“虐女”仍是大女主的流量密码

Core Viewpoint - The portrayal of female protagonists in Chinese dramas often emphasizes their suffering and struggles, leading to a dual narrative of "suffering women" versus "empowered women" [1][2][11] Group 1: Themes of Suffering and Empowerment - Female leads in recent dramas like "Zhuozhuo Shaohua" and "Guose Fanghua" experience extreme hardships, including forced marriages, loss of loved ones, and violence, which has led to criticism of "female suffering" tropes [2][7] - The narrative often juxtaposes the intense suffering of female characters with moments of empowerment, creating a complex emotional landscape that resonates with audiences [4][12] - The trend of depicting female suffering is seen as a market strategy, as it generates strong emotional responses and discussions among viewers, despite the potential for backlash [14][15] Group 2: Audience Reception and Criticism - Young female audiences are increasingly desensitized to depictions of sexual violence as a means of illustrating female suffering, leading to a decline in the popularity of such narratives [7][11] - While "Zhuozhuo Shaohua" has achieved high viewership ratings, its online discussion and ratings reflect a mixed reception, indicating a growing fatigue with "female suffering" themes [7][8] - The success of dramas like "Sheng Wan Wu" demonstrates that audiences appreciate nuanced portrayals of female characters that do not rely solely on suffering for character development [4][8] Group 3: Future Directions for Female Protagonist Dramas - The industry is encouraged to explore narratives that focus on female agency and empowerment without resorting to extreme suffering, as seen in successful examples like "Feng Chui Ban Xia" [16][18] - There is a call for a shift in storytelling that emphasizes women's capabilities and choices in complex social and professional environments, rather than perpetuating the "victim-survivor" cycle [16][18] - The potential for growth in female-led narratives lies in creating stories that highlight resilience and strength through challenges that are not solely personal traumas [15][18]