Female Characters and Female Writers

In the portrayal of male and female characters, does it matter if the writer is a man or a woman? Give specific examples from the books we have read this semester. [The Bean Trees and Ethan Frome are the only ones written by women: Barbara Kingsolver and Edith Wharton].

Whether the author is a man or a woman definitely affects the books and the portrayal of characters. This is because both men and women have a different view of each other. Since men don't fully understand what it's like to be a woman, and vice-versa, they can only make guesses over what they've seen, or refer to the common stereotypical outlines. Nonetheless, some authors are able to portray both sexes perfectly. Kingsolver, in her book The Bean Trees, portrays both the stereotypical sides of men and women, but also counters them with an opposite character. Lou Ann, for example, was the well-known feminine character that was weak and powerless. Taylor, on the other hand, was the independent character that could take care of herself. For men, Kingsolver placed stubborn and self-absorbed traits into Lou Ann's husband, and then portrayed a man's sensitive and caring traits through Estevan.