I think this is a great list, and I particularly appreciate this: But it's worth it to look at the surrounding cast and see if all of them are men. Because the world doesn't actually look like that.Truth: I've had people tell me they stay away from stories about women because fandom is their escape from sexism. The thing is, erasure is nothing like enlightenment. I've had that same conversation with people about women in fic [or genderswap fic that addresses Woman's Issues], and it always makes me gape. Though...those speakers did state that escapism =/= enlightenment, that they didn't want their fic to be ~educational or deal with ~Issues.

This post prods at some thoughts I've had on Mary Sues too.