I remember hearing that about "Canterbury Tales"! I never was able to get too far into it because I really struggle with old English. The women definitely get the short stick in classic literature. Heck, there were only like two women in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein", and they were pretty much background. I don't recall them having many interactions within the story, but I think the main focus of the book was more of the undead monster.

Teyla is hard, man, and I respect anyone who can get into her head. Elizabeth I can only really tackle if I approach her from a "Mom" perspective, which makes me feel a little sad because she was the expedition's leader, not their mother. But yes, I know what you mean about those comments. You're basing a character on what you see in the show; they just might be tuning into a different program it seems sometimes ;)

Often the stories that come to me are still male-centric, even my original stuff. Most of them feature a strong friendship between two male characters, going through the plot together. One day I'll take up the charge of the female cause--after Big Bang.