gender equality movie essay

HISTORY IN POLITICS

a Durham University Society

10 Movies Showing the Evolution of Gender Equality in Hollywood

People say that films are sometimes depictions of the society and time in which they were made. This is especially applicable for society’s view of women. How particular films depict women really shows how people at that time embrace feminist ideas, and more generally, women. In this article, I am going to introduce 10 movies that really show how audiences, or Hollywood as an institution, think about female characters in films.

Legally Blonde (2001)

The first film is ‘Legally Blonde’, starring Reese Witherspoon as the lead character. Most people watched this film as a teenager, especially women aspiring to become lawyers. Many would say that this is clearly a feminist film, and a huge step for Hollywood to depict woman as strong, independent and critically minded.

However, when we pay closer attention to the details of the film, we clearly see that the film is actually filled with stereotypes about women. For example, women like the colour pink, chasing love being the main goal in a woman’s life and investing in fashion and beauty as the second mind goal in a woman’s life. Although the film did try to attack the ‘dumb blonde’ stereotype, the other stereotypes about women demonstrates that audiences and Holloywood depict women as very different from men. This clearly shows that Hollywood is still a long way from achieving gender equality in script writing and character creation.

Iron Jawed Angels (2004), The Stepford wives (1975, 2004), North country (2005)

Then we have ‘Iron Jawed Angels’, starring Hilary Swank, ‘The Stepford wives’, starring Nicole Kidman and ‘North Country’, starring Charlize Theron as the lead. I expect fewer young people to have watched these films, as they are made in a nostalgic style, reminiscent of post-World War Two films.

A common feature of these films is that, while Hollywood are placing more attention onto women’s issues, these issues are mostly centered on women being suppressed. The Stepford wives featured women being controlled by men and technology, being forced into conforming to traditional stereotypes of being good wives and mothers. Both ‘Iron Jawed Angels’ and ‘North Country’ are documentary films. The former featured female suffragists’ struggles during the pre-post wars times, the latter featured women being harassed and discriminated in the workplace during a time when people started hiring women to work in traditionally male dominated jobs. Whether it is being suppressed by men, the system or politics, these films have a common theory saying that if films are about women, it should be about how women are being suppressed and how women are fighting against the suppression. While this is a good start to letting people pay attention to women’s suppression, from a modern feminist perspective, these films inevitably depicted women as being defined by their disadvantage and therefore as victims.

Hidden Figures (2016)

Then comes ‘Hidden Figures’. This is said to be a huge breakthrough for female characters. As even though female characters are still being discriminated against and suppressed, female characters are finally being depicted as having the same and even higher intellectual level as the other sex. Another breakthrough is that this ‘female-centered’ film is made in a way that targets both male and female audiences. ‘Hidden Figures’ demonstrates that ‘female-centered’ films can be shown on the big screen and the characters be taken seriously; female characters can be judged by the same standards and for the same qualities as their male counterparts. The film also begins to explore the duality of oppression through discussion of African-American women, something rarely depicted in Hollywood films.

Wonder Woman (2017)

‘Wonder Woman’ is always included when talking about feminist film, and this is justified. The character and plot of Wonder Woman itself is empowering and encouraging for anyone. More importantly, Wonder Woman is the first woman hero character in a male-dominated ‘universe’ that is being taken as seriously as the lead male hero characters such as Superman and Batman. Most DC or Marvel female characters whose existence value are largely dependent on her male counterpart, such as Harley Quinn, Cat Woman and Batwoman, who are interesting mostly because of their relationship with the Joker and Batman. Unlike them, Wonder Woman is herself an icon and is an interesting character by herself. Also, the fact ‘Wonder Woman’ is filmed in a way that does not make a huge stir about a hero being a female shows that Hollywood is depicting female leads with other significant attributes than their gender.

Bombshell (2019)

Interestingly, ‘Bombshell’ stars Charlize Theron, who also played the suppressed, harassed female lead character in ‘North Country’ included above. Though both ‘Bombshell’ and ‘North Country’ featured women being sexually harassed and discriminated against in the workplace, obvious comparisons are observed. For example, support in society for the harassed female characters are more available in ‘Bombshell’. People are also less uncomfortable by claims of female characters being harassed in ‘Bombshell’. The most obvious improvement is that women are finally depicted not as weak, but strong, career driven, confident characters. The power to make a change and to help others are also totally placed in the hands of women themselves, instead of dependent on benevolence of male characters, such as the lawyer and one of the co-workers in ‘North Country’. An additional observation from the two films is that how women’s status has grown over the years can clearly be seen as both films are documentary films which featured real events of women’s struggle of their respective times.

I care a lot (2020), Promisingly young woman (2020), Pieces of a woman (2021)

With the Marvel trend quieting down after ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in 2019, a film trend featuring smaller productions, clamer plots and women has started. There are films like ‘Bird of Preys’, starring Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn finally getting rid of her ties with the Joker, ‘I care a lot’, starring Rosamund Pike who also played Gone Girl in 2014 and ‘Promisingly young woman’, starring Carey Mulligan. These are, I would say, films with a more overt feminist message compared to it being more implicit in earlier films such as ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ (2012), ‘Miss Sloane’ (2016) and ‘Lady Bird’ (2017), which had a feminist lead character but not a feminist plot. A trend of ‘clear feminist’ films, which all received huge accolades, shows that Hollywood is more confident in making gender equality films. This also shows that audiences are more accepting of strong feminists featured in films than in the past. I am confident to claim that had these films been shown 10 to 20 years ago, they would be criticized as “too radical”. Although, Hollywood still has a long way to go before reaching true gender equality and recognising the issues that intersect with feminism, such as sexuality, gender identity, race and class.

Chan Stephanie Sheena

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70 Wonder Woman (2017)

Wonder Woman as a Sign of Feminism

by Alanna Martines

The classic DC comic we all know and love is brought to life in Wonder Woman (2017) starring Gal Gadot as the iconic Diana Prince, better known as Wonder Woman. The film serves as an origin story of the beloved hero and follows her journey as she steps into the outside world. Diana is portrayed as a strong, compassionate, determined, and willing to challenge traditional gender roles to become a symbol of female empowerment. The film explores themes of war, sacrifice, and the complexities we face as human beings. With the compelling storytelling and the impactful message, Wonder Woman has become a groundbreaking film, celebrating the strength and quality of women. The film uses its narrative and characters to shed light on DPD issues such as gender inequality, abuse of power, and discrimination. We will be taking a deep dive into the gender equality and feminism seen in Wonder Woman .

Wonder Woman stands as a powerful testament to female empowerment and representation. By showcasing the strength, courage, and compassion of its protagonist, the movie shattered gender stereotypes and celebrated the ideals of women. In a world where women have historically been treated as less than men, feminism emerged as a movement for women’s rights and equality. At the time of the movie, in January of 2017 there was a worldwide protest called The Women’s March. The march aimed to advocate legislation and policies regarding human rights and other issues. Ghaisani writes that “Women have been treated as lower than men ever since in the biological level ”. Throughout history, feminism has led to significant achievements, such as the right to vote and work. However, societal ideals of women, shaped predominantly by men, have persisted. This is particularly evident when examining portrayals of women in comic books, where they are often depicted in skimpy clothing and possess invisible powers, reinforcing traditional gender roles. Wonder Woman challenges these ideas by defying traditional stereotypes and featuring a lead actress from Israel, thereby improving the representation of feminism and women’s empowerment. Ghaisani writes that “Wonder Woman was firstly created by a man, psychologist William Moulton Marston. Even Marston portrays Wonder Woman as how the future ideal woman should be.” Marston believed that women possessed inherent qualities that made them superior to men in many ways.

Wonder Woman subverts the ideals of women by setting Princess Diana on an island where such traditional notions do not exist. The women on the island rely solely on themselves and do not require assistance from men. Cinematography techniques that are used are when Diana is shown climbing the wall and there are close up shots that show her strength. This portrayal challenges the societal construct that positions men as dominant and powerful, and women as weak and submissive. Moreover, the film aligns with real-world efforts towards gender equality, as the United Nations appointed the fictional character Wonder Woman as an Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls. This recognition underscores the film’s emphasis on portraying Wonder Woman as powerful, resilient, and independent, going beyond her physical beauty.

In addition to defying traditional ideals of women, Wonder Woman contributes to feminism through its choice of lead actress. Gal Gadot, hailing from Israel, becomes an icon for girls to look up to. Her journey from winning the Miss Israel beauty pageant to serving in the Israel Defense Forces as a combat instructor challenges stereotypes and demonstrates that women can occupy leadership roles. Gadot herself has expressed her belief that everyone should be feminist, emphasizing that feminism is about freedom of choice for all genders. Her casting in the film helps bridge cultural gaps and promotes inclusivity in the realm of superhero representation.

However, it is essential to acknowledge alternative perspectives that critique the film for objectifying women through the male gaze. Some argue that the film employs visual techniques that cater to the male audience and perpetuate the objectification of women. The portrayal of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, characterized by her slim figure, fair skin, and revealing costumes, is seen as intentionally flaunting her body. This can seen by having a Wonder Woman dresses in a corset and shorts, emphasizing her body and figure. While the film celebrates feminism in many aspects, it is important to recognize and critique instances where it may inadvertently reinforce traditional gendered expectations.

Despite these criticisms, Wonder Woman remains a significant milestone in promoting female empowerment and representation. Its success at the box office and positive reception among audiences highlight the demand for strong, complex female characters. By featuring a female superhero who possesses agency, strength, and compassion, the film provides a much-needed alternative to the male-dominated superhero genre. It offers a new model of heroism and inspires girls and women to embrace their own power and potential. Moreover, Wonder Woman films contribute to the broader feminist movement by sparking discussions and raising awareness about gender equality. It serves as a catalyst for conversations about representation, female empowerment, and the need for diverse voices in the entertainment industry. The film’s impact extends beyond the screen, inspiring individuals to challenge gender norms and fight for equal rights in their own lives and communities.

