I keep getting asked how I write about such smart, strong women
I keep getting asked how I write about such smart, strong women, and my response is, what's the alternative? Weak, stupid women? They're just normal people, not role models - if you're aspiring to be like any of them, something's a little bit wrong. You may want to dress like one or have her job, but do not aspire to be her!
When Shonda Rhimes declared, “I keep getting asked how I write about such smart, strong women, and my response is, what’s the alternative? Weak, stupid women? They’re just normal people, not role models—if you’re aspiring to be like any of them, something’s a little bit wrong. You may want to dress like one or have her job, but do not aspire to be her!” she spoke with the fire of one weary of shallow questions. Her words remind us that smart, strong women are not exceptions to marvel at, but the standard humanity must honor. To imagine otherwise is to reveal how deeply the world has underestimated women.
In her voice, we hear both defiance and revelation. For centuries, society has expected women in art, in history, in politics, to appear small, fragile, or submissive. To ask why Rhimes creates strong women is to betray that expectation. She responds by shattering it: the only true alternative is weakness and ignorance, and that is not the destiny of womanhood. To celebrate strength is not to elevate a rare jewel, but to acknowledge what has always been present and too long ignored.
History bears witness to this truth. Joan of Arc, a peasant girl, rose to lead armies, not because she was destined to be a mythical exception, but because she embodied the power of conviction that lay dormant in many women of her time. She was branded unnatural by those who could not imagine a woman as a warrior. Yet her life reminds us that what seems extraordinary in a world of prejudice is, in fact, the natural capacity of women once they are freed to act.
Rhimes also cautions against false idols. She reminds us that public figures—though admired for their style, their careers, or their fame—are not necessarily role models. To aspire blindly to be another person is to lose one’s own path. Admire their clothes, admire their craft, but do not confuse their persona for destiny. True aspiration lies in becoming more fully oneself, in embracing one’s own strength and intelligence rather than imitating another’s mask.
Thus, her words stand as a commandment to the generations: do not ask why a woman is strong, ask why anyone would expect her to be otherwise. Do not settle for narratives of weakness, for they are lies told by history’s gatekeepers. Instead, honor the truth that strength and intelligence are the birthright of every woman. Let no one aspire merely to the shadow of another; aspire instead to one’s own greatness, forged from within.
IGieenn giiaa
I love that Shonda Rhimes is pushing back against the idea that women in media should be ‘perfect role models.’ But it makes me think about how we might be limiting our view of women by expecting them to always be strong and smart. Can’t women also be allowed to be vulnerable, flawed, and complex? Isn’t it important for women to be seen as multidimensional characters, rather than just ‘role models’ to aspire to?
MTLam minh tri
Shonda Rhimes’ comment about strong women in her writing really challenges societal norms about what it means to be a ‘role model.’ While I agree that women shouldn’t be expected to be perfect, I wonder—can’t we appreciate qualities in certain women without feeling the need to ‘aspire to be them’? Is there something about the nature of role models that we need to rethink, especially in the context of how we view women in media?
CC4 you Chut chill
I find Shonda Rhimes’ perspective on strong women fascinating, but it makes me question whether the idea of ‘aspiring’ to be someone is really a bad thing. Isn't aspiration about growth, about identifying qualities in others that we admire and want to develop within ourselves? How can we separate inspiration from idealization? Should we be cautious of treating anyone as a perfect example, or is it healthy to have people we look up to?
VKTruong Van Khai
Shonda Rhimes seems to be rejecting the idea that women need to be flawless to be admired. But I’m curious—doesn’t the concept of ‘role models’ help empower people to aim higher? Maybe aspiring to be like someone doesn’t mean wanting to replicate their life exactly, but rather, finding traits in them that we can build on. Can we balance seeing someone as a role model while still recognizing their humanity and imperfections?
PALa Phuong An
I appreciate Shonda Rhimes’ point that women in her writing are just normal people, not role models, but I wonder if we can be too dismissive of the idea of role models altogether. Don’t we all look for inspiration in others, even if we don’t aim to mimic them exactly? What’s the line between admiration and aspiration? Can we celebrate someone’s strength and still acknowledge that no one is perfect?