Is it normal that i like characters as individuals rather than representatives?

All right, First thing's first: This is an emotional thing. Not a logical thing. I have always had difficulty explaining my emotions... even when I understand them. I have to be quite careful about how I phrase things because of this, as I have an unfortunate tendency to simply assume my emotions are easily understandable.

Now, let's get to the meat of the issue.

Some folks I know have this weekly get together where we watch shows we like and discuss them. It's good fun, and I very much enjoy it.
In one show we watched, there was a character we all seemed to like. She was more or less a secondary character in the narrative, but she is very well written and very identifiable. I think she is incredibly awesome, and my friends agree.

In the most recent episode, she was put into the spotlight for a bit. It focused on how the emotional tension between two other characters (both very close friends of hers) was affecting her, and how their lack of communication between themselves and towards her was hurting their relationship.

At one point, a reasonable (but not entirely correct) argument is made: "Sometimes a person does not want to communicate their issues, as it could hurt the people around them. Sometimes it's best to let someone work out their own issues. Just be there when they need help." This idea and behavior are identified in the show as "masculine" and discussed by a male character.

By the end of the episode, the message is: "One should communicate the issues they have with the people around them, and stop assuming that every issue you have is all about yourself. In times of hardship, everyone needs to communicate well in order to move forward." This idea is not necessarily identified in the show as "feminine" but it is discussed by the female character, whom I originally mentioned.

I loved this episode. It featured awesome characterization for all involved, especially the three friends. I felt the message was very important, I felt it was presented in just the right way, and i felt it was presented without totally lambasting the supposedly opposing view.

My friends? They also enjoyed the show... but they latched on to the idea that she was entirely right in her view, and he was entirely wrong. That one side is "inherently masculine" and one side is "Inherently feminine" and began to draw all sorts of feminist parallels.

Before moving on, I want to make it clear: I am not trying to insult ideas associated with feminism. I even understand, to an extent, the point my friends are making.
We have a show with a strong and well written female character, a viewpoint that is traditionally seen as feminine is treated as the healthier viewpoint, and the shows main story is written by a woman. I understand and I get it.

So, finally, what's my issue? (about time...)
I have an emotional... issue? I'm not sure if it's an 'issue' per say, but it is a quirk I have. I have a far easier time sympathizing with an individual than I do with a philosophy. When a character is explicitly represented as an attempted anthropomorphic personification of a value, or set of values, I have a difficult time seeing them as an individual person. It can be values I agree with, values I disagree with, or values I sympathize with... The idea of taking a plot or a character and breaking them down philosophically takes away from my enjoyment of a story. (Yeah... I'd probably fail creative writing and modern literature classes.)

So, basically, when my friends started discussing how 'feminist' the show was, and focusing solely on that aspect, it made me cringe emotionally. It felt like they where 'reducing' the plot and characters to a sociopolitical analogy.
I felt guilty about this, as in a way I am letting their brand of enjoyment (which is ultimately harmless in nature) spoil my own. That's neither a healthy nor friendly reaction to an opposing viewpoint.

It's purely an emotional idea. It's not exactly logical... and honestly, now that I've typed it out, it seems like a pretty stupid overreaction.

But it's been typed. I feel better about myself, about my friends, and even about the show we enjoy together.

So, final question... just to stay on topic:

Is it normal that I prefer to see a story character as an individual, a person, rather than a representative of philosophical ideals?