Heroines in Different Genres

Last week I talked about the Tam i Cowden’s Heroine Archetypes. This week I’m talking about heroines in different genres. Are they all strong heroines?

I’m thinking about all the different genres we write – paranormal, sci-fi, fantasy, young adult, mystery, thrillers, suspense, western, historical, cozies and sweet romance.  The heroines are so different in each genre – but do they have similar traits. Are they confident, capable, know what they want and how to get it, comfortable with their environment, focused on their goal/s and equal to the hero or the antagonist.

There are probably many other characteristics of the heroine, and they may not have all of them, but do they change with the genre.

Think of the heroine in a sweet romance, one in a thriller or one from a paranormal. The paranormal and thriller heroines might be kick-ass, but what about the sweet heroine, or the historical one? I think they all have similar traits. In a historical western, women knew how to shoot, protect their family, build log cabins. They were equals. In a sweet romance the heroine may be softer but she doesn’t bend. She knows what she wants and she gets it. And she is an equal.

And they’re all wonderful characters to write.  What do you think about heroines from different genres?