin Hotel)
 * Charlie's Angels (Charlie's Angels (2000))
 * Charlotte (Samurai Shodown)
 * Chibiusa (Sailor Moon)
 * Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball)
 * Chie Satonaka (Persona 4)
 * Chihiro Ogino (Spirited Away)
 * Chitoge Kirisaki (Nisekoi)
 * Chun-Li (Street Fighter)
 * Cinderella (Cinderella (1950))
 * Cinderella (Cinderella (2015))
 * Clare (Claymore)
 * Clare Carroll (The Nightingale)
 * Cleopatra Jones (Cleopatra Jones)
 * Coffy (Coffy)
 * Connie Maheswaran (Steven Universe)
 * Copi (Xico's Journey)
 * Coraline Jones (Coraline)
 * Daenerys Targaryen (Seasons 1-7)
 * Dana Scully (The X-Files)
 * Delilah Devonshire (Delilah & Julius)
 * Delores (The League of 5)
 * Dorothy Ann Hudson (The Magic School Bus)
 * Elektra (Elektra)
 * Ellen Ripley (Alien)
 * Ellie (The Last of Us)
 * Ellie Rose (The Henry Stickmin Collection)
 * Emma Peel (The Avengers (British TV series))
 * Emily (Thomas & Friends)
 * Erica Wang/Plungerina (The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants)
 * Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)
 * Evelyn Salt (Salt)
 * Fa Mulan (Mulan (1998))
 * Filia (Skullgirls)
 * Fio Piccolo (Porco Rosso)
 * Foxy Brown (Foxy Brown)
 * Fresia (Nahuel and the Magic Book)
 * Futaba Sakura/Oracle (Persona 5)
 * Gamora (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * Garnet (Steven Universe)
 * Georgina Spica (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover)
 * Ginger (Ginger's Tale)
 * Ginger Foutley (As Told by Ginger)
 * Princess Giselle (Enchanted)
 * Hanji Zoë (Attack on Titan)
 * Haru Yoshioka (The Cat Returns)
 * Hilda (Hilda)
 * Hinata Hyuga (Naruto)
 * Historia Reiss (Attack on Titan)
 * mh:greatcharacterswiki:Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
 * Hushpuppy (Beasts of the Southern Wild)
 * Ibuki (Street Fighter)
 * Imperator Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road)
 * Inez (Cyberchase)
 * Iroha (Samurai Shodown)
 * Ivy Valentine (Soulcalibur)
 * Jackie (Cyberchase)
 * Jasmin Münchgstettner (Bagdad Cafe)
 * Jessica Jones (Jessica Jones)
 * Joanna Dark (Perfect Dark)
 * Joe (Kid Cosmic)
 * Jolyne Cujoh (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
 * Josie Trent (Strange Days at Blake Holsey High)
 * Jun the Swan (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman)
 * Jyn Erso (Star Wars)
 * Kameo (Kameo: Elements of Power)
 * Kanade Tachibana (Angel Beats!)
 * Kasumi (Dead or Alive)
 * Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
 * Keesha Franklin (The Magic School Bus)
 * Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service)
 * Kima Greggs (The Wire)
 * Kim Possible (Kim Possible (2002))
 * Kimberly Ann Hart (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
 * Kira Nerys (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
 * Kitana (Mortal Kombat)
 * Korra (The Legend of Korra)
 * Kylie Bucknell (Housebound)
 * Lady (Devil May Cry)
 * Laetitia (Lupin III: The First)
 * Lana Kane (Archer)
 * Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
 * Leia Organa (Star Wars original trilogy)
 * Lena (Skyland)
 * Leona Heidern (The King of Fighters)
 * Lisa Landry (Sister, Sister)
 * Lisa Lisa (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
 * Lola (Run Lola Run)
 * Luz Noceda (The Owl House)
 * Lyn (Fire Emblem)
 * Mai Shiranui (Fatal Fury/KOF)
 * Major Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)
 * Maka Albarn (Soul Eater)
 * Makoto Nanaya (BlazBlue)
 * Makoto Niijima/Queen (Persona 5)
 * Marion Ravenwood (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
 * Mebh Óg MacTíre (Wolfwalkers)
 * Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan)
 * Miko Kubota (Glitch Techs)
 * Millia Rage (Guilty Gear)
 * Misato Katsuragi (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
 * Mitsuru Kirijo (Persona 3)
 * Muncie Thunderstruck (Buddy Thunderstruck)
 * Nakoruru (Samurai Shodown)
 * Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4)
 * Nausicaä (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind)
