Article by Renee@Moviestar1963.
When we think of superheroes, we often think of people like Batman, Superman, Iron Man, and, well, a lot of other males I could mention. But we shouldn’t forget the strong females that can be as courageous as the men. In recent years, the world of film and pop culture has witnessed a distinct cultural shift. We are now accustomed to films and franchises showcasing a super-cool, super-tough heroine across both the Marvel and DC canons. I’m thinking Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, and the Scarlet Witch. Even Harley Quinn got her own spin-off film, and her merchandise now outsells many of her male counterparts four to one! Whilst we may remember with mixed emotions her toxic relationship with the Joker, in The Suicide Squad, Harley gets to really showcase her crazed personality in a manic adventure all of her own.
The frighteningly powerful Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman shine a light of hope for all females, not only for their independent strength, but also in the sincerity of their fight for what’s right for our world. Of course that hasn’t stemmed the disproportionate number of superhero films featuring male leads. However, even in some of these films, we still witness virtuous super-heroine strength. Examples of this include Valkyrie from Thor: Ragnarok, and Shuri from The Black Panther. Apparently gone are the days where females were portrayed as passive bystanders. It has almost become an expectation that females will enjoy their moment to shine strength on the silver screen and in video games.
When we think back, strong female leads have not been restricted to superhero films. I doubt many men would be comfortable taking on Ellen Ripley from Alien, or Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games. Other notable mentions include Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, Rey and Princess Leia from Star Wars, and Sarah Conner from The Terminator. Having so many strong, iconic ladies on show can actually help the globe. It brings some confidence to all females, young and old, and can inspire them to be the best versions of themselves. I believe that the world needs more role models like our favourite heroines to show and present to everyone that we all are equal and we shouldn’t let people down because of their background or their gender. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. After all, deep down we are all the same and we can achieve great things by being ourselves.
Article by Renee@Moviestar1963.