Wonder Woman explores the theme of the abuse of power through its portrayal of Ares, the god of war, and the larger context of World War I. Ares represents the embodiment of power and its corrupting influence. He is depicted as a manipulative and malevolent force, fueling the war and manipulating individuals to carry out his destructive agenda. This can be seen by Ares acting as someone who is on the side to help end the war, when in reality, he was the one creating the war. The movie illustrates how power, when misused, can lead to devastating consequences. Ares takes advantage of human vulnerabilities and weaknesses, exploiting their desires for power and control. His actions perpetuate the cycle of violence and suffering, showcasing the destructive nature of unchecked power. By exploring the abuse of power through the character of Ares and the larger context of war, Princess Diana highlights the need for individuals to be mindful of their own power and its potential consequences. It prompts viewers to reflect on the moral implications of power and encourages them to strive for a more just and balanced world.

Additionally, the film touches upon themes of discrimination and prejudice. Diana, as an outsider to the world of men, faces discrimination based on her gender and her origins. She encounters skepticism and disbelief from those who underestimate her abilities and dismiss her contributions. This serves as a commentary on the discrimination faced by marginalized groups and highlights the need to challenge and overcome prejudice. This can be seen throughout the whole movie especially, but a scene that stands out most to me is when Diana is willing to run out to the battlefield in order to stop Ares and save the village of people. Diana’s friends deny the request and instead insist on camping out behind the front line. Diana is furious with this and charges out onto the battlefield, also known as No Man’s Land, by herself. The film puts Wonder Woman in slow motion as she goes onto the field. Additionally, the film emphasizes the power by adding music that is powerful. By doing this, she showed Steve and the rest of the group what she was capable of, while also giving the men a chance to take the front line of Germany.

Wonder Woman , despite some criticisms, serves as a groundbreaking representation of female empowerment and challenges long-standing gender stereotypes. Through the strong and capable character of Diana Prince, the film inspires and empowers audiences, especially women and girls, to believe in their own strength and potential. By defying traditional ideals of women and featuring a lead actress from Israel, the film expands the notion of feminism and offers a diverse and inclusive perspective. While no work is without its flaws, Wonder Woma n contributes significantly to the ongoing dialogue surrounding gender equality and the representation of women in media and popular culture.

Driscoll, Molly. “Why Female Comic Book Fans Are Cheering for ‘Wonder Woman’.(The Culture).” The Christian Science Monitor, 1 June 2017, p. NA. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edscpi&AN=edscpi.A493902825&site =eds-live&scope=site.

Ghaisani, Marinda P. D. “Wonder Woman (2017): An Ambiguous Symbol of Feminism.” Rubikon : Journal of Transnational American Studies , vol. 6, Nov. 2020, p. 12. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.libweb.linnbenton.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db= edsair&AN=edsair.doi.dedup…..ec9d92e44c874885010193dd319d304c&site=eds-live&s cope=site.

Marcus, Jaclyn. “Wonder Woman’s Costume as a Site for Feminist Debate.” Imaginations Journal , vol. 9, no. 2, July 2018, pp. 55–65. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ezproxy.libweb.linnbenton.edu/10.17742/IMAGE.FCM.9.2.6.

Potter, Amandas. “Feminist Heroines for Our Times: Screening the Amazon Warrior in Wonder Woman (1975 – 1979), Xena: Warrior Princess (1995 – 2001) and Wonder Woman (2017).” Thersites. Journal for Transcultural Presences & Diachronic Identities from Antiquity to Date , vol. 7, Nov. 2018. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ezproxy.libweb.linnbenton.edu/10.34679/thersites.vol7.85.

Difference, Power, and Discrimination in Film and Media: Student Essays Copyright © by Students at Linn-Benton Community College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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The 41 Best Feminist Films of All Time

Movies about women, for women, and made by women.

Film stills of she said, wild, and a league of their own, some of the best feminist movies ever

With women still ways away from equality , it's more important than ever to raise each other up. So go ahead and ask for that raise, donate to organizations like Planned Parenthood or #TimesUp, and celebrate the creative work of other women. And once you're done devouring books written by women , binging podcasts made by women, for women, and appreciating art by (you guessed it!) women, might we suggest some required viewing? A.K.A. tuning into some of the best feminist films of all time.

If you're in the mood to indulge in some on-screen feminism, there are plenty of movies about women, for women, created by women. The films on this list put women in the spotlight, whether it be in front of the camera or behind. From historical dramas to rom-coms to gripping psychological thrillers to action movies with strong women calling the shots, these must-watch films celebrate women in all of their glory with their stories at the front and center. Expect to see recent hits that expose and admonish toxic culture to early feminist classics that paved the way for female-fronted flicks. Get ready to feel motivated and inspired with this movie marathon of the best feminist films of all time that nobody can afford to miss.

'Alien' (1979)

Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic Alien was groundbreaking for many reasons, but in large part because of its portrayal of a female action hero. Sigourney Weaver leads the cast as Ripley, a crew member aboard the spaceship Nostromo , which comes across a foreign life form. The gruesome body horror depictions—many of which are phallic or involve pregnancy—are utterly terrifying, but it stands no chance to Ripley once she takes control of the mission.

'Atomic Blonde' (2017)

Atomic Blond e is anything but your typical spy drama. Charlize Theron spends pretty much the entire time kicking butt and taking names, and the movie doesn't fall into the trap of giving her an emotion-filled backstory. To quote Theron herself : "[Usually] we need a reason to become a warrior. And I have a problem with that because we really are warriors, and it’s time for us to be shown that way. We don’t need to lose a child or a husband or have some kind of revenge story to become a warrior. We don’t need that today."

'Barbie' (2023)

america ferrera and margot robbie in Barbie

Greta Gerwig was given the mighty task of adapting the iconic Mattel property into a film , and, girl, did she ever! The filmmaker and her husband/co-writer Noah Baumbach managed to tackle every perception of the doll—from her empowering messaging to the unrealistic beauty standards she set to the corporate greed of the company that makes her—and inherently how she reflects upon women. And Gerwig did it all with stellar production design and costuming, hysterical jokes, and an A+ ensemble.

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'Battle of the Sexes' (2017)

This sports biopic pits women against men in the so-called tennis match "Battle of the Sexes." The film follows the story of top women's player Billie Gene King ( Emma Stone ) who comes out on top of societal stereotypes to beat former No. 1 ranked men’s player Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell).

'Belle' (2013)

Belle tells the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the "illegitimate" half-Black daughter of an admiral, dealing with the systemic racism of the high society she's grown up in. Belle is a beautiful and unusual film about marginalization (it's also incredibly romantic), and Gugu Mbatha-Raw is lovely in it.

'Bend It Like Beckham' (2002)

Bend It Like Beckham is a coming-of-age movie about an aspiring soccer player (Parminder Nagra) whose family refuses to let her participate in the sport because she's a girl. Naturally, she proves everyone wrong, falls in love, and subverts expectations. Also, please note that this movie was written, directed, and produced by a woman of color, Gurinder Chadha.

'Bombshell' (2019)

In this ripped-from-the-headlines drama, Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman , playing Fox News anchors Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson, work together to expose FOX CEO Roger Ailes of sexual harassment. Exceptionally good facial prosthetics aside, Theron, Kidman, and Margot Robbie (who plays a fictional character) give a, ahem, bombshell performance.

'Booksmart' (2019)

beanie feldstein and caitlyn dever in Booksmart

We owe it to Olivia Wilde for bringing us one of the funniest teen comedies of the last decade, and one with two female leads, no less! Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever star as two best friends who spent their high school years studying hard, only to graduate realizing they never went to a party. To make up for it, they try to cram four years' worth of fun into one night, resulting in laugh-out-loud shenanigans.

'Boston Strangler' (2023)

Based on real-life badass female journalists, this murder mystery dives into the story of the 1960s serial killer dubbed the Boston Strangler. Reporter Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) was the first to break the story and she teams up with colleague Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) to report on the killings, but of course, they have to deal with sexism along the way.

'The Color Purple' (1982)

A still from the original The Color Purple adaptation

Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel materialized on-screen in 1985 and became an iconic feminist film that withstands the tests of time. Whoopi Goldberg plays Celie, a Black southern woman who has suffered (and survived) years of abuse and finds strength within herself and her female friends.

'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' (2000)

A still from the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Not only does Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon have gorgeous visuals, but the story centers on a young woman (Zhang Ziyi) who rejects her arranged marriage and instead follows her path to become a legendary martial artist. It's a beautiful, complicated movie, with beautiful, complicated women.

'Daughters of the Dust' (1991)

family sitting on the beach in daughters of the dust

Julie Dash’s indie drama Daughters of the Dust made history, as it’s the first feature film from an African-American woman to be theatrically released in the U.S. Beyond breaking a major glass ceiling, it’s also a compelling, visually breathtaking film about one family of former enslaved people’s contentious decision to move from a Gullah community off the coast of South Carolina to the mainland.

'Erin Brockovich' (2000)

When you need to feel inspired that anyone can foster real change, leave it to the plucky, self-made Erin Brockovich. In an Oscar-winning performance, Julia Roberts plays the real-life paralegal and environmental activist who helped bring a lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Company for contaminating water in her community. Steven Soderbergh helps transform the captivating story into a gripping legal drama, while Roberts portrays the heroine as a shining example of what happens when women stand up for what they believe in.

'Hidden Figures' (2016)

"An inspiring story" may be cliched, but it's hard to think of a more apt way to describe Hidden Figures , a biographical drama about three Black mathematicians at NASA. The fact that many people had never heard this story before the film's release is a true testament to how often women—and especially women of color—are sidelined in our history books.

'How to Have Sex' (2023)

Molly Manning Walker’s directorial debut documents a right of passage for many British teens as they set off on a vacation, free of their parents, following their exams. When Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce) feels pressure from her more experienced friends to lose her virginity, she finds herself grappling with a range of complicated feelings and an uncomfortable, dangerous circumstance. Manning Walker deftly tackles difficult topics, ranging from assault to peer pressure and shame, with poignancy and even humor, as Tara seeks solace from her friends.

'Hustlers' (2019)

constance wu and jennifer lopez in Hustlers

Based on a true story, four dancers band together to con money out of sleazy finance bros. Sure, what they do is illegal, but in a way, they are taking the power back from the men who completely objectify them. Also, Jennifer Lopez was robbed of an Oscar nom for her killer performance as the girl gang's leader.

