SSC Film Studies

Representation of women in superhero films

Women in superhero films has definitely improved with there being a lot more stronger women in these films now but is it all perfect or does it still need improving.

"Female characters in superhero films may appear to be empowered, but in reality, they are just props, objectified in order to exist in relation to the men, disserving women and men everywhere by strengthening gender roles and boosting gender inequality."

This quote shows that not everyone in the media industry think that women are not strong enough in superhero films yet it is not denying that women are strong in the superhero films. It suggests they are just using their strength to help out the male superhero's achieve their goals in the films. This does suggest women are strong in superhero films but they are not strong enough to lead their own film. An example of women actually being strong in superhero films is in the absolutely awful Batman and Robin they make Poison Ivy how she is in the comics which is very powerful and she is even able to control Bane a very strong male to do whatever she wants. Yes she uses her sexuality just like in the comics but she is able to control Batman and Robin against there will she kills Mr freezes wife and breaks Mr Freeze out of prison all and all she is a very strong character in Batman and Robin. (Damn why in a really bad film )

"The viewer quickly realizes that Laurie’s orgasm gives a pornographic subtext by doing quick shots of Laurie’s body as she experiences total ecstasy.

It seems that her pleasure is newfound for the sake of spectacle because the focus during the sex scene seems to be almost entirely on her sexualization and Dan’s complete surrender to the unbelievable nature of the act.

In other words, Laurie’s pleasure is not for herself, but for Dan’s gaze and for the male audience to place Dan onto an even higher pedestal."

This brings up an interesting point that even when women seem to be doing what they want they are still being used by the men in the film for their own pleasure and not their own. In a way i agree with this point but in another way I don't and the reason for this is because in an intense scene like a sex scene you want it to be fast paced so the audience are not bored because say you had three still shots for a sex scene that lasted lets say a minute or two the viewer would be completely bored out of their mind. For the most part women in Watchmen stand on their own two dictating what they want to do and when. Also this brings up another point  the people that direct these superhero movies have had to have read the comics so the director is following what the representation of the women in the comics are to stick to the source material. To be loyal to the fans I mean Imagine having a very weak Superman or Batman the director would be absolutely slated and the film would bomb.

Quotes from: http://everydayfeminism.com/2013/11/female-characters-superhero-films/