Ko Ching-ming, a professor of Chinese at National Taiwan University, notes that Lie Nu Zhuan describes many different types of women. Some are praised for their intelligent minds and eloquent speech, and it is evident that Liu Xiang didn't limit his list of feminine virtues to chastity, submissiveness, or dedication to one's maternal duties. The female author Ban Zhao (ca.
「要注意，是列女傳，不是『烈』女傳」，台大中文系教授柯慶明提醒，《列女傳》一書肯定的女性生命型態很多元，有的以智慧、有的以辯才被稱道，顯然劉向這位千禧史家欣賞的不只是具有貞潔、柔弱或母儀天下等特質的女性。