Okay Ladies, hunker down. It’s time to let this shit get real.
Warning – major factoid on its way. How long’s it been since “realistic portrayals of women” became the major “social issue” in film?
Was it the early nineties; with the epic Feminist impact of Thelma and Louise? (BTW, if you’re Millennial and haven’t seen that flick – you owe yourself to stream it. Now.)
Because – as of 2016 – while some of the superficial annoyances have lessened… portrayals of women in film are still rarely real.
Nor is this problem easy to fix.
As most of us already know, the answer isn’t to add more “girly movies” to a studio’s development schedule. Curing social stereotypes with an avalanche of fluffy comedies and touchy-feely dramas starring Jennifer Aniston or Sandra Bullock… rendered “real” by limited makeup? Well, if dramas and rom-coms are your tastes - have at it, girl. Go have fun. But don’t presume to save me a seat. Because pigeonholing women into such genres is not only boring, it doesn’t level the playing field. At all.
That’s a significant source of the problem: assuming women only enjoy nurturing or “non-dangerous” forms of film. When you think about it, that’s cliché.
Then there are cultural commentators who take a different view, proclaiming: don’t you see how empowered women have become lately? Just look at the kick-ass heroines onscreen: The Black Widow from The Avengers, Alice from Resident Evil, Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy. Yada yada. The list goes on.
But here’s the crux of the issue: it AIN’T enough to stick a hefty gun in a lady’s hand and declare the gender wars miraculously healed. (And let’s not discuss the Freudian implications of guns and women, either. That’s for another article – some other day.)
The issue in a nut-shell* is this. Women aren’t from Venus, nor Men from Mars. Unless we cower and let ourselves be defined that way. Women are simply human. Diverse, unique beings - ones that aren’t psychologically generic, or definable by their “sex.” No. We experience Love. Anger. Jealousy. Rage. Different values and philosophies – depending on how we think, reason and have been raised.
For screenwriters, the goal (should be) obvious. It’s the exact same mission you face with male characters as well. Whether protagonist, antagonist, or somewhere in between, writing a 2D character is the “easy way out.” Any writer who honestly cares about their craft strives to create organic human portrayals. No-one is JUST a villain. Or a hero. That’s true for female characters, as well. In the past, women’s roles in films have too often been reduced to a cartoon doodle: The Good Girl. The Bad Girl (aka slut.) The vulnerable target of a serial killer. A mother defending her child. Some flawless object of desire.
Is that intentional on the part of studios? In some cases, perhaps. In others, it’s just a writer pandering to a given market niche - or revealing subliminal biases that they don’t even know they have.
But for those who do realize it – it’s a lazy, stereotypical way to write.
Let’s do the math, shall we?
It’s been a quarter of a decade since Thelma and Louise hit the screens. And since Linda Hamilton faced Judgment Day.
Thirty years since Sigourney Weaver kicked butt in Aliens.
And practically the same amount of time since Jodie Foster gave female roles multiple dimensions in both Silence of the Lambs… and The Accused.
You would think the film world would have “got it” by now.
But – based on the endless 2D female characters still marching across Movie and TV– they have many miles left to go before they “sleep”. Whether or not they’re forced to do so in high heels. (Thank you, Jurassic World, for that particular BS…)
So what’s the takeaway for screenwriters? No matter your gender – it’s just this. All your characters must be designed to encompass a full range of emotions and motivations. In order to be worthy enough to grace the screen, they have to have complex personalities. Are they male or female? Who cares? The only thing that matters is that they’re living, breathing –captivating - characters. Don’t bore us with cartoon clones. Instead – stand up for individuality, no matter the gender in which it’s contained.
In fact, I’ll wager you a little bet: the day gender is truly equal in the movie world will be when the box office celebrates a true female anti-hero. IE: an XY alter ego of Rocket Raccoon, or Hugh Laurie’s House!
But no matter your female character’s personality – defend her organic integrity above all else. And if the studios try to force you to “dumb her down.” Then grow a pair… and call them out! : P
* God – will these innuendos ever end?
Comments
I agree. One way to write a genuine female character is to write them as males and then change them to females. Another thing to think about is to always consider that your first idea about a character most likely is a stereotype.
That's a great technique, Desiree. I think many writers would benefit from that exercise. I also think it's good to make as many minor characters as possible female - such as police officers, business people etc. It really make you realise how easy it is to default to stereo types. But ultimately, I think the biggest tip I can offer here is to not just think about how our female characters act in their world but how the world acts around our female characters. That's where the real differences really shine.