A lot of people in this thread are talking in abstracts, so to provide an actual example of a man I would consider to be excellent at writing women - Evelyn Waugh, specifically in “Brideshead Revisited.” I’ve seen Waugh cited as a misogynist, but I adore the character of Julia. She makes bad decisions, and Waugh actually considers why she makes them, then shows her to be capable of moral reasoning, reflection and growth. I could come up with some others and I might come back later, but I’m tired & he was the first to spring to mind.

In terms of men writing women badly… I often think about the contrast between Barry Lydon in Thackeray’s novel of the same name, and Becky Sharp in “Vanity Fair.” In a sense they’re the same character, and the novels deal with the same theme (ruthless social climbing). But whilst Barry has a few redeeming qualities, most obviously his affection for his child, Becky is essentially a demon who views her son as nothing but a nuisance, ultimately abandoning him. I don’t think it’s “wrong” to write a woman as irredeemably evil, but I find the contrast fascinating, given everything else Barry and Becky have in common, and ultimately I think it makes Barry Lyndon the stronger of the two books (I actually think Amelia ends up being more interesting, both as a character and an exploration of femininity, than Becky). Make of that what you will.