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Really? Lisa is portrayed as a self righteous, self centered, pretentious little jerk who thinks she is much smarter then she is. Patty and Selma are stuck in low paying dead-end jobs, friendless and often are rescued by Homer from their latest round of stupidity. That is when they are not trying to take advantage of Homer and having the whole thing back fire.

I think this is how we would perceive Lisa. I'm not sure the creators of the show perceive her that way. Our seldom, if ever, seeing Patty and Selma in the company of friends doesn't indicate they're friendless, but, even then, this doesn't mean they're stupid or being portrayed as stupid relative to Homer (who has morphed from vicious and stupid in the earliest episodes to lovable and stupid in the later episodes). At least one of them works for the state, so it's probably not a low paying job and will have a comfortable pension.

Mrs. Lovejoy is a hypocritical gossip. Maud Flanders was the neighbor from hell.

This is true, but Maud, she dead. And neither had as much facetime as the others I've mentioned.

Crusty is not an evil clown (That would be Sideshow Bob)

Sideshow Bob is evil, but he's not a clown. And Crusty is always selling his name and image to market unsafe devices, unwholesome food, and other such things for his own gain.

Apu is a loving father and husband who does his best to care for a (very) large family.

True, but his primary focus is on selling, selling, selling.

Marge and Ned Flanders are more or less normal because you have to have someone to make a contrast.

Sorry but if you try to build an essay around "men are unfairly portrayed" using the Simpsons you are going to have to look at the whole picture.

The preponderance of the evidence in the portrayal of males versus females in The Simpsons still supports my argument, secondary qualities of some characters notwithstanding.

I'm not sure the creators of the show perceive her that way.

I would argue that they have shown it quite clearly. As evidence I would note that when Lisa tried to run the town with only "Smart people" in charge it turned out rather poorly as do most of her schemes, the exception is when she is trying to act in a proper sisterly fashion and save Bart. That is also is when Bart's plans tend to work out as well. Both of them succeed when they are focused on others.

Our seldom, if ever, seeing Patty and Selma in the company of friends doesn't indicate they're friendless, but, even then, this doesn't mean they're stupid or being portrayed as stupid relative to Homer

They have talked about being alone and lonely several times and can you name a time when Homer didn't ultimately come out on top? Both of them are clerks for the DMV. Low skill job, not very high paying, usually selected by people who lack brains. It is steady work I will grant you. But I would bet on Homer beating them in the pay department.

As to Mrs Lovejoy and Maud not having much face time, Neither does Chief Wiggum. And Sideshow Bob is a clown. A second rate clown.

Selling, selling selling is how Apu provides for his family of, I think it is twelve. He is not piling up money for it's own sake.

And I have think I have shown that they have one normal male (Ned) and one normal female (Marge) character with the rest being eh.. not so admirable. That is balance.

BTW there are more male major characters then female which might play into it.