Ever noticed how the "perfect" heroine in stories is usually just... boring? She’s patient. She suffers in silence. She forgives the man who treated her like garbage for three hundred chapters. It’s exhausting to watch. That’s probably why a massive wave of readers has pivoted toward a different vibe entirely. People are asking: isnt being a wicked woman much better than being the martyr?
If you’ve spent any time on Webtoons, Tapas, or lurking in light novel forums, you know this isn't just a random thought. It’s a full-blown subgenre. The "Villainess" trope has taken over digital fiction because it taps into a very real, very human frustration with being "good" at the expense of being happy. We aren't talking about actual evil here—not the kicking-puppies kind of evil. We’re talking about the "wicked" woman who refuses to be a doormat. She takes the inheritance. She dumps the cheating prince. She wears the bold red dress instead of the modest white one.
The appeal is basically a power fantasy for anyone who has ever felt overlooked or undervalued. Honestly, who wouldn't want to wake up with the confidence to tell a toxic family to kick rocks?
The Psychological Hook: Why the "Wicked" Archetype Wins
Why does this work? Why are we obsessed? Psychologists often point to the concept of the "Shadow Self," a term coined by Carl Jung. It’s that part of our personality we repress to fit into society—the anger, the ambition, the selfishness. When we read a story where the protagonist embraces being "wicked," it’s a cathartic release. We get to live vicariously through someone who doesn't care about being liked.
There’s a specific nuance here. In many of these stories, like The Villainess Turns the Hourglass or Your Throne, the "wickedness" is actually just competence and self-preservation. Medea Solon from Your Throne is a prime example. She’s calculating. She’s sharp. She’s willing to get her hands dirty. Compared to the traditional "damsel" archetype, her brand of ruthlessness feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s not about being bad; it’s about having agency.
We’ve been fed a diet of female characters whose only job is to be "nice." But "nice" doesn't win wars or secure empires. "Wicked" does.
The Shift from Redemption to Ambition
For a long time, if a woman was the villain, she had to be redeemed. She had to realize the error of her ways and become soft. Not anymore. Now, the trend is about leaning into the role. In the popular web novel community, the "isekai" (transported to another world) trope often lands a modern, stressed-out woman into the body of a fictional villainess.
Her first thought isn't usually "How do I become a saint?" It’s more like, "How do I use this villainess's money and power to live a quiet life and keep everyone from bothering me?"
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This shift is huge. It reflects a modern exhaustion with the "hustle" and the constant pressure to be "on" for other people. The wicked woman is the ultimate practitioner of boundaries. She says no. She puts herself first. In a world that constantly asks women to put themselves last, isnt being a wicked woman much better as a survival strategy? It’s hard to argue otherwise when you see the results.
Historical Context: From Lilith to Maleficent
We didn't just invent the "cool" wicked woman in the last five years. She’s been around, lurking in the margins of history and folklore. Take Lilith, for example. In Jewish mythology, she was Adam’s first wife who refused to be subservient and left Eden of her own volition. For centuries, she was a demon. Now? She’s a feminist icon.
Look at the evolution of Disney villains. In the original 1959 Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent was just a spiteful fairy. Fast forward to the 2014 live-action version, and she’s a complex, wronged protector who is "wicked" because she was betrayed. We are rewriting our monsters because we realize the monsters were often just women who didn't follow the rules.
The Problem with the "Good Girl" Narrative
The "Good Girl" narrative is a trap. It’s a set of expectations that requires total emotional labor. You have to be pretty but not vain. Smart but not threatening. Assertive but not "bossy."
The wicked woman throws the whole checklist in the trash.
- She acknowledges her own desires.
- She isn't afraid of conflict.
- She values her time.
- She doesn't wait for permission.
When people search for why isnt being a wicked woman much better, they are usually looking for a justification to stop being so "nice" to people who treat them poorly. It’s a search for permission to be "difficult."
How to Embrace Your "Wicked" Side (Without Being a Jerk)
You don't need to go out and start a feud with a neighboring kingdom or exile your siblings. In the real world, "wickedness" is just a provocative word for radical self-interest. It’s about reclaiming the parts of yourself you’ve dimmed to make others comfortable.
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Think about your workplace. There’s often that one person who does everyone else’s work because they "don’t want to cause trouble." That person is the "heroine" of a tragedy. The "wicked woman" version of that employee is the one who says, "That’s not in my job description," and leaves at 5:00 PM to go to a spa.
Setting Hard Boundaries
The core of the "wicked" philosophy is the boundary. Most people are terrified of boundaries because they fear being seen as mean. But as author Brené Brown often says, "Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others."
The "wicked woman" knows that disappointing others is a small price to pay for not losing herself. It’s about being "unpalatable" to the wrong people. If someone thinks you’re "wicked" because you didn't let them walk all over you, that’s a win. Honestly, it’s a badge of honor.
The Cultural Impact of the Villainess Trend
This isn't just a niche internet thing. It’s hitting mainstream media. Shows like Succession or House of the Dragon feature women who are deeply flawed, ambitious, and occasionally "wicked." Shiv Roy or Alicent Hightower aren't there to be your best friend. They are there to win.
We are moving away from the "Strong Female Lead" who is just a man in a wig, and moving toward characters who are feminine, messy, and unapologetically selfish. This variety is healthy. It allows for a broader range of human experience to be reflected on screen and in books.
Why the Redemption Arc is Dying
We used to love a good redemption arc. Now, we love a "corruption" arc—or rather, an "awakening" arc. We want to see the protagonist realize that being good got her killed in her "first life" (metaphorically or literally in fiction), and that being "wicked" is the only way to survive the second.
It’s a metaphor for burnout. Many of us feel like we’re on our second or third "life" after a major career change, a divorce, or a health crisis. We don't have the energy to be the "good girl" anymore. We just want to be the one who survives.
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Actionable Steps for the "Wicked" Path
If you’re feeling inspired to channel a bit of that "wicked" energy, start small. You don't need a poisoned apple or a dramatic monologue.
Audit your "Yes" pile. Look at everything you’ve agreed to in the last week. How many of those things did you actually want to do? How many did you do because you were afraid of being seen as "difficult"? Start saying no to the low-stakes stuff first.
Stop over-explaining. A "wicked" woman doesn't need to give a three-paragraph justification for why she can't make it to a brunch. "I can't make it, but hope you guys have fun" is a complete sentence.
Own your ambition. If you want the promotion, the raise, or the lead role, say it. Stop couching your desires in "I’m just happy to be here" language. It’s okay to want to be the best. It’s okay to want to win.
Reclaim your "negative" emotions. Anger is a tool. It tells you when a boundary has been crossed. Envy is a map. It tells you what you actually want. Instead of repressing these, look at them. What are they trying to secure for you?
Invest in your own aesthetic. This sounds shallow, but in "villainess" fiction, the transformation is often signaled by a change in how the character carries herself. Wear the clothes that make you feel powerful, not just the ones that make you look "approachable."
The truth is that isnt being a wicked woman much better is a question with a very simple answer: yes, if "wicked" means being whole. It’s better to be a whole person with flaws and sharp edges than a flat, "perfect" character in someone else’s story. Stop trying to be the heroine who dies for the cause and start being the "villainess" who lives for herself.
The first step is realizing that the "villain" label is usually just something people use for women they can't control. Once you realize that, the label loses its power. It actually becomes a bit of a superpower. You can stop worrying about the reputation and start focusing on the results. Build your empire, set your boundaries, and let them call you whatever they want while you enjoy the life you’ve actually built for yourself.