Women in Film

Over the past century, the movie industry has made an immeasurable impact on the social culture of the world. From the way we imagine the future, to the way we glimpse into the past; from the way we fantasize of unrealistic realities to the way we perceive real life, movies influence us. One of the most significant ways that movies have impacted society is their gender stereotype and portrayal of women.

In almost any classic hero movie, the man faces the conflict, the man overcomes the challenge, and the man gets the girl. Sometimes, the girl acts as a supporting sidekick to the protagonist male, but HE typically does all the “heavy lifting.” In other movies, the female may be the main protagonist, but she is not able to resolve the conflict without the help of a stronger male figure. The female role has usually been the weak and the fragile, the “damsel in distress,” and/or the symbol of sex. With this, the artificiality of the female character increases. Extra makeup is applied, body parts are enhanced (mostly breasts as it appeals to men), and clothes are either tightened or simply taken away to be more revealing.

To list a few examples of these portrayals:

In the James Bond franchise, women are primarily used as a love interest and sex drive for the leading British Spy.

In Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Princess Leia is outfitted in a bikini-type outfit as she is a helpless slave to a gangster in the movie.

In the popular musical Grease, leading female Sandy practically transforms her entire appearance and personality in order to gain the affection of a boy.

In Disney’s Cinderella, Cinderella needs to be rescued from a life of servitude and treachery by a rich, powerful, and handsome young prince.

Now, as the 2010 decade is coming to a close, I look back and realize that the woman stereotype, though still present, is not as common in movies. Female roles are becoming more independent of men. Independent of outside help, even. In many cases, the women ARE the help that will resolve the conflict, and “make the world a better place.”

Movies have been made where women: become Presidents and get the country out of a crisis, are mathematicians and engineers who safely bring astronauts home, have superpowers and fight battles in wars to save her fellow man, are spies that save an entire country from being destroyed.

Some examples of films that portray these women include:

Rogue One- Jyn goes on a galactic quest to discover the truth about her father and eventually complete his dangerous mission by leading a group of rebel men into battle.

Tomb Raider- Adventurous Lara Croft journeys into the unknown on a mythical island where she risks her life seemingly every step she takes.

Brave- Merida rejects her royal family’s tradition of getting married in order to rule and decides to take her fate and her future into her own hands all while fighting bears and unlocking magical truths about her culture’s history.

This new(ish) concept of portraying women as strong and independent is popular as women of the real world continually fight for their rights for equality among men.

Carlin, Shannon. “A New Study Shows Women On-Screen Have It Just As Bad Now As 10 Years Ago, But There's A Fix.” Bustle, Bustle, 17 Dec. 2018, www.bustle.com/p/female-representation-in-movies-has-barely-changed-in-a-decade-but-theres-a-way-we-can-fix-it-9940849.

Saxena, Jaya. “Women Had a Third of Speaking Roles in Movies in the Past Ten Years.” ELLE, ELLE, 8 Oct. 2017, www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/news/a47090/women-underrepresented-in-film-study-usc/.