Exploring the ways in which the representation of women has changed over the years in

contemporary films, focusing on the 1950s to present day.

Over the years, the representation of women portrayed in contemporary films has changed,
focusing particularly on the 1950s to present day, partially due to the ways in which
societys expectations influenced a reform in gender roles as well as due to political and
cultural impacts too. During an era such as the 1950s, the representation of women was
very repressive and irregular in comparison to the male gender as they essentially had
hardly any authority within the patriarchal society.

The 1950s was the era of post war, therefore societys expectations of women were
to carry out actions of a typical house wife; cooking dinner, doing the chores, spending
majority of their time in their household. As men were known to be more dominant, social
impacts had provided females with a representation of being rather insignificant individuals.
A Hollywood film such as A Street Car Named Desire (1951 Tennessee Williams) presents
women with the typical house wife stereotype. Stella Kowalski (Kim Hunter) illustrates this
stereotype as she demonstrates society's bias view of femininity during the period in which
the text was written. Stella is represented as a dutiful housekeeper and an obedient wife, in
this case, a symbol of femininity. This is a prime example of how women were represented
during the 1950s as her status of being a woman was belittled due to the ways in which
Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando), her husband, was portrayed in the film. A key scenario
supporting this is when Stanley huskily mentions Stella Catch!
1
. Rather than asking her to
catch the meat politely, he delivers his dialogue in a highly demanding tone. This connotes
that women in the 1950s were objectified as they had least authority within their house
hold as Stanley orders Stella to Catch the meat instantly. Whilst doing this, he heaves the
packet of meat to Stella which supports the representation of women in film during the
1950s was fairly inequitable. As well as this, it could symbolize a dog and its owner playing
catch, whilst in this case, Stella is represented as the dog and Stanley as the owner,
connoting that Stella is instantly degraded and that men had the most dominance within
that period whereas women were seen to have no value. In addition, in the 1950s, women

1 A Streetcar Named Desire, American Film, (Elia Kazan 1951)

were expected to be accountable housewives as they were dependent on their husbands to
bring home the meat for their evening meal that the women would cook as women had no
authority during the 1950s due to the social impacts, such as post war. Alongside the
portrayal of Stellas representation within the film, Blanche (Vivien Leigh), Stellas sister, is
raped atrociously on scene. This instantly provides audiences with a negative representation
of women. Ann Kaplan, a feminist film theorist published a book Women and Film; Both
sides of the camera (2002) stating being a woman, her desire has no power
2
. Stanley has
the ability to rape Blanche as, in the 1950s, women were only presented as a mans sexual
desire, illustrated by Stanley as he picks her up and carries her to the bed
3
. As well as
portraying male brutality towards women, Blanches rape also supports that women in the
1950s were impacted by political factors, as the DobashStudy 1980 states the position of
married women was at its lowest ebb..
4
as shown when Stanleys picks her up and carries
her. By picking Blanche up as well as carrying her to the bed portrays that women had no
say towards their body in opposition to men as they had the view of being a mans sex toy
in that period. She fails to argue against his actions, as the fact that he is carrying her in to
the bedroom with sexual intentions, portrays females had a very minor position in film
whilst the men had the leading roles. as they were constantly presented as having a lot of
authority, muscular physicality, having a much more respected yet stereotypical
representation in Hollywood films overall.


In addition, the objectification of women as subject of male pleasure was also
represented in films during the 1950s to early 2000s. Women were valued by men
depending on their physical appearance and were only shown during sexual scenes or when
trying to present male satisfaction. A chapter in the Film and Theory anthology (R.Stan,
T.Miller 2000) mentions the launch of a journal, Women and Film, stating women are
ultimately refused a voice, a discourage, and their desire is subjected to male desire
5
. The
film The Handmaids Tale (1990 Volker Schlondorff) is a prime example of male satistfaction
as Kate, the female actress is on scene positioned between Serena Joys legs forcefully

2
Cook Pam, Bernink Mieki, The Cinema Book 2
nD
edition, Bfi publishing
3
Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire, Penguin Modern Classics 2009
4
DobashStudy1980
5
R.Stan, T.Miller Oxford,Blackwell, Film and Theory Anthology Representation of Gender In The Past, 2000
whilst having sexual intercourse with the commander in hopes that she will produce a child
for them. This scene clearly shows the objectification of women. The fact that she is forced
to lay between anothers legs to produce a child for the commander illustrates her level of
rights being very low and that there was major influences via social and political factors,such
as the rights to vote, impacting a females status at the time in Hollywood films as well as
portraying her as a sex toy in numerous scenes. In another scene, Ofreds body is being
examined by a male surgeon. However, he abruptly whispers that he could help her and
that nobody would ever find out. She then realizes that he is offering to impregnate her. The
fact that he mentions this illustrates the ways in which women were objectified in
Hollywood films as the ways in which the females are treated in A Handmaids Tail
exemplify. This emphasizes the negativity portrayed within the representation of women
during past years in Hollywood films.