'Jennifer's Body' (2009)

Diablo Cody’s feminist horror movie , directed by Karyn Kusama, sinks its demonic teeth in you. Megan Fox stars as Jennifer, a high school girl who becomes the host to an evil spirit after she’s sexually assaulted by a rock band trying to perform a Satanic ritual. So, she feeds on boys to keep the demon (and her rage) at bay—leading to an enticing game of cat-and-mouse as her quiet friend Needy ( Amanda Seyfried ) tries to stop her).

'Kill Bill: Volume 1 and 2' (2003–2004)

The entire plot of Kill Bill centers on a woman seeking vengeance on the man who ruined her life. Uma Thurman delivers an iconic feminist performance that never gets old. (But it must be noted that Quentin Tarantino's treatment of her during this Weinstein-produced movie was truly reprehensible ).

'A League of Their Own' (1992)

One of the OG feminist flicks, A League of Their Own is a fictionalized tale of the very real, very first female professional baseball league, who go up to bat against the patriarchy. If that didn't convince you enough to give it a watch, Madonna also makes an appearance, so there's that!

'Legally Blonde' (2001)

Anyone who doesn't think Legally Blonde is a feminist movie isn't paying attention. This film takes the ditzy blonde stereotype and turns it on its head by having protagonist Elle Woods ( Reese Witherspoon , bow down) get into Harvard like it's no biggie, and then solve the major legal case of her year.

'Little Women' (2019)

The feminism of Louisa May Alcott's original Little Women novel and its many TV and film adaptations has been the subject of much debate and discourse over the years, but the Greta Gerwig adaptation lands on this list for its more modern approach to the book's message of feminism (plus, the more ambiguous ending). Though the definitions of womanhood differ among the four March sisters, we love watching them all find and wield their power in different ways.

'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015)

If you went into Mad Max: Fury Road expecting a testosterone-fueled action movie , you're not alone. But the film ended up being one of the most feminist pop cultural moments of 2015—starring Charlize Theron as a lieutenant who risks her life to save a group of women enslaved by abusive men in power.

'Miss Congeniality' (2000)

It's a '00s classic we should enjoy with a dose of critique, too: There were some problematic moments in Miss Congeniality (like making instances of sexual harassment a punchline and the classic "ugly duckling" storyline, one too often subscribed to women in film). But it also helped to shatter sexist stereotypes and is still cited as a feminist flick today.

'Moana' (2016)

Brave heroine? Check. Adventure? Check. Hilarious sidekick? Also check. Lin-Manuel Miranda soundtrack? You bet. Moana is the modern Disney hero we need, one who is tough and empowered. Bonus points that there is no pointless love interest in this movie! We don't care if this one is for kids, we will be watching (and rewatching) for years.

'Mulan' (1998)

Considering how regressive Disney princess movies can be, Mulan deserves praise for its portrayal of a woman determined to escape the stereotypes of her gender. Yes, Mulan has some problems (Disney in 1998 wasn't known for political correctness), but the movie showed countless children that women are just as brave and capable as men—it's society that's just too sexist to realize.

'Never Rarely Sometimes Always' (2020)

talia ryder and Sidney Flanigan in never rarely sometimes always

Eliza Hittman’s muted drama focuses on a teenage girl (Sidney Flanigan) seeking an abortion. The film follows her as she travels with her cousin (Talia Ryder) from a small town in Pennsylvania to N.Y.C. to seek the medical assistance she needs, and the extraordinary bravery it takes the two girls to support one another amid their journey. It’s a humble film, but full of emotion and brings to light the challenges women in need of health care too often face.

'Now and Then' (1995)

This coming-of-age '90s movie about four young girls on the cusp of adolescence is a true gem, packed with ahead-of-its-time girl power moments—including a scene where Christina Ricci's character punches a boy who dares to say that girls can't play softball.

'On The Basis of Sex'

There truly can never be enough Ruth Bader Ginsburg movies. In this fictionalized take, Felicity Jones plays RBG in her fight for gender equality. Consider a double-header with the 2018 documentary RGB .

'The Piano' (1993)

anna paquin and holly hunter in the piano

Jane Campion’s The Piano is one of the steamiest movies of all time—and it’s all centered around the female gaze. The classic romance is set in the late 1800s and sees pianist Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter), who is mute, and her daughter (Anna Paquin) move from Scotland to rural New Zealand as she’s married off to a wealthy frontiersman (Sam Neill). Feeling confined by her marriage, she turns to her piano and gives lessons to her neighbor (Harvey Keitel), a sailor who has taken up Māori customs, which evolves into an affair. Exploring how one finds their voice amid shifting power dynamics and sexual autonomy, Champion’s masterpiece is like music to our ears.

'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' (2019)

marianne and Héloïse in portrait of a lady on fire

Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire became an instant sapphic classic when it was released in 2019. The LGBTQ+ film tells the 1770s-set love story of an artist (Noémie Merlant) and the bride-to-be (Adèle Haenel) whose portrait she’s sent to paint. Its examinations of women exploring boundaries, romance, and sexuality on their own terms are nothing short of stunning—but be sure to brace yourself for a heartbreaking conclusion, as the film also documents the reality of the patriarchy at the time.

'Promising Young Woman' (2020)

Director Emerald Fennell and actress Carey Mulligan confront rape culture, toxic masculinity, and trauma in Promising Young Woman. Mulligan plays a barista-vigilante out for vengeance for the college campus rape of her best friend. The film will enrage you, but it is incredibly empowering and cathartic.

'Radium Girls' (2018)

A heartbreaking true story and one you may have never even heard of, Radium Girls dives into the radium poisoning of a group of factory workers in the 1920s. After plenty of the girls get sick, they band together to advocate for safer work conditions. It's just one of the many important stories that make up the women's rights movement.

'Real Women Have Curves' (2002)

america ferrera in Real Women Have Curves

Real Women Have Curves is directed, produced, and written by women—and it's all the better for it. The movie is just as much a coming-of-age story as a reflection on what it means when young women take control of their destinies—and um, it also happens to have inspired Lady Bird .

'She Said' (2022)

carey mulligan and zoe kazan in She Said

She Said follows the true story behind New York Times journalists Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) as they expose Harvey Weinstein and his history of sexual abuse against women. Their article ignited the #MeToo movement and opened the floodgates for women to tell their stories across Hollywood and other industries. The movie not only shows the courage of all of the women involved, but it's also a testament to the power of women when they come together.

The Original 'Star Wars' Trilogy (1977–1983)

Princess Leia wasn't always given the most empowering material to work with on Star Wars , but Carrie Fisher made the character a feminist hero worthy of applause. In fact, it's through Fisher's criticism of the franchise (the gold bikini was not her choice , she was asked to lose weight ) that the character evolved into the icon she is today.

'Suffragette' (2015)

The fight for women's suffrage wasn't just an American one. Suffragette follows the movement in London through the eyes of a young working mother (Carey Mulligan), who joins a radical political movement in the fight for women's voting rights. Meryl Streep and Helena Bonham Carter also star in this moving historical drama.

'Thelma & Louise' (1991)

Susan Sarandon and geena davis in Thelma & Louise

There's no greater movie about sisterhood than Thelma & Louise —a landmark feminist film about two women (Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis) on a road trip. Watch it with your friends for fun, then analyze it with your friends for even more fun.

'Wild' (2014)

Wild is the book-to-movie adaptation that inspired women everywhere to pack up their belongings and hike 1,100 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail, solo style. The film based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir of the same name stars Reese Witherspoon and will inspire you to create change in your life. What's more empowering than that?

'Waiting to Exhale' (1995)

women sitting around and laughing in waiting to exhale

If you ever feel wronged by a man, watch Angela Bassett get the ultimate revenge by burning down her ex-husband’s car. Waiting to Exhale is a moving film about the power of female friendship, as it follows four women who stand by each other through their tumultuous love lives and career trials. The star power is immense, with Bassett, Whitney Houston, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon, leading the cast; you’ll wish they were your besties, but also see the female relationships you know and love reflected on screen.

'Wonder Woman' (2017)

What more can be said about Wonder Woman that hasn't been said before? It flipped a male-dominated genre on its head, broke all the sexist tropes that come with female superheroes, slayed at the box office, and excited millions of young girls in need of on-screen representation. It couldn't have come at a better time.

'Zero Dark Thirty' (2012)

We love a film with a female lead that doesn't revolve around her finding a love interest. This one sees Jessica Chastain , as Maya, inspired by the real-life woman who headed the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Rather than focusing on the men involved in the hunt, director Kathryn Bigelow duly gives credit to a woman in a male-dominated field.

Megan DiTrolio is the editor of features and special projects at Marie Claire, where she oversees all career coverage and writes and edits stories on women’s issues, politics, cultural trends, and more. In addition to editing feature stories, she programs Marie Claire’s annual Power Trip conference and Marie Claire’s Getting Down To Business Instagram Live franchise.

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How the “Barbie” Movie Explains the Psychology of Patriarchy

Is patriarchy a toxic response to the discomfort of being human.

Posted August 21, 2023 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

"Barbie" is an allegory of the rise of patriarchy.
The film criticizes Mattel's patriarchal vision of female empowerment.
"Barbie" is optimistic about our ability to refashion our world.

The Barbie movie begins with a parodic nod to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey , where in the opening scene, the appearance of a black obelisk signals a milestone in the evolution of humankind—violence enters the community of peaceful apes who will now evolve into homo sapiens . In Barbie , the obelisk is replaced by Barbie (whose legs are equally monumental) and the apes by little girls who destroy their baby dolls; a new era in play has begun. This comic moment points to the different levels at which Greta Gerwig’s brilliant movie signifies: It’s a movie about dolls, to be sure, but also a movie about evolution, not simply that of dolls and play but also about the rise and endurance of patriarchy, seen through the lens of psychology.

The term “patriarchy” has been criticized for failing to acknowledge the oppression and injustice that exist within male identities. The film acknowledges this criticism when Aaron, the low-ranked administrator at Mattel, says, “I’m a man without power. Does that make me a woman?” But patriarchy is nevertheless grounded in gender , as bell hooks, who is well aware of identity -based power differentials, maintains: “Patriarchy is a political-social system that insists that males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak, especially females. ”

Barbie was created by Ruth Handler, a woman who defied the gender roles and restrictions of her time but who nevertheless designed a doll in which a limiting, oppressive ideal of female beauty prevails and whose character is all about her clothes and her body (see my essay “Barbie’s Body Project”).

