The science fiction genre often falls into the escapist direction of storytelling, so it's no surprise that male writers tend to create ideal heroes, villains, and other characters. So the male gaze comes into play. That's not criticism--in fact, I'm a fan at times. There's a female gaze, too, although it is far from a direct equivalent.
This video shows a clip from the improvisational comedy show Make Some Noise. Comedian and actress Caitlin Reilly is tasked with depicting an idealized female character from a male writer. The character keeps us abreast of the true dangers facing the group in what I'm guessing is a Robert A. Heinlein story.
Heinlein liked his female characters sexy *and competent*. The closest to this is likely Dejah Thoris "Deety" Burroughs Carter in "The Number of the Beast", whose father created the continua device, but she is herself smart. The novel is (at least according to one popular review) deliberately written to parody bad SF while showing how to do it right. The very first line is "He’s a Mad Scientist and I’m his Beautiful Daughter."
Abusive comment hidden.
(Show it anyway.)