Women and Goals in 2016 Hollywood Films

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

10-4-2018 2:00 PM

End Date

10-4-2018 3:30 PM

Student's Major

Gender and Women's Studies

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Laura Harrison

Mentor's Department

Gender and Women's Studies

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

Gender representation in Hollywood films has been unequal since the inception of filmmaking. When female characters have leading roles, they often have goals that are about pursuing a man or supporting a man. In this project, I examine the goals of characters in the 2016 films Rogue One, Captain America: Civil War, and Deadpool. Specifically, I look at how gender, race, class, sexuality, ability, and age impact what a character's goal may be, and also if the female characters' goals are independent to the goals of the male characters. I completed a feminist media analysis of the films. I hypothesize that female characters will be more likely to have goals related to marriage and family than male characters, and that female characters will be more likely than male characters to have a goal dependent on a male character. In film, it is important to have diverse characters who have goals. It is empowering to see yourself represented, and it sends the message that you are important and you can do what you set your mind to. Additionally, if you are part of the majority and see a marginalized character with goals in a movie, this helps create understanding and empathy towards those diverse characters and shows that these characters are able to accomplish those goals, such as saving the world.

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Apr 10th, 2:00 PM Apr 10th, 3:30 PM

Women and Goals in 2016 Hollywood Films

CSU Ballroom

Gender representation in Hollywood films has been unequal since the inception of filmmaking. When female characters have leading roles, they often have goals that are about pursuing a man or supporting a man. In this project, I examine the goals of characters in the 2016 films Rogue One, Captain America: Civil War, and Deadpool. Specifically, I look at how gender, race, class, sexuality, ability, and age impact what a character's goal may be, and also if the female characters' goals are independent to the goals of the male characters. I completed a feminist media analysis of the films. I hypothesize that female characters will be more likely to have goals related to marriage and family than male characters, and that female characters will be more likely than male characters to have a goal dependent on a male character. In film, it is important to have diverse characters who have goals. It is empowering to see yourself represented, and it sends the message that you are important and you can do what you set your mind to. Additionally, if you are part of the majority and see a marginalized character with goals in a movie, this helps create understanding and empathy towards those diverse characters and shows that these characters are able to accomplish those goals, such as saving the world.

Recommended Citation

Reiman, Lauren. "Women and Goals in 2016 Hollywood Films." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 10, 2018.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2018/poster-session-B/32