Wikimedia Commons/Los Angeles Times, photographer unknown

Barbie’s impossible proportions advocate beauty standards (thinness above all) notorious for being internalized to the detriment of self-esteem and self-acceptance on the part of girls and women. Barbie’s feet make it impossible to move freely, from an attacker, or just to function. The first sign that there is a breach of boundaries between Barbieland and the Real World is that Barbie’s feet get flat; when she wears heels in this condition, she comments, “I would never wear heels if my feet were shaped like this.”

Let’s not be too hard on Handler; it was 1959, and in any case, as Gloria points out—she’s the Real World woman who caused the breach by imagining a line of Barbies in crisis—women internalize patriarchal ideals. The primarily male executives who ran Mattel after Handler elaborated on this inherent bias . Although women rule in Barbieland, it nevertheless embodies a patriarchal vision of a feminist universe since feminist theories do not advocate a simplistic reversal of privilege in which someone is still oppressed and disempowered. And with a few exceptions that aim at inclusiveness, the Barbies still look like Barbie.

The Kens of Barbieland are “women.” Ken #1 lives in a world where “Barbie has a great day every day, but Ken only has a great day if Barbie looks at him” (a description eerily reminiscent of abusive relationships). Ken lives in a psychological state of lack, a “life of blond fragility” where it “doesn’t seem to matter what I do/I’m always number two,” and where being second is tantamount to being nothing.

Barbie cruelly dismisses him; “every night is girl’s night,” to which he is pointedly not invited. He exists to partner with Barbie, and one of the happy outcomes of the film is that he learns to search for his identity apart from his persona as “and Ken,” as in “Barbie and Ken .” This secondary status, epitomized by Ken #1, accounts for the competition between the Kens, which exists from the start of the film. Humans compete when resources are scarce, the resources, in this case, being love, status, and recognition.

Sent off to entertain himself while Barbie tries to locate the source of the breach, Ken goes to Century City, where he discovers a world in which men rule. Barbie observes, “It’s almost like reverse here.” He acquires some simplistic ideas about patriarchy; in the Real World, it isn’t all that involved with horses and mini-fridges. But he understands its fundamental principles, and Gerwig makes it clear that they rule our world as well.

On her return to Barbieland, Barbie finds that Ken is in the process of turning it into a Kendom, thereby acquiring the respect and importance that he has lacked. And there’s an element of revenge as well, captured by one of his favorite songs, "Push" by Matchbox Twenty, with the signature line “I want to push you around.” Barbie finds that the Barbies have been brainwashed into supporting the patriarchal order of things, a comment on what happens to women in the real world (Handler and Barbie’s body come to mind). With the help of Gloria, Barbie figures out that the way to deprogram the Barbies is by stating the contradictions within patriarchal expectations for women. Barbie, who is becoming increasingly astute as well as human, observes, “By giving voice to the cognitive dissonance of living under patriarchy, you robbed it of its power.”

The Barbies trick the Kens into missing the vote to change the constitution that would make Barbieland into a Kendom by using competition between the Kens to provoke a battle. The battle is a comic fest (catch the guy giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to his hobbyhorse) that suddenly transforms into a brilliantly choreographed dance number; Gerwig was inspired by musicals of the 1940s. The transformation has meaning as well as spectacle, allegorizing the posturing—literal posturing through dance moves—and display so germane to patriarchy.

In case you miss the point about the psychology of patriarchy, it’s stated overtly but subtly in an almost throwaway line by Handler, who guides Barbie through her decision to become human. (This movie offers a wonderful rendition of the trope of “becoming human,” seen in characters like Pinocchio, the Tin Woodman ( Wizard of Oz ), and Data ( Star Trek: The Next Generation .) Handler tells her that being human has its drawbacks. For one, you die: “Ideas live forever. Humans, not so much.” And “being a human can be pretty uncomfortable. Humans make up things like patriarchy and Barbie to deal with how uncomfortable it is.”

There’s the moral of the movie: We find both terrible and creative ways to deal with the inevitable lack and the awareness of that lack that come with being human. Handler also suggests that patriarchy is not biological or inevitable for humans, a counter-argument to a widely accepted belief (see works by Grenta Lerner and Angela Saini). Humans make up things, like patriarchy and Barbie. And what is made can be unmade. Maybe we’ll see “Ordinary Barbie” after all!

hooks, b (2004). The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love . Washington Square Press.

Jones, W. Barbie's Body Project (1999). In Y. Z McDonough (Ed.). The Barbie Chronicles: A Living Doll Turns Forty (91-107). Touchstone Press.

Gerder, Lerner (1987). The Creation of Patriarchy . Oxford University Press.

Saini, Angela (2023). The Patriarchs: The Origins of Inequality . Beacon Press.

Wendy Jones, Ph.D. , a practicing psychotherapist and former English professor, is the author of J ane on the Brain: Exploring the Science of Social Intelligence with Jane Austen .

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Intro to Cinema

Just another western washington university wordpress site, deconstructing gender stereotypes in she’s the man (final draft).

Every female soccer player knows, loves and can spew out quotes verbatim of the movie She’s the Man. As a female soccer player myself, I have watched, re-watched and constantly loved this film. It emits a strong sense of feminism that is quickly picked up by the viewer. As a girl who’s played sports my entire life, the theme of this film is incredibly empowering. It illuminates the ideology that women are just as strong and capable as men in the world of sports.

Thrown into the category “chick flick”, She’s the Man does not immediately appear to be a complex portrayal of the human experience within modern society. (As many times as I have viewed it, it is in writing this review that I have realized the direct and obvious relationship to Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night .)

Director Andy Fickman accomplishes the daunting task of transforming an exhausted Shakespearean play and (at first glance) “chick flick” in the development of Viola as a character throughout the film.

The film opens on a scene dominated by Viola competitively playing soccer with her friends, portraying the extent of her abilities as a soccer player. Aggressively duking out fellow players (including males), Viola runs the ball towards the opposing team’s goal line. This shoot then utilizes a jump cut to a lifeguard’s lifesaver ring, which is put into focus as Viola shoots the ball in the blurry background. When the ball is successfully shot through the ring of the lifesaver, the camera focuses on Viola and her celebration of the accomplishment. The mise-en-scene of this shoot depicts a young woman who clearly has a passion and talent for soccer in ways that the others within the scene (including the males) do not. This furthers the overarching ideology to deconstruct gender stereotypes that Fickman intends.

The plot begins with Viola depicted as a typical high school girl, and a part of the girls’ soccer team. However, the catalyst is quickly thrown into the mix, destroying life as she knows it. Her soccer team is cut from the school, and the boy’s coach (and her boyfriend) mock her for suggesting the girl’s try out for the boy’s team.

“It’s a scientific fact. Girls can’t beat boys! It’s as simple as that.”

-Coach Pistonek

Many a time I have sat around with eighteen of my best friends (my soccer team) to watch this movie, and this line always makes us cringe. “Umm excuse us? We are JUST as good as the boys if not BETTER!” This emotion-filled scene, depicted in the photograph above uniquely illustrates the use of mise-en-scene due to the positioning of the characters. The male coach, who is declaring that females are scientifically proven to be less athletic than males, is being literally surrounding by an offended group of female soccer players. This illustrates the feeling of offense that erupts as an effect of the coach’s words.

This clear patronization instills an emotion of frustration and personal investment into anyone watching the film. As the narration continues, this ideology that “it’s a scientific fact that boys are better than girls” is shattered and the retaliation of feminism succeeds. This is culturally relevant to society today because although women have come a long way, there continue to be lingering biases defining gender roles.

The conflict of gender roles takes center stage again as Viola’s mother begs her to become a debutant and a “woman”. The scenes surrounding the debutant portion of the film illuminate the clear expectations engulfing the ideal image of what a woman “should” be. However, Fickman derails this image by portraying Viola as a more “manly” or “sloppy” woman who is unconcerned with her dainty “womanly” image.

In this scene, Viola is surrounded by young women, like herself, that are all exemplifying the gender roles, while she is knowingly breaking them. This scene hits home with me, and with most athletic women. It’s a comical depiction of what it feels like to be a strong, athletic female. Women are stepping into what has historically been considered male turf (sports), and in turn we are depicted in a more “manly” (meaning sloppier) manner. We are considered “un-lady-like”, just like Viola. And this ideology has plagued our lives. Without knowingly doing so, we have taken this societal definition and placed it upon ourselves. It has been instilled in us that we are “un-lady-like” and “manish”. It’s a commonality to hear an athletic woman joke about how much food she can eat and how fast she can consume it. It’s joked about due to the societal pressure that women are not supposed to eat like this, or be a part of this world in any way. However, by creating the character of Viola, Fickman commends these traits and produces a role model of a strong, independent, young woman who is not defined by these gender roles.

Viola’s character furthers her disgust towards the typical female gender roles in this scene;

Viola decidedly states that she will not be wearing heels because they are “a male invention”. Thus indicating that the gender roles that are placed upon women are placed upon them by men and their expectations and desires. By not wearing heels, Viola ignores the gender role, therefore illuminating Fickman’s intentional disregard of the stereotypical female character.

Gender roles are debunked further within this film in the form of the character Duke, Sebastian’s (who Viola is impersonating) roommate. Unlike the typical image inflicted upon teenage boys, Duke portrays a male character that is interested in more than just boobs and the gym. He has a hard time talking to girls and he desires a relationship that is “more than just physical”. Although he attempts to conceal it, he has a sensitive side. In the macho world of the young male, sensitivity is synonymous with weakness and femininity. Therefore, the gender roles that define men restrict them from showing any form of emotion what-so-ever.

Fickman attacks societal implications of gender roles from both sides of the spectrum. He utilizes a strong female lead to break the expectation that all women are “proper”, and uncover the implications of society’s views on women in the world of sports. Directly parallel to this, he employs a supporting role of a male character who does not fit into society’s expectations of what “male” should look and act like. Together, this lethal combination tears down the sustained ideology defining men and women within society.

At first glance, She’s the man appears to be a simplistic portrayal of a young woman who does something crazy in order to pursue what she desires and falls in love in the end. A classic uninvolved chick flick. However, at a closer look, the feature depicts a complex depiction of the societal gender roles placed upon women, as well as men today. This seemingly simplistic film has had a personal impact upon me throughout my years of soccer and is a classic that has empowered all female soccer players for the duration of their careers.

“Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film / Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film DVD / Writing about Movies Booklet, (9780393934632), Richard Barsam, Textbooks – Barnes & Noble.” Barnes & Noble – Books, Textbooks, EBooks, Toys, Games, DVDs and More . N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

She’s the Man . Dir. Andy Fickman. Prod. Lauren Shuler-Donner and Ewan Leslie. By Ewan Leslie. Perf. Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, and Laura Ramsey. DreamWorks Distribution LLC, 2006.

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FINALLY I GOT MY LOST BITCOIN BACK ALL THANKS TO CRYPTO RECOVERY WIZARD. Hello people, I highly recommend the service of Crypto Recovery Wizard to everyone who wishes to recover lost money either bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies from these online scammers, wallet hackers, or if you ever sent bitcoins to the wrong wallet address. I was able to recover my lost bitcoins from online swindlers in less than 24 hours after contacting them. They are the best professional hackers out there and I’m truly thankful for their help in recovering all I lost. If you need their service too, here is their contact information. Email: cryptorecoverywizard@gmail. com WHATAAP: +1(669)-221-3931

I was still in college when I met my fiancé. We dated for quite a long time and cohabited and our relationship was approved by our parents. We got along and everything was perfect. He traveled out for some training and since then everything never became good for us again. He was seeing a lady over there and he tends to have committed much to what they shared and left me out the picture. I did all I can to fix the problem but nothing worked until I heard about Dr Isikolo. I contacted him and explained what I was going through and he promised to help which he did as promised. I complied with the instructions he gave me and he fixed the problem I had with my fiancé and now he’s back to me and we are getting married in a month. All thanks to Dr Isikolo. Contact him now if you need any help. Call/ext him on WhatsApp via +2348133261196 or review his webpage ( https://isikolo-temple.com )

I promise to share this testimony all over the world once my boyfriend returns to me, and today with all due respect I want to thank DR.ONIHA for bringing joy and happiness to my relationship and my family. I want to inform you all that there is a spell caster that is real and genuine. I never believed in any of these things until I lost my boyfriend, I required help until I found a great spell caster, And he cast a love spell for me, and he assured me that I will get my boyfriend back in two days after the spell has been cast. Three days later, my phone rang, and so shockingly, it was my boyfriend who has not called me for the past 6 years now, and made an apology for the heartbreak, and told me that he is ready to be my backbone till the rest of his life with me. DR.ONIHA released him to let me know how much I loved and wanted him. And opened his eyes to picture how much we have shared together. As I`m writing this testimony right now I`m the happiest girl on earth and me and my boyfriend are living a happy life and our love is now stronger than how it was even before our break up. So that`s why I promised to share my testimony all over the universe. All thanks goes to DR.ONIHA for the excessive work that he has done for me. Below is the email address in any situation you are undergoing, it may be a heartbreak, and I assure you that as he has done mine, he will definitely help you too. EMAIL: ONIHASPELLTEMPLE@GMAIL. COM CALL/WHATSAPP : +16692213962.

+16692213962 Online Lottery Spells caster in USA, Uk to Win the Mega Millions | Lottery Winning. i won $52,000,000(Fifty Two Million Dollars) in the Powerball lottery, I took an advice from someone who talked about this great spell caster called Dr Oniha, the person placed a testimony on a blog thanking him on how he helped him win the lottery by sending him the winning number, i was curious and i thought it was all joke not until i contacted this spell caster to know for myself how this work cause i have spend a lot buying tickets and i have never win anything. I contacted him and he told me the necessary thing that need to be done and i did it and he told me to wait for 2days he will cast the spell on the winning numbers and send them to me to play and truly he gave me the winning numbers to play the lottery which i did, Can you believe my name was the first among winners. He told me all he needed me to do for him is make sure that i share this testimony to others so that they can also win the lottery . So that is why i am sharing this testimony with you that if you want to win the lottery this is the way because online tips can not help you win the lottery. Dr Oniha is the only answer to that your problem of winning the lottery. Contact Dr Oniha today and win the lottery like me. Email:[email protected] Call/WhatsApp:+16692213962

I want to testify to what Dr Ughulu did for me. I did everything I could do to bring my partner back but he didn’t come back he was with someone else luckily I saw a comment which directed me to a very good powerful and kind man called Dr Ughulu that helped me bring my partner back and now he loves me so much more than ever i am so happy with life now thank you so much Dr Ughulu, I really appreciate you for bringing back my partner to me in my life, all these years has been very sad for me, now I have been the most happiest woman on earth all because of what Dr Ughulu has done for me. You can contact through his email: [email protected] or message him on Call/Text number: +1(252) 409-1841 or his website: https://drughulupowerfulsp.wixsite.com/my-site-ughulu

I am Ralph Turner, I am based in Bristol City in England. I won the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle prize of £250,000,000 on June 25 2024. I took advice from some person who talked about this great spell caster Dr Uwaifo, the person placed a testimony on a blog saying how Dr Uwaifo helped him win the lottery by sending him the winning numbers, so i was curious and i thought it was all joke not until i contacted Dr Uwaifo to know for myself how this work, because i have spend a lot buying tickets and i never win. I contacted Dr Uwaifo and he told me the necessary thing that needed to be done and I did it and he told me to wait for 24 hours, Dr Uwaifo truly gave me the winning numbers to play the lottery which I did, Can you believe my name was the first among winners. Dr Uwaifo told me my son, all i need you to do for me is make sure that you share this testimony to others in need of help so that they can contact him and they can win the lottery also. I am sharing this testimony with everyone who needs help to win the lottery. email: [email protected] or text phone:+1(315) 277-2762.

I have my husband back in my life with the help of Dr Oniha. He said sorry in 24hours after the spell was cast. He said he realized that he never really wanted to break up, he could not handle emotional baggage I was carrying around all the time. He said that he thought he was the negative influence on my life and thought it best to leave. He said it was hard that I kept talking about the past all the time. We have both forgiven each other. I have money in my pocket that is my own at last. (My compensation cheque came through. I was told it was months away. I am living proof of what Dr Oniha can do. I thank you so much Dr Oniha for the wonderful thing you did in my relationship. I am so happy now. With your help we were both able to see and speak the truth to each other. I never thought a spell could help a couple before I am very pleased contacting you and initiating all this to happen. Anyone who has a relationship problem can contact Dr Oniha via EMAIL:onihaspelltemple@gmail. com Call/Whatsapp number: +16692213962

Great news about Dr ughulu who made me win my Mega millions. All my friends have been telling me about this great man who made them always win their lottery by casting a winning number for them. My friends keep telling me to contact him so I can also win my mega million. Actually I really also text him to help me. Text/Call: +1(252) 409-1841 and I explained to him it’s my friends who Introduced me to him. And I told him the reason I came to his temple and Dr really made me the happiest woman and cast me a mega million winning number, so I really played it and won the prize of $66,000.000 millions dollars. Thank you for making my life possible Dr ughulu. His email: drughulupowerfulspelltemple@ gmail.com Or website: https://drughulupowerfulsp.wixsite.com/my-site-ughulu

When I found Dr.Oniha I was in desperate need of bringing my ex lover back. He left me for another woman. It happened so fast and I had no say in the situation at all. He just dumped me after 3 years with no explanation. I contacted Dr.Oniha through his website and He told me what I need to do before he can help me and I did what he told me, after i provided what he wanted, he cast a love spell to help us get back together. Shortly after he did his spell, my boyfriend started texting me again and felt horrible for what he just put me through. He said that I was the most important person in his life and he knows that now. We moved in together and he was more open to me than before and he started spending more time with me than before. Ever since Dr.Oniha helped me, my partner is very stable, faithful and closer to me than before. I highly recommend Dr. Oniha to anyone in need of relationship/marriage help. http://onihaspells.com

Gender Inequality in Film

To view the updated Gender Inequality in Film infographic released in 2018, click the banner above.

In light of the record-breaking opening of the female-led action film Hunger Games : Catching Fire this past weekend, the New York Film Academy decided to take a closer look at women in film and what, if any, advancements women are making. After reviewing the data, it is clear that Hollywood remains stuck in its gender bias. Of course, it’s not all disparaging news and there are a number of female filmmakers, characters, and emerging talent challenging the status quo. In addition, in the independent sphere, women made up roughly half of the directors at this year’s Sundance Film Festival , yet still struggle when it comes to films receiving a wide release. By shedding light on gender inequality in film, we hope to start a discussion about what can be done to increase women’s exposure and power in big-budget films.

New York Film Academy's Gender Inequality in Film Infographic

Opening Times

Plymouth Arts Cinema is taking a short break!

The Cinema, Box Office and Café-Bar will reopen on Friday 6th September.

Online booking is available.

Emails sent to [email protected] and phone messages will be monitored from Tuesday 3rd September.

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Award Winning Independent Cinema

A decade of women in film: how gender equality in film has changed from 2010 – 2020.

(82 actresses, female directors and producers who protested and demanded equality, 2018)

Now that we are in a new decade, it is hard not to look back on the last ten years and reflect on the changes and developments within the film industry, particularly in terms of female filmmakers. The beginning of the decade kicked off with Kathryn Bigelow being the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director, for The Hurt Locker. For many, this award is widely considered the highest honour a filmmaker can receive, yet since the Academy awards first started in 1929, only five women have even been nominated in this category, two of which in the past decade.

Kathryn Bigelow winning Oscar for Best Director, 2010.

With the recent nominations from BAFTA and the Academy Awards, the lack of acknowledgement women receive during award season, is yet again prevalent; no female directors were nominated for Best Director for either award ceremonies. BAFTA is now reviewing its voting process, after criticism over the lack of female directors nominated. This year’s oversights feels particularly shocking considering the success of films such as, Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers , Lulu Wang’s The Farewell , Kasi Lemmons’ Harriet , Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart , Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir , Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Greta Gerwig’s Little Women . These films are key examples of how female centred narratives which are directed by women, can excel both critically and commercially. A lot of backlash has been focused on Gerwig not receiving a nomination for Best Director (which she was previously nominated for in 2018 for Lady Bird ) due to the film not only being a box office hit but also receiving rave reviews. It’s hard to ignore the parallels between the themes in Little Women and the continually reoccurring themes during award season: the difficulty for women to get recognition in a male-dominated world.

