The Second Wave of Feminism and it's effect in Hollywood

The only women I have ever seen in movies when I was a kid were the Disney Princesses. Other movies would idealize men as heroes and strong saviors. Not only did the men always save the day, in most movies, we see men playing the lead role. In Ms. Oconnel's lecture, she opened up by talking about some women who played the lead role in movies. Unfortunately, I have not seen any of the films she has presented so I don't have much background on the actresses' roles but she listed: Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, and The Hunger Games- Catching Fire. In the three films previously listed, a woman plays the role of the protagonist whereas, in films in earlier times, it would be an exception to the casting and media.

Historically, women were not to be seen as strong and courageous on film. Even advertisements and propaganda showed women s weaker and lesser individuals than men. Women have always been put into the "fragile" category when their character is depicted by someone other than themselves. Movies show a lot to people, especially younger children. Children learn and adapt from the TV. They tend to mirror and mimic the behavior they see on the TV. The girls who are seeing women stepping out of tough situations, or women do not want to want to get there dress dirty, will also believe that that is how they should act... as a girl.

The body of the woman is also madly disrespected in media. The stick figure, slim-waisted, cat eyed, long-legged, blonde, young woman is solely who directors would cast before today's "body diversity" breakout. There used to be suggested methods just for women to keep a low weight maintained advertised in magazines and newspapers in the 1960s.

Luckily, I can say I have hope in Hollywood from now on because actresses like Amy Schumer and singers like Meghan Trainor are proper role models to women and girls today. They advocate for the plus-size community and show that there is no barrier to what a woman could be despite what they look and act like. Hopefully, one day, we will see this as a norm in the entertainment industry. But, for now, women are seldom superhero through the lens of the camera.