Similar to the objectification of women in previous years, supported by British
feminist, Laura Mulveys theory, the male gaze was also a large influence towards the
negative representation of women in Hollywood films. Laura published an essay 1975 Visual
Pleasure and Narrative Cinema, introducing the concept of male gaze as a trait of gender
power in Hollywood films. In her text Representations of Gender in the past, she mentions
the role of a woman in a film almost always revolves around her physical attraction in
which, the film Thelma and Louise 1951 presents. In one scene, Louise mentions Thelma
what happened? as Thelma reveals the marks on her neck. The marks on her neck
emphasize that female characters in films were often for male pleasure as they were valued
for their physical qualities as Thelma illustrates. As well as this, she mentions, If youd ever
met my husband, youd understand why
6
. As Thelma mentions her husband, this signifies
the inequality of gender roles as females were represented as being dependent on their
husbands whilst having a more fragile representation. Furthermore, Thelma and Liouise are
controlled by the male gaze as mentioned in The Dominance of the Male Gaze in Hollywood
Films, a book written by Isabelle Fol, The male police officers are viewing the tape of
Thelma robbing the store. One of the officers is eating a hamburger which indicates the
entertaining aspect of male gazing. This interpretation of male gaze in Thelma and Louise

6
Thelma and Louise, directed by Ridley Scott (1975)
supports the sexual perception of women in Hollywood films, which provided women with a
negative representation in the 1900s.
However, in recent years the rate of the objectification of women has altered in
contemporary films. Unlike The Handmaids Tale, the modern Hollywood film Kill Bill (2003
Quentin Tarantino) supports the change of how women are represented in Hollywood films.
The bride (Uma Thruman), is the leading female protagonist, providing a dominant and
active role in the film. Thurman not only plays the heroic role, her characteristics and
physicality are represented in a more superior form compared to the representation Kate
provides of women in The Handmaids Tale. Thurmans character has an essential, vigorous
leading role, and depicts characteristics of a killer partially due to her ensemble of weapons.
There is a scene, which shows her defeating a number of male assassins independently
without relying on the opposite sex for safety. The bride is a female assassin out for revenge
and has no mercy on the individuals who have wronged her. The fact that she manages to
kill a number of them connotes that women in contemporary films are able to complete
tasks independently as they are represented with more advanced skills. As a result, women
are no longer stereotyped in Hollywood films as they succeed in being leading roles whilst
being able to kill their assassins. Whereas, in The Handmaids Tale, her arms forcefully on
the bed hold the woman In this case, there is a major difference between the
representations of women during the era of 1950s to present day. This is because; the
equality of gender roles in film has increased, no longer providing audiences with a passive
stereotypical view of women.

Also, although the objectification of women may still slightly occur in Hollywood
films, there has been a reform of female representation over the years. For example,
throughout the film Kick Ass 2010, Hit Girl (Mindy McCready) who is a young assassin,
carries out similar qualities as her father. Although she is very young, she defeats male
assassins much older than her. Therefore, this shows that women are no longer allocated in
scenes just for male pleasure as they have a purpose for the narrative of the film, not just to
satisfy the opposite sex. As well as this, Hit Girls age in Kick Ass also highlights the change
of female representation in films, as Hit Girls age defies the stereotype of women. Men are
usually seen as constantly overpowering a female; however Hit Girl manages to kill the
antagonists showing a rather more significant representation of females in this era.
Therefore, it is clear that the representation of women has rehabilitated over the years as
women are far more valued in films nowadays.
In addition, nowadays, the representation of women has altered, as they are
presented having more of a leading role, having identifiable goals, represented with
authority and significance in contemporary films, not being devalued in comparison to
women in the 1950s. Women are presented to have more of a leading role in contemporary
films as there is more equality between the roles of both genders. The blockbuster Hunger
Games (2012 Gary Ross) verifies this as the female character Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence)
provides characteristics that defy the stereotype of women in Hollywood films. For example,
similar to Stella in A Street Car Named Desire, Katniss delivers actions that convey the
typical female role by being motherly like and providing for her family. Characters such as
Katniss deliver a representation of women no longer stereotyped in films as they are able to
handle situations without being reliant on the opposite sex. However, there is a major
difference between the representations of women in the 1950s and present day as Katniss
is shown as an independent, tough female character filling her fathers role, she became the
chief cook and bottle washer, bringing home the food and income for her family. Her
actions go against the typical stereotype of women which supports the alteration in the
representation of women from the 1950s to current era as Katniss is delivering a similar
role to Stellas husband Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, illustrating that strength is not
something solely found in masculinity she presents similar traits as she acts more like a
male. This clearly proves that women are no longer devalued, having a more respected role
in films as they as gender equality has increased. Therefore, showing an alteration in the
representation of women from the 1950s to present day.