Little Women

Unfortunately, this is nothing new for Hollywood and awards nominations with films such as Marielle Heller’s Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Debra Granik’s Leave No Trace and Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here , getting overlooked the previous year. However, despite industry’s reluctance to dismantle the gender hierarchy, it is important to remember that there has been many key milestones for women in film in the last decade.

In 2018, Plymouth Arts Cinema became one of the first cinemas to join Bird’s Eye View in their Reclaim the Frame scheme, a programme designed to grow audiences for films created by women. The scheme recognises the gender imbalance in the film industry and seeks to promote films that are made by and centred on women.

Plymouth Arts Cinema has continually encouraged the shift towards a position of gender equality; in 2016 the F-Rating was introduced. Presented by the Bath Film Festival in 2014, the rating seeks to encourage and advocate the representation of female filmmakers and highlights their absence from mainstream cinema. However, the end of the decade did see an improvement of gender representation from major studios. In 2019, 19 of the 125 wide studio releases were directed by women. Whilst it may still be a small percentage it’s a huge increase from 2018, where there were only 4 women among the directors of the 125 major studio films.

One of the biggest achievements for female directors this decade was Wonder Woman. In 2017, Patty Jenkins achieved a huge milestone when she became the second woman to command a budget of more than $100 million for Wonder Woman . The film took $821 million at the worldwide box-office and its overwhelming success has set a landmark for female directors, as Jenkins proved that women can direct mainstream action films once they are given the same opportunities and budgets as men.

Wonder Woman

Jenkins’ upcoming sequel, Wonder Woman 1984 has also become the first film to implement the Producers Guild of America (PGA) anti-sexual harassment policies on set. In January 2018, the PGA installed new Anti-Sexual Harassment Guidelines, following the reveal of the sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein in October 2017. The #MeToo phenomenon across the internet, has not only shown the scale of the problem, but the proportions of inappropriate behaviour and mistreatment (particularly towards women) in the industry. The movement allowed for an increased awareness of the embedded misogyny in the industry and exposed the shocking truth about how female filmmakers are treated.

Across the film industry, new measures have been introduced to combat the gender imbalance. From founding Times Up in 2018 (a group that strives to end sexual discrimination and misconduct for women) to the 50/50 by 2020 Gender Parity Pledge, the film industry has seen a number of initiatives that have been introduced in response to the Weinstein effect and the #MeToo Movement. #MeToo has acted as a watershed moment; eighty-two actresses, female directors and producers walked the Palais de Festival’s steps on May 12 th 2018. The protest highlighted that only 82 films directed by women have been selected for the Palme d’Or competition, compared with 1,645 directed by men. Cannes is seen as one of the most significant film festivals, yet they have continually excluded female directors. However soon after the protest, it became the first festival to sign the Gender Parity Pledge , committing itself to inclusion and equality. Yet, with the recent award nominations, it is clear that there has been little impact on the film industry’s structures, as the struggle to get the female gaze recognised is still a major issue.

The backlash from the recent award nominations highlights that there is a call for women film makers to get the same recognition as the men. The responsibility of the awards such as the BAFTAS and the Oscars is to make films more visible, but every year it seems we end up disappointed by the overwhelming absence of female nominations. Whilst there is still a long way to go, films over the last decade such as Winters Bones, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Zero Dark Thirty, The Falling, Girlhood, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, The Babadook, Toni Erdman, American Honey, Raw and The Souvenir are increasing the visibility of the female gaze in the film industry and adhering to the f-rating system. And through the range of initiatives that have emerged over the last decade, there is an optimism that the film industry is progressing, with the effects and discussion of the #MeToo movement being carried into this decade and gradually shifting the industry towards a gender balance.

Isla Sinclair

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Column: The ‘Barbie’ movie’s radical message: We all need more ‘Kenpathy’

Platinum-blond Ryan Gosling strikes a pose in a black bandana, sunglasses, chain necklace and furry jacket.

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Greta Gerwig’s box office hit “Barbie” may be a comedy, but many viewers are taking it seriously. Critics are having temper tantrums . Fans are moved to tears .

Why is this film about a toy provoking such strong reactions?

It’s not just right-wing pundits who are reacting fiercely, such as Ben Shapiro burning dolls in disgust. Ordinary people are moved to action, too. Women are breaking up with boyfriends. Others are red-flagging dating prospects who disliked the movie. On the left, it has become a litmus test for healthy masculinity.

Opinion Columnist

Jean Guerrero

Jean Guerrero is the author, most recently, of “Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump and the White Nationalist Agenda.”

Conservatives attacking the film as anti-male propaganda are ignoring its central message, which is that patriarchy harms everyone, regardless of gender. But some progressives caricaturing every detractor as a dweeb may be missing the subtext: a world that disregards men and their feelings is an inverted form of patriarchy and also cruel.

In the film, Ryan Gosling’s Ken feels marginalized in Barbie Land, where Barbies rule everything and Kens are second-class citizens. In a visit to the real world, Ken is awed to discover that he’s respected there.

He brings the patriarchy to Barbie Land, and when Margot Robbie’s Barbie confronts Ken in the nightmarish Kendom, he tells her his house is his alone, not hers — an echo of what she once said to him. For the first time, his face conveys real pain. “How’s that feel?” he asks Barbie. “It is not fun, is it?”

(l-r) Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in 'Barbie.'

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Gosling’s portrayal of a bumbling but often sympathetic Ken serves a purpose. We can’t help but root for him, even at his most wayward. His humanity is irrepressible, regularly cracking the walls of his caricature.

Spoiler alert: After Robbie’s Barbie and America Ferrera’s Gloria, a Latina mom from the real world, work together to dismantle the Kendom, Gosling’s Ken bursts into tears. Barbie apologizes for taking him for granted for so long. She encourages Ken to discover his own identity and self-worth.

The film is a rare product of mainstream culture that invites men to reimagine masculinity for their own sake. It acknowledges the identity crisis and loss of hope, economic promise and life purpose among American men. These struggles are often ignored by progressives, but conveniently and poisonously exploited by right-wing manfluencers from Andrew Tate to Josh Hawley.

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Men represent almost 3 in 4 “deaths of despair” — from suicide, alcohol abuse and overdose. They’re lonelier than women, with a bigger decline in close friendships. Women are outpacing men in school and in the workplace.

The film’s reception has focused on its messages of women’s empowerment, but what makes it a radical story is that it also invites women to reimagine feminism so that it doesn’t ignore male struggles. Ken sings: “What will it take for her to see the man behind the tan and fight for me?” Near the film’s end, when the Barbies have the option to restore Barbie Land exactly as it was, they choose not to. Issa Rae’s President Barbie says: “No Barbie or Ken should be living in the shadows.”

Perhaps that’s why right-wing extremists hate the movie — equality is scary even in a toy universe.

In her 2004 book about masculinity, “The Will to Change,” bell hooks argued against ideas of men as the enemy and as universal beneficiaries of patriarchy, a false notion introduced by women with class privilege. “Women who have been raised in poor and working-class homes have always been acutely aware of the emotional pain of the men in their lives,” she wrote.

MARGOT ROBBIE as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures' "BARBIE," a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

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At the beginning of the film, Robbie’s Barbie embodies the feminism that hooks critiqued: individualistic and inhuman, like patriarchy. She’s mythically happy and self-sufficient. When human thoughts begin to intrude in her mind, she’s horrified. “You’re gonna start getting sad and mushy and complicated,” Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie warns. Barbie can’t imagine a more terrible fate. But in the end — major spoiler warning — she chooses to become human.

Gerwig’s film is a call to humanity. “I’m weird and I’m dark and I’m crazy,” Gloria says proudly, after her daughter reveals that those are precisely the traits she loves about her mom — the traits she tries to hide. Some may see the film as anti-male because the Kens are weirder and darker and crazier than anyone. But they’re overlooking this point — flaws, mistakes and messy emotions don’t negate anybody’s value.

The first time I watched the film, its portrayal of men as mostly pathetic made me sad. As the daughter of a Mexican man who struggles with mental health issues and rarely seeks help because of a sense of machismo, I felt sorry for Ken, who couldn’t find a place in the world. I worried I was having a case of misplaced empathy. But the second time I watched it, I realized I was supposed to feel for Ken. Call it “Kenpathy.” Kenpathy doesn’t negate feminism; it’s not a zero sum game. It sees the fates of men and women as entwined.

In a thoughtful essay last month, Christine Emba in the Washington Post pointed out that men can’t fix themselves or reimagine masculinity alone. “People need codes for how to be human,” she wrote.

In the film, the Barbies leave it up to Ken to find himself. One male friend of mine, a feminist who grew up playing with Barbies, was saddened by the absence of positive male role models in the film. I was disappointed by its pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps mentality. But you can’t expect everything from a summer blockbuster comedy.

That the movie came close to reimagining masculinity is one reason it struck a nerve. It’s meant to provoke conversations about gender roles. Beyond that, maybe it will inspire a broader interest in the fight for equality. But we can’t achieve equality without having some Kenpathy.

@jeanguerre

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Jean Guerrero is a former opinion columnist at the Los Angeles Times. Her writing has been featured in Vanity Fair, Politico, the Nation, Wired, the New York Times, the Washington Post and “Best American Essays 2019,” and she has contributed to NPR, “PBS NewsHour” and more. She started her career as a commodities correspondent in Mexico City for the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires. She is the author, most recently, of “Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump and the White Nationalist Agenda.” Her first book, “Crux: A Cross-Border Memoir,” won a PEN Literary Award. A native of San Diego, she is a graduate of USC’s journalism school and has a master of fine arts in nonfiction from Goucher College.

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70 Argumentative Essay Topics About Gender Equality

Gender equality is an extremely debatable topic. Sooner or later, every group of friends, colleagues, or classmates will touch on this subject. Discussions never stop, and this topic is always relevant.

This is not surprising, as our society hasn’t reached 100% equality yet. Pay gaps, victimization, abortion laws, and other aspects remain painful for millions of women. You should always be ready to structure your thoughts and defend your point of view on this subject. Why not practice with our list of essay topics about gender equality?

Our cheap essay writing service authors prepared 70 original ideas for you. Besides, at the end of our article, you’ll find a list of inspirational sources for your essay.

