"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
 * Batwoman ("strong independent lesbian")
 * Bella Swan (Twilight series)
 * Captain Marvel (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
 * Charlie's Angels (2019)
 * Dani Ramos (Terminator: Dark Fate)
 * Disney Princesses (Ralph Breaks The Internet)
 * Ghostbusters (2016)
 * Grace (Terminator: Dark Fate)
 * Hua Mulan
 * Ironheart ("strong independent black female")
 * Jade West (Victorious)
 * Jailbreak (The Emoji Movie)
 * Jane Foster (Marvel comics; 2014-present)
 * Jasmine (Aladdin (2019))
 * Jes and Zofia Blazkowicz
 * Supergirl/Kara Denvers (Arrowverse)
 * Kim Possible (2019 live-action film)
 * Lady K (Oggy and the Cockroaches)
 * Michael Burnham ("strong independent black female")
 * Miss O (Letter People)
 * Mystique (X-Men: Dark Phoenix)
 * Nella the Princess Knight ("strong independent biracial")
 * Rey (Star Wars (sequel trilogy))
 * Rose Tico (Star Wars (sequel trilogy))
 * Ruby Daly (The Darkest Mind (Film))
 * Sarina Shizukume (Magical Girl Site)
 * Thirteenth Doctor
 * Vanellope von Schweetz (Ralph Breaks the Internet)
 * Yukari Takeba (Persona 3)

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 Zuberg/Alice Synthesis Thirty (Sword Art Online)
 * Alita (2019 film and anime)
 * 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
 * Atlanta (Class of the Titans)
 * Athena Asamiya (Psycho Soldier/KOF)
 * Asajj Ventress (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
 * Ashling (The Secret of Kells)
 * Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
 * Aurora (The Sleeping Beauty 1959)
 * Ayane (Dead or Alive)
 * Baiken (Guilty Gear)
 * Barbara Gordon (pre-New 52)
 * Bayonetta
 * Belle (Beauty and the Beast 1991)
 * Beth Heke (Once Were Warriors)
 * 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
 * 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
 * Cassandra Cain
 * Cassie Cage (Mortal Kombat)
 * Cathy Gale
 * Charlie's Angels (2000)
 * Charlotte (Samurai Shodown)
 * Chie Satonaka (Persona 4)
 * Chihiro Ogino (Spirited Away)
 * Chitoge Kirisaki
 * Chun-Li (Street Fighter)
 * Cinderella (Cinderella 1950)
 * Cinderella (Cinderella 2015)
 * Clare (Claymore)
 * Clare Carroll (The Nightingale)
 * Connie Maheswaran (Steven Universe)
 * Copi (Xico's Journey)
 * Coraline Jones (Coraline)
 * Daenerys Targaryen (Seasons 1-7)
 * Dana Scully
 * Delores (The League of 5)
 * Elektra
 * Ellen Ripley
 * Sam Puckett
 * Ellie (The Last of Us)
 * Ellie Rose (The Henry Stickmin Collection)
 * Emma Peel
 * Emily (Thomas & Friends)
 * Erica Wang/Plungerina (The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants)
 * Erza Scarlet
 * Evelyn Salt
 * Fa Mulan (1998)
 * Filia (Skullgirls)
 * Fiona (Shrek)
 * Foxy Brown (Foxy Brown)
 * Fresia (Nahuel and the Magic Book)
 * Futaba Sakura/Oracle (Persona 5)
 * Gamora (MCU)
 * Garnet (Steven Universe)
 * Georgina Spica (The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover)
 * Ginger (Ginger's Tale)
 * Ginger Foutley (As Told by Ginger)
 * Hanji Zoë (Attack on Titan)
 * Hilda (Hilda)
 * Hinata Hyuga
 * Historia Reiss (Attack on Titan)
 * mh:greatcharacterswiki:Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
 * Hushpuppy (Beasts of the Southern Wild)
 * Ibuki (Street Fighter)
 * Imperator Furiosa
 * Iroha (Samurai Shodown)
 * Ivy Valentine (SoulCalibur)
 * Jessica Jones
 * Joanna Dark
 * Jolyne Cujoh (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
 * Jun the Swan (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman)
 * Jyn Erso
 * Kameo (Kameo: Elements of Power)
 * Kanade Tachibana (Angel Beats!)
 * Kasumi (Dead or Alive)
 * Kima Greggs (The Wire)
 * Kim Possible (2002-2007 animated series)
 * Kimberly Ann Hart (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
 * Kira Nerys
 * 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)
 * 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
 * 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)
 * Mitsuru Kirijo (Persona 3)
 * Muncie Thunderstruck (Buddy Thunderstruck)
 * Nakoruru (Samurai Shodown)
 * Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4)
 * Nausicaa
 * Noel Vermillion (BlazBlue)
 * Nya (Ninjago)
 * Ochaco Uraraka
 * Olivier Mira Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist)
 * Pacifica Northwest (Gravity Falls)
 * Padme Amidala (Star Wars)
 * Pearl (Steven Universe)
 * Peggy Carter
 * Penny Proud
 * Pepper Potts (MCU)
 * P.I.X.A.L. (Ninjago)
 * Pieck Finger (Attack on Titan)
 * Precious Jones (Precious)
 * Princess Mirana (DOTA: Dragon's Blood)
 * Psylock (X-Men)
 * Quinn Argon (Final Space)
 * Raven (Teen Titans (2003-2005))
 * Red Sonja
 * Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
 * Rias Gremory (High School DXD)
 * Rimururu (Samurai Shodown)
 * Robyn Goodfellowe (Wolfwalkers)
 * Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach)
 * Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill)
 * Sakura Ogami (Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc)
 * Saoirse (Song of the Sea)
 * Samus Aran (Metroid)
 * Sandy Cheeks
 * Sarah Connor (pre-Dark Fate)
 * Sarah Bryant (Virtua Fighter)
 * Scarlet Witch (MCU)
 * Schwi Dola (No Game No Life: Zero)
 * Sergeant Calhoun (Wreck it Ralph)
 * Seven of Nine (Voyager)
 * Shantae
 * She-Ra (Original/Reboot)
 * She-Hulk
 * Shiki (Samurai Shodown)
 * Skylor Chen (Ninjago)
 * Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1938)
 * Snow White (Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs)
 * Sonya Blade (Mortal Kombat)
 * Sophitia (SoulCalibur)
 * Spinel
 * Squigly (Skullgirls)
 * Starfire (Teen Titans (2003-2005))
 * Stephanie Brown
 * Sumire Yoshizawa/Violet (Persona 5: Royal)
 * Supergirl (DC Comics)
 * Sylvia (Wander over Yonder)
 * 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)
 * Trini Kwan (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
 * Trish (Devil May Cry)
 * mh:greatcharacterswiki:Tsukasa Yuzaki (Tonikaku Kawaii)
 * Tulip Olsen (Infinity Train)
 * Valkyrie (MCU)
 * Velvet Crowe (Tales of Berseria)
 * Wanda Goronski (Wanda)
 * Wendy Corderoy (Gravity Falls)
 * Wonder Woman
 * WordGirl (WordGirl)
 * Wyldstyle (The Lego Movie)
 * Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess)
 * Yoko Littner (Gurren Lagann)
 * Yoruichi Shihoin (Bleach)
 * Yuri Nakamura (Angel Beats!)
 * Yuri Sakazaki (Art of Fighting/KOF)

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