In this look at the role of women on page and screen, Susan Isaacs argues that assertive, ethical women characters are losing ground to wounded, shallow sisters who are driven by what she calls the articles of wimpette philosophy. ("Article Six: A wimpette betrays other women, including her friends.") Although female roles today include lawyers like Ally McBeal and CEOs like Ronnie of Veronica's Closet, they are wimpettes nonetheless.

A brave dame, on the other hand, is a dignified, three-dimensional hero who may care about men, home, and hearth, but also cares - and acts - passionately about something in the world beyond. Brave dames' stories range from mundane (Mary Richards in The Mary Tyler Moore Show) to romantic (Katharine Hepburn in Adam's Rib) to fantastic (Lucy Lawless in Xena: Warrior Princess), but whatever they do, they care about justice and carry themselves with self-respect and decency.

For a Really Brave Dame, think Frances McDormand as the tenacious, pregnant police chief in Fargo. Isaacs's unmistakable love of fiction and film shines through even her most scathing wimpette assessments. In the end, she urges us to become "smarter consumers of art."