Argumentative Essay Topics About Gender Equality

Does society or a person define gender?
Can culturally sanctioned gender roles hurt adolescents’ mental health?
Who or what defines the concepts of “masculinity” and “femininity” in modern society?
Should the rules of etiquette be changed because they’ve been created in the epoch of total patriarchy?
Why is gender equality higher in developed countries? Is equality the cause or the result of the development?
Are gender stereotypes based on the difference between men’s and women’s brains justified?
Would humanity be more developed today if gender stereotypes never exited?
Can a woman be a good politician? Why or why not?
What are the main arguments of antifeminists? Are they justified?
Would our society be better if more women were in power?

Analytical Gender Equality Topics

How do gender stereotypes in the sports industry influence the careers of athletes?
Social and psychological foundations of feminism in modern Iranian society: Describe women’s rights movements in Iran and changes in women’s rights.
Describe the place of women in today’s sports and how this situation looked a hundred years ago.
What changes have American women made in the social and economic sphere? Describe the creation of a legislative framework for women’s empowerment.
How can young people fix gender equality issues?
Why do marketing specialists keep taking advantage of gender stereotypes in advertising?
How does gender inequality hinder our society from progress?
What social problems does gender inequality cause?
How does gender inequality influence the self-image of male adolescents?
Why is the concept of feminism frequently interpreted negatively?

Argumentative Essay Topics About Gender Equality in Art and Literature

Theory of gender in literature: do male and female authors see the world differently? Pick one book and analyze it in the context of gender.
Compare and contrast how gender inequality is described in L. Tolstoy’s novel “Anna Karenina” and G. Flaubert’s novel “Madame Bovary.” Read and analyze the mentioned books, distinguish how gender inequality is described, and how the main characters manage this inequality.
The artificial gender equality and class inequality in the novel “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley.
Do modern romance novels for teenagers help to break gender stereotypes, or do they enforce them?
Gender equality changes through Disney animation films. Analyze the scenarios of Disney animation films from the very beginning. Describe how the overall mood in relation to female characters and their roles has changed.
Henrik Ibsen touched on the topic of gender inequality in his play “A Doll’s House.” Why was it shocking for a 19th century audience?
Concepts of gender inequality through examples of fairy tales. Analyze several fairy tales that contain female characters. What image do they have? Do these fairy tales misrepresent the nature of women? How do fairy tales spoil the world view of young girls?
Why do female heroes rarely appear in superhero movies?
Heroines of the movie “Hidden Figures” face both gender and racial inequalities. In your opinion, has the American society solved these issues entirely?
The problem of gender inequality in the novel “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker.

Gender Equality Essay Ideas: Workplace and Employment

Dress code in the workplace: Does it help to solve the problem of gender inequality, or is it a detriment?
What kind of jobs are traditionally associated with men and women? How have these associations changed in the last 50 years?
The pay gap between men and women: is it real?
How can HR managers overcome gender stereotypes while hiring a new specialist?
Analyze the concepts of “glass ceiling” and “glass elevator.” Do these phenomena still exist in our society?

Essay Topics About Gender Equality: Religion

Gender aspects of Christian virtue and purity in the Bible.
What does the equality of men and women look like from the perspective of Christianity? Can a woman be a pastor?
Orthodox Judaism: Women and the transformation of their roles in a religious institute. Describe the change in women’s roles in modern Judaism.
How can secularism help solve the problem of gender inequality in religious societies?
Is the problem of gender inequality more serious in religious societies?

Compare and Contrast Essay Topics About Gender Equality

Compare and contrast the problems men and women experience in managerial positions.
Compare and contrast what progress has been made on gender equality in the USA and Sweden.
Compare and contrast the social status of women in ancient Athens and Sparta.
Conduct a sociological analysis of gender asymmetry in various languages. Compare and contrast the ways of assigning gender in two different languages.
Compare and contrast the portrayal of female characters in 1960s Hollywood films and in modern cinematography (pick two movies). What has changed?

Gender Equality Topics: Definitions

Define the term “misandry.” What is the difference between feminism and misandry?
Define the term “feminology.” How do feminologists help to break down prejudice about the gender role of women?
Define the term “catcalling.” How is catcalling related to the issue of gender inequality?
Define the term “femvertising.” How does this advertising phenomenon contribute to the resolution of the gender inequality issue?
Define the term “misogyny.” What is the difference between “misogyny” and “sexism”?

Gender Equality Essay Ideas: History

The roles of the mother and father through history.
Define the most influential event in the history of the feminist movement.
What ancient societies preached matriarchy?
How did World War II change the attitude toward women in society?
Woman and society in the philosophy of feminism of the second wave. Think on works of Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan and define what ideas provoked the second wave.

Essay Topics About Gender Equality in Education

How do gender stereotypes influence the choice of major among high school students?
Discuss the problems of female education in the interpretation of Mary Wollstonecraft. Reflect on the thoughts of Mary Wollstonecraft on gender equality and why women should be treated equally to men.
Self-determination of women in professions: Modern contradictions. Describe the character of a woman’s self-determination as a professional in today’s society.
Should gender and racial equality be taught in elementary school?
Will sex education at schools contribute to the development of gender equality?

Gender Equality Topics: Sex and Childbirth

Sexual violence in conflict situations: The problem of victimization of women.
The portrayal of menstruation and childbirth in media: Now versus twenty years ago.
How will the resolution of the gender inequality issue decrease the rate of sexual abuse toward women?
The attitude toward menstruation in different societies and how it influences the issue of gender equality.
How does the advertising of sexual character aggravate the problem of gender inequality?
Should advertising that uses sexual allusion be regulated by the government?
How has the appearance of various affordable birth control methods contributed to the establishment of gender equality in modern society?
Do men have the right to give up their parental duties if women refuse to have an abortion?
Can the child be raised without the influence of gender stereotypes in modern society?
Did the sexual revolution in the 1960s help the feminist movement?

How do you like our gender equality topics? We’ve tried to make them special for you. When you pick one of these topics, you should start your research. We recommend you to check the books we’ve listed below.

Non-Fiction Books and Articles on Gender Equality Topics

Beecher, C. “The Peculiar Responsibilities of American Women.”
Connell, R. (2011). “Confronting Equality: Gender, Knowledge and Global Change.”
Doris H. Gray. (2013). “Beyond Feminism and Islamism: Gender and Equality in North Africa.”
Inglehart Ronald, Norris Pippa. (2003). “Rising Tide: Gender Equality and Cultural Change Around the World.”
Mary Ann Danowitz Sagaria. (2007). “Women, Universities, and Change: Gender Equality in the European Union and the United States (Issues in Higher Education).”
Merrill, R. (1997). “Good News for Women: A Biblical Picture of Gender Equality.”
Mir-Hosseini, Z. (2013). “Gender and Equality in Muslim Family Law: Justice and Ethics in the Islamic Legal Process.”
Raymond F. Gregory. (2003). “Women and Workplace Discrimination: Overcoming Barriers to Gender Equality.”
Rubery, J., & Koukiadaki, A. (2016). “Closing the Gender Pay Gap: A Review of the Issues, Policy Mechanisms and International Evidence.”
Sharma, A. (2016). “Managing Diversity and Equality in the Workplace.”
Sika, N. (2011). “The Millennium Development Goals: Prospects for Gender Equality in the Arab World.”
Stamarski, C. S., & Son Hing, L. S. (2015). “Gender Inequalities in the Workplace: The Effects of Organizational Structures, Processes, Practices, and Decision Makers’ Sexism.”
Verniers, C., & Vala, J. (2018). “Justifying Gender Discrimination in the Workplace: The Mediating Role of Motherhood Myths.”
Williams, C. L., & Dellinger, K. (2010). “Gender and Sexuality in the Workplace.”

Literary Works for Your Gender Equality Essay Ideas

“A Doll’s House” by Henrik Ibsen
“A Room of One’s Own” by Virginia Woolf
“Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy
“Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley
“ The Awakening” by Kate Chopin
“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
“The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood
“The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
“The Second Sex” by Simone de Beauvoir

We’re sure that with all of these argumentative essay topics about gender equality and useful sources, you’ll get a good grade without much effort! If you have any difficulties with your homework, request “ write my essay for cheap ” help and our expert writers are always ready to help you.

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Role of Gender in “Mulan” by Walt Disney Research Paper

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Introduction

Role of gender, works cited.

The movie Mulan is about woman who went to the military to save her father’s life, to make her family happy and make people proud of her, and this woman was called Mulan. Mulan is an animation movie created by Walt Disney in 1998.

This movie is a way to learn about the Chinese culture. Also, the movie has a lot of points; these papers will discuss four argumentum topics. The four arguments questions are: the role of gender in mulan ? What makes Mulan happy, lessons learnt by women from the film and the appropriateness of the theme?

Role of gender is understood as the “behavioral norms that are usually associated with male or female in a given social group” (Giroux 1).

Mulan is a female character in the movie described as independent and not thinking about finding a husband like other women but she is instead trying to transform herself to a man the fact that Mulan remains subordinate to men despite her abilities and capabilities qualifies her into Giroux understanding of gender.

The movie showed men as the undisputed heroes and any feat by a woman to match this was considered exceptional and Mulan is taken to be special.

This was showed when Mulan, despite her success in the army, still had to defend herself before her dad who showed the respectful and submissive character and expectations of women and to some extent to which her dad was not interested in her distinctions (Blum 5).

This is despite Mulan joining the military to rescue her father, she cannot however stand up to her father as opposed to other men in the military because it is only her father who understands her whereas other military men don’t know that mulan as a woman since she exhibits the qualities of a man

There was gender inequality in Mulan ; this was due to the fact that there were social expectations of each gender that were strictly observed. Since it was a patriarchal society there was male dominance and control of women.

Women were treated as inferior and only existed to serve men as evidenced in the family of Mulan where her father refuses to appreciate her efforts.The fact that the little girl informed Mulan that no one would listen to her because she was a woman was a clear indication of how women were ignored in the patriarchal society.

This was also evidenced at the end of the movie when the emperor’s counselor Chi Fu comments that despite Mulan’s success, she still was a woman and not worth anything (Blum 5). This is a clear indication that women are not worth any appreciation or recognition and hence no gender equality in Mulan.

