Good article! I enjoyed it!

My only suggestion would have been to address the rumor regarding Fang originally being designed as a male and how that plays into her character. The rumor itself is interesting in how it relates to the fan's perception of women. Moreover, what does it say about Fang as a woman if she were truly written as a man originally? Is it positive? Negative? Somewhere between?

Also, while women for much longer and more systematically been afflicted by sexism, it would be interesting to see sexism that some of the male characters represent. I mean Hope's reception was very mixed admist the fandom. As you mention he is the "weakest" character in the cast, as well as being the most emotional and irrational. I wonder how much of the dislike of Hope is from the fact that he is engendering femininity (insofar as it is constructed and stereotyped)? That a male in a non-masculine role is also received poorly, much like how Lightening in having "masculine" characteristics is thought to be a bitch?

Anyways, just some thoughts and questions!

I think a Part VI would provide a nice summary and would be nice to relate it to real life since I have a feeling there are those out there who would be like "It is just a game, fantasy: not real".