Other contemporary films such as James Bond films are also a key example of the
reform in representation of women in Hollywood films. This is because his old films such as
007 Dr No (Terrence Young 1962) , From Russia With Love (Terrence Young 1963) and Gold
Finger, (Terrence Young 1967), provided women with a representation of being objectified
and devalued and sexualized to the audiences, listed above being objectified as well as on
scene for a mans satisfaction and pleasure. This is shown on the 007 Dr No film poster as he
is located alongside women in lingerie, providing women with a less respected impression
as they constantly had majority of their body publicized. However, from the year 2000 to
present day, the representation of women is no longer the same as they are represented as
more powerful individuals as well as being presented in a more esteemed form towards the
public. For example, in one of Terrence Youngs more recent films such as Die another day
2002, the female actress (Halle Berry) on the poster, is portrayed in a majorly different way
in comparison to his films published in the mid 1900s. She is presented holding a gun
alongside James Bond which shows that she has a larger role in the film as she is holding a
gun which was something only a male would have the rights to do in Hollywood films during
previous years. As well as this, it gives females a more valued representation as they are
shown to be more capable and leading in contemporary films. As well as this, in one of the
fight scenes, she mentions Ive got a better idea
7
and begins to take action during the
mission. This connotes that women are more active in films as they supply females with a
representation of being fairly more self-determining and authoritative as she leads the
mission rather than James Bond himself. Another James Bond film which proves a change of
female representation is during the scenario of Severine and James Bond having a
conversation. She mentions do you mind if I ask you a question? it would only have to do
with death
8
, ending the conversation with be careful what you wish for. Her spoken
dialogue immediately provides women with a representation of being very manipulating
and intelligent as she has the last word during the conversation with James Bond. This
shows that women are located higher in the hierarchy structure as they have more rights as
well as providing an increase of gender equality.

Moreover, Leticia, known as Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) is one of the main
female characters in Fast and Furious series. This is because she is a greatly experienced
with being a street racer and a mechanic. Leticia defies the stereo of women as she has a
profession Being a racer and a mechanic are what a male would usually have a profession in
however, the fact that Leticia spends most of her time on the racing track provides a more
masculine trait. This clearly illustrates that women have more of an equal role as they are
represented as being more capable of doing a mans job, in comparison to the early 1900s.
Also, in one of the scenes, she mentions Hey Klaus, youre supposed to be Team Muscle,
dont make me come over there and make you team pussy. Her spoken dialogue is very

7
Die another Day, 2002, Terrence Young
8
Die another Day, 2002, Terrence Young
demanding and slightly intimidating, similar to the way a male would have spoken to his
wife during the1950s-80s. Women have more of a masculine role in film as they are
represented as being more dominant as well as having more of a role. As well as this,
although she is a very pretty female within the film, she isnt objectified in comparison to
Stella and Blanche in A Street Car Named Desire. Leticia is part of a team which consists of
mainly males. The fact that she is one of the only females within the team clearly
demonstrates that women nowadays are represented equally to men, as she isnt just on
scene during sexual scenarios but is shown during team discussions as well as managing to
complete missions, defeating assassins for the team.

Another contemporary film, Million Dollar Baby 2004, similar to Fast and Furious,
provides audiences with a representation of women being very strong-minded, ambitious
and mentally tough. The main female protagonist, Margaret, known as "Maggie" Fitzgerald,
is a waitress from town in the Ozarks. She attends a gym which is controlled by Frankie
Dunn, a victorious boxing trainer. Maggie asks Dunn to train her, but he angrily responds
that he "doesn't train girls." Maggie makes good of transcending the female stereotype as
she trains towards being a successful boxer. She manages to save enough money to
purchase a house for her mother. As she provides for her family shows she carries out the
characteristics of a male as men are known for providing for their families. Also, women
were constantly given a stereotype of being a housewife. However, Maggie defies this as
she is seen on scene spending majority of her time at the gym training, not cooking in the
kitchen. This proves that the representation of women has reformed as women are
represented as heroines rather than objects for a mans pleasure.

All in all, the representation of women in contemporary films delivers a major contrast to
how women were represented during the 1900s. This is because, gender roles were not
presented equally, providing women with a representation of having no power whilst seen
as being worthless and devalued in films. However, nowadays, although objectification of
women may slightly occur in some Hollywood films, womens roles as a female is far more
respected in films as they carry out similar roles to men, having leading roles as protagonists
as well as completing missions independently or as a team. During previous years, women
were constantly represented as the act of male gaze or male pleasure, however nowadays
they carry out leading roles in film, portraying a transformation over the years.
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