Research- How are Women Represented in the Action Movie Genre? Empowered Female Role Models or Highly Sexualised Chicks with Guns?

Introduction This essay will be looking at the representation of women in action films, a typically male dominated genre. The main focus will be Angelina Jolie's portrayal of Lara Croft in the 2001 film, Tomb Raider' and the 2003 sequel Tomb Raider II: The Cradle of Life'. The essay will also make reference to Resident Evil' (2002), Resident Evil: Apocalypse' (2004) and Terminator III: The Rise of the Machines' (2003), along with other action movie texts. The essay will be written from a feminist point of view and make reference to Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze' (scopophilia).
What is Feminism? Feminism is the fight for equality for women, and has been a recognised philosophy for the last thirty years. Since the 70's there have been phenomenal changes in the roles of women in Western society. However there is still a lot to be done before the representation of women is completely accurate. The representation of women across all media tends to focus on the following: beauty, size/physique, sexuality, emotional (as opposed to intellectual) dealings and relationships (as opposed to independence/freedom). Laura Mulvey, regarded as one of the most prominent feminist film critics, is famously quoted as saying "narrative fiction film created images of women used for the gratification of men".

However, as times have changed so have women's roles in society, and accordingly their representation in the media.
Changes in Female Representation Media images still portray women as sex objects; as independent (but still sexy) career women; as doting mothers obsessed with food and clean football shorts. Women are still portrayed as objects to lust after; they are often the focus of the male gaze' ("Visual Pleasures and Narrative Cinema" Laura Mulvey), with camera effects, mise en scene and use of sound to accentuate their appearance. But the definition of attractiveness has changed. Images of women as dizzy blondes or mothers/nurturers have been replaced by a new breed. 50 years ago most males wanted a subservient doormat for a wife (which may explain the lack of empowered female characters; as opposed to damsels in distress/ femme fatales in older movies). Now men are looking for intelligent, confident, empowered, "ass-kicking babes", who manage to look perfect even after fifteen minute fights with chainsaw wielding robots/ flesh-eating zombies/ indestructible cyborgs.
Representation The changes in representation of women can be seen in the Terminator' trilogy. In Terminator I' Sarah Connor, the main female protagonist is portrayed as hysterical, screaming and in need of rescue. Terminator II' shows her as a strong, empowered female able to hold her own. The two main female characters in Terminator III' are Kate Brewster, another damsel in distress and the TX, a deadly but sexy killing machine who uses her sexuality as a weapon (e.g. inflating breasts to avert trouble from police). Both of the two cyborgs in Terminator', the Terminator himself (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and the female Terminator, the TX, are robots supposedly with no human feelings. However, the Terminator appears to have human characteristics, almost showing compassion and empathy, while the TX is portrayed as a bloodthirsty, evil, invincible killing machine.
by Charlotte Starlett