 * Neri (Ocean Girl)
 * Noel Vermillion (BlazBlue)
 * Nya (Ninjago)
 * Ochaco Uraraka (My Hero Academia)
 * Olivier Mira Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist)
 * Pacifica Northwest (Gravity Falls)
 * Padme Amidala (Star Wars)
 * Pearl (Steven Universe)
 * Peggy Carter (Captain America)
 * Penny Proud (The Proud Family)
 * Pepper Potts (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * Phoebe Terese (The Magic School Bus)
 * P.I.X.A.L. (Ninjago)
 * Pieck Finger (Attack on Titan)
 * Precious Jones (Precious)
 * Princess Fiona (Shrek)
 * Princess Mirana (DOTA: Dragon's Blood)
 * Psylock (X-Men)
 * Quinn Argon (Final Space)
 * Raven (Teen Titans (2003-2005))
 * Rawhide (Long Gone Gulch)
 * Red Sonja (Red Sonja)
 * Reggie Belmont (Night of the Comet)
 * Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
 * Rias Gremory (High School DXD)
 * Rimururu (Samurai Shodown)
 * Ritsuko Akagi (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
 * Robyn Goodfellowe (Wolfwalkers)
 * Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach)
 * Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill)
 * Sailor Jupiter (Sailor Moon)
 * Sailor Mars (Sailor Moon)
 * Sailor Mercury (Sailor Moon)
 * Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon)
 * Sailor Neptune (Sailor Moon)
 * Sailor Pluto (Sailor Moon)
 * Sailor Saturn (Sailor Moon)
 * Sailor Uranus (Sailor Moon)
 * Sailor Venus (Sailor Moon)
 * Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)
 * Sakura Ogami (Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc)
 * San (Princess Mononoke)
 * Saoirse (Song of the Sea)
 * Sam Puckett (iCarly and Sam & Cat)
 * Samus Aran (Metroid)
 * Sandy Cheeks (SpongeBob SquarePants)
 * Sarah Connor (pre-Dark Fate)
 * Sarah Bryant (Virtua Fighter)
 * Sasha (Long Way North)
 * Satsuki Kusakabe (My Neighbor Totoro)
 * Scarlet Witch (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * Schwi Dola (No Game No Life: Zero)
 * Sergeant Calhoun (Wreck it Ralph)
 * Seven of Nine (Voyager)
 * Shantae (Shantae)
 * Sheeta (Castle in the Sky)
 * She-Ra (She-Ra: Princess of Power and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)
 * She-Hulk (She-Hulk)
 * Shiki (Samurai Shodown)
 * Shizuku Tsukishima (Whisper of the Heart)
 * Skylor Chen (Ninjago)
 * Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937))
 * Snow White (Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs)
 * Sonya Blade (Mortal Kombat)
 * Sophie Hatter (Howl's Moving Castle)
 * Sophitia (Soulcalibur)
 * Spinel (Steven Universe)
 * Squigly (Skullgirls)
 * Star Butterfly (Star vs. the Forces of Evil)
 * Starfire (Teen Titans (2003-2005))
 * Stephanie (LazyTown)
 * Stephanie Brown (Batman)
 * Sumire Yoshizawa/Violet (Persona 5: Royal)
 * Supergirl (Supergirl)
 * Sylvia (Wander Over Yonder)
 * Taeko Okajima (Only Yesterday)
 * Taiga Aisaka (Toradora!)
 * Taki (Soulcalibur)
 * Talim (Soulcalibur)
 * Team RWBY (RWBY)
 * Teodora (Leyendas)
 * Theresa (Class of the Titans)
 * Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy)
 * mh:greatcharacterswiki:Touka Kirishima (Tokyo Ghoul)
 * Tracey Beaker (The Story of Tracy Beaker)
 * Tracey McBean (Tracey McBean)
 * Trini Kwan (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
 * Trish (Devil May Cry)
 * mh:greatcharacterswiki:Tsukasa Yuzaki (Tonikaku Kawaii)
 * Tulip Olsen (Infinity Train)
 * Vaggie (Hazbin Hotel)
 * Valkyrie (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * Velvet Crowe (Tales of Berseria)
 * Wanda Goronski (Wanda)
 * Wanda Li (The Magic School Bus)
 * Wendy Corduroy (Gravity Falls)
 * Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman)
 * WordGirl (WordGirl)
 * Wyldstyle (The Lego Movie)
 * Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess)
 * XJ-9/Jenny Wakeman (My Life as a Teenage Robot)
 * Yoko Littner (Gurren Lagann)
 * Yoruichi Shihoin (Bleach)
 * Yuri Nakamura (Angel Beats!)
 * Yuri Sakazaki (Art of Fighting/The King of Fighters)

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