Okay, not cool.
I was just browsing the web, when I came across a really interesting article by CinemaBlend. According to this report, "only 15 of the 100 highest grossing 2013 films contained a female protagonist, and only 13 contained as many female characters as male characters."
So what? some may ask.
Well, the article hits the nail on the head. "That's a problem, not only for theatergoers who want some measure of diversity, but also for younger, more likely to be influenced fans."
This is so true. Quite frankly, I never really paid attention to the gender of my favorite movie characters- and when I think about it, a lot of them are males. Having grown up with comics, animated films, chick flicks, etc., I guess I never noticed this stark disparity in gender representation.
When women or girls are the main characters, they're usually:
- Disney princesses who are waiting for their prince charming to save the day
- Crazy, catty drama queens who completely transform themselves to be popular and get "Mr. Right" (I'm thinking Mean Girls)
- Terrible female bosses who are so heartless and power-hungry that they can't even stay married (Devil Wears Prada, anyone?)
Okay, so that was a gross overstatement... but really, I'm going to try to be more aware of the media I'm consuming.
SO... time for my TOP 5 FAVORITE (animated) FEMALE PROTAGONISTS!
1. ELSA (Frozen)
Do I even need to discuss why Elsa is aweeeesommmeee?
She's all about overcoming fears, embracing who she is, and confidently leading Arendelle as the Queen. Though her childhood leaves her feeling scared and unsure of her potential, she gradually learns what it means to own her special powers. Unlike the quintessential Disney princess story, she doesn't rely on prince charming to save her– instead, Anna (her sister) helps her save the kingdom through an "act of true love." Frozen was adorable. If you have not yet seen it, I'd definitely recommend you do that now. :)
2. KIKI (Kiki's Delivery Service)
Kiki is a 13 year old witch who accepts a job to fly by broomstick and deliver baked goods in the port city of Koriko. In the middle of the film, she starts losing her flying ability, which causes her to suspend her delivery business. Throughout the movie, she seeks out a new "purpose" for herself and becomes increasingly confident in her own skin. However, when a strong gust of wind sends an airship out of control, causing her friend Tombo to hang in mid-air, she regains her flying abilities and saves the day. YAY cute witches!
3. EEP (The Croods)
Eep defies all female stereotypes- she has a dense & compact body, she's crazzzyy athletic, and has unkempt curly red hair. She's beautiful because her character embodies a heroine who forges her own path in life, and she is not defined by what she looks like. She's rebellious, inquisitive, and works to bring her family out of their caveman lifestyle. Through her persistence, she is able to show her family a world beyond just their caves, bringing an experience they could have never imagined. Okay, so there is a love story, but still. Eep is a cool cat.
4. Mulan (Mulan)
Mulan starts out trying the whole "make up/small waist/quiet woman" thing, but she fails miserably at it. When her father is enlisted into the military, but cannot do so because of an injured leg, Mulan heroically rebels against her society's gender roles. She risks dishonor, social exclusion, and her life to keep both her father, and her nation, safe. Mulan establishes the idea that gender is not important- it's courage and determination that counts. She is resilient, strong, selfless, and compassionate. Oh my gosh, if I could be anyone, I would want to be Mulan.
5. Korra (Legend of Korra)
Okay, so Legend of Korra is not a movie- I admit. It's a spin from Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender, but this TV series has so many important female characters, I couldn't not include it here. This series portray women as real people. They are strong, intelligent, strong-willed; they are also weak, manipulative, sarcastic, and shy. The series presents women as both heroes and villains, as each character is extremely complex and unique. Korra is an amazing character who teaches girls that it's possible to be everything and anything they want to be. It's not wrong for girls to feel emotional, to cry, or to seek love- these things are not mutually exclusive with one's goals or dreams. Korra displays a broad spectrum of human emotions, and she shows that gender does not present limitations on what she can and cannot do.