Mulan shown men as unclean; she picked this construction about men when she entered the military. In the military, she noticed men “picking their noses, spiting on the ground and showing bad manners” (Blum 5). Also men were depicted as strong and violent people who could easily start a fight.

This point was supported by the words of Robert Connells that “violence is a way of asserting masculinities” (Blum 7). Men were taken as people who did not think carefully before they acted as was demonstrated by their combat against the bad people which they never won unlike Mulan , a woman who thought carefully before she acted and she made successes by winning over the battle.

She achieved this by looking for a quicker way of breaking the door as opposite to the men who tried to break the door using physical strength. Women were presented as negative; this was seen in the emperor’s counselor Chi Fu.

He described his superiority over women by rebuking them and his personification of stereotyped negative masculine characteristics (Blum 5).

Mulan describes a society that is characterized by strict role definition based on ones gender as illustrated by the fact that Mulan’s father and the emperor are against her joining military because she is just a woman, women are suppose to be married off and oriented towards domestic tasks.

Gender stereotyping was an overriding act in the movie. This was deep rooted to the extent that an exemplary action by a woman could not erase it. Mulan was severally scolded; this however changed in some conditions, for example, when she saved the lives of fellow soldiers she was referred to as a heroine and given a respect.

She was abandoned and despised when it was realized that she was a woman (Heather I). Mulan’s happiness-being man or woman

Mulan was happier being a woman than a man; this was demonstrated by her desire to venture into men related roles. Mulan proved that there were several ways of bringing honor and dignity into a family other than only through marriage and by her excuse that she did not need a man to be respected.

That she was proud of being a woman was demonstrated by her respect from her dad, a demand expected of women in the society. Any determination by a woman to overcome this mentality was criticized, ridiculed and despised as demonstrated when Mulan was referred as treacherous snake when she was discovered to be a woman, this happened despite her achievements as an army officer (Giroux 123).

Mulan is happy as a woman since she is more interested in displaying to the male chauvinistic society that what men can do, women can also do it better

It can also be argued that Mulan was not happy and proud of being a woman. This was because despite her joining the army, she disguised herself as a man and went further to demonstrate the physical and mental qualities that were typical of men and other masculine qualities.

She disguised herself as a man till she returned home from the fighting and it was only noticed and realized when her male soldier friends came to visit at their home of which they were amazed. It is upon realization that she was a woman that led to her abandonment by her fellow soldiers. After knowing if Mulan was happier as a man or as woman, women can learn a lot from the film.

Women should learn to overcome criticisms emanating from the public and self reproaches and they should be determined to succeed even in a patriarchal society, they should define themselves.

Consequently, women should overcome the insurmountable odd of stereotyping in the same way that Mulan overcame it to join the army which was predominantly men domain and that eliminated the stereotypical feminine mentality. This stereotyping of women as people to perform certain limited roles should be despised.

This was depicted by a young girl who mentioned certain qualities of a typical woman which included quite and shy, graceful, polite, delicate, poised and punctual (Blum 3).

Women should also learn that the desire to succeed is inherent and only demands personal conviction. The fact that Mulan joined the army and succeeded in fighting the battles clearly showed this notion, and that the stereotyping was just mental constructions by men in the society.

The determination of Mulan to overcome social constructions by men and the perception of woman in society to become successful in the army should actually act as a motivation to women who are faced with similar challenges or those who come from similar societies.

Just like Mulan women should be determined to break the gender specific prison, the social norms of the society and seek to move towards independency and self-definition of a woman (Blum 6). They should always demonstrate determination to succeed and the ability to pass tests.

The story inspires women who once cowed from challenging men and eliminates from their minds the traditional school of thought, the story ended by praising women, the story also supported that women be given positions that match those of men.

The story gave women a hint? of what an independent modern woman should be like. The determination by Mulan to prove herself and to discover and appreciate her identity is the exact picture of a young woman today.

Modern women are struggling to define themselves and to justify their worth and they often get into trouble when they try to define and distinguish themselves. From the story, women can learn that it is not the physicality that defines gender roles but intellect and tenacity that defined.

After all what you have read above, the appropriateness of the message being passed in the movie is gender equality and should be encouraged. There are always gender related roles and women are considered to be subordinates to men.

The role of women in the society is the domestic one and there are specific professional fields that are reserved for particular genders. The message in the movie Mulan is appropriate especially for women who are marginalized in various contemporary societies.

Women will learn how to overcome certain odds that the society traditionally expects of them by taking an analytical look at Mulan and how she managed to succeed in such a patriarchal society. Women will find Mulan a perfect role model who can inspire their determination to succeed in life in societies which have not fully accepted women as equals of men (New York Times 1).

The message is also appropriate for men that what men women can do it better. In addition, men can learn from the movie that times are changing and the traditional expected roles of women have changed and they should pave way to the realities of a modern woman who is prepared to do all roles that were reserved for men.

No man seems to learn from this message, this is demonstrated by the failure of Mulan’s dad to appreciate and recognize the efforts of Mulan and also when Mulan is ridiculed by other fellow military men when she is realized to be a woman (Gonzales 1).

The movie is about strive for gender equality in the society, Mulan in the movie epitomizes women who are struggling for space in the current society which is dominated by men who are unwilling recognize the upcoming position of women.

The ridicule and the despising of Mulan despite the exemplary task she performed and that was unmatched by any man describe how women are unappreciated. The movie indeed brings fore to the reality that men and women are equal and what men are able to do can also be done by women.

Blum, Sonja. The Representation of Gender in Walt Disney’s Mulan . New York: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.

Giroux, Henry. Breaking in to the movies: film and the culture of politics . New York: Wiley-Blackwell, 2003. Print.

New York Times. “ Film Review, a warrior, she takes on Huns and stereotypes ”. New York Times Review, 1998. Web.

Gonzales, Edward. “Review of Mulan”. Slant Magazine, 1998. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2019, March 22). Role of Gender in "Mulan" by Walt Disney. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mulan/

"Role of Gender in "Mulan" by Walt Disney." IvyPanda , 22 Mar. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/mulan/.

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IvyPanda . 2019. "Role of Gender in "Mulan" by Walt Disney." March 22, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mulan/.

1. IvyPanda . "Role of Gender in "Mulan" by Walt Disney." March 22, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mulan/.

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IvyPanda . "Role of Gender in "Mulan" by Walt Disney." March 22, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/mulan/.

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The crucial role of media in achieving gender equality

21 Feb. 2020

Media today, from traditional legacy media to online media, still hugely influence our perceptions and ideas about the role of girls and women in society. What we have unfortunately seen until now is that media tend to perpetuate gender inequality. Research shows that from a young age, children are influenced by the gendered stereotypes that media present to them.

Research has found that exposure to stereotypical gender portrayals and clear gender segregation correlates “(a) with preferences for ‘gender appropriate’ media content, toys, games and activities; (b) to traditional perceptions of gender roles, occupations and personality traits; as well as (c) to attitudes towards 2 expectations and aspirations for future trajectories of life” .

We are concerned that the latest Secretary General report proposing priority areas to the Commission on the Status of Women does not mention the crucial role of media in achieving gender equality. This is a huge opportunity that is lost. The data we have show that women only make up 24% of the persons heard, read about or seen in newspaper, television and radio news. Even worse: 46% of news stories reinforce gender stereotypes while only 4% of stories clearly challenge gender stereotypes.

One in five experts interviewed by media are women. Women are frequently portrayed in stereotypical and hyper-sexualised roles in advertising and the film industry, which has long-term social consequences. And 73% of the management jobs are occupied by men compared to 27% occupied by women.

We strongly believe in the transformative role media can play in achieving gender equality in societies. By creating gender-sensitive and gender-transformative content and breaking gender stereotypes. By challenging traditional social and cultural norms and attitudes regarding gender perceptions both in content and in the media houses. By showing women in leadership roles and as experts on a diversity of topics on a daily basis, not as an exception.

In many countries around the world women’s opinions are dismissed and they are not taught to ask questions and be part of public debate. Without information women don’t know about and can’t exert their rights to education, to property, pensions, etc. and they cannot challenge existing norms and stereotypes. This makes it impossible to achieve inclusive societies as we aim to achieve through the Global Development agenda. Access to information empowers women to claim their rights and make better decisions.

The media industry needs to be encouraged to produce gender-transformative content and to develop self-regulatory equality policies, including access to decision-making positions. Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms need to be set up to assess the progress within the sector. Thereby creating gender equality in content, workplace and management.

Violence against female media workers

The safety of female media workers has in recent years developed into a serious concern, as it creates another obstacle to gender equality within the media. The majority of female media workers experience gender specific harassment both inside their organisations, outside of them, and more increasingly online.

Gender-based violence (GBV), both digital and physical, pose a threat to freedom of expression and access to information. Silencing female journalists constitutes an attack on democracy itself as it leads to self-censorship: women retreating from the public sphere because of the harassment. Almost a third of female journalists consider leaving the profession because of the threats, intimidation or attacks they endure. More than a third of female journalists avoided reporting certain stories for the same reason. Almost half of female journalists experience online abuse. Many of them indicate the abuse has led them to become less active or even inactive on social media, while it’s a crucial part of the job. Threats are often of a sexual and racist nature, targeted at the person instead of the content, making the workplace an unsafe environment for women. This leaves the male-dominated field of media with even fewer female voices.

We believe that the media sector has the responsibility to provide a safe working environment for all staff and to develop policies that prevent GBV. It is imperative media organisations have mechanisms in place that ensure necessary support for those who have experienced GBV at the workplace, while performing their work outside and/or via digital means.

Our recommendations to the Commission on the Status of Women:

To recognize the crucial role of media in achieving gender equality in all domains by creating gender-sensitive and gender-transformative content and breaking gender stereotypes.
Media should lead the way towards gender equality through gender-sensitive and gender- transformative content. For this we need coherent policies, rules, and mechanisms on all levels, starting with national media policies and media industry self-regulation.
Safety of female media workers needs to be a key priority for Member States and the media industry. A culture of safety needs to be created and effective mechanisms for complaints and redress need to be put in place.

Submitted by: International Media Support, Free Press Unlimited, The Carter Center, Fondation Hirondelle, Global Alliance on Media and Gender, International Women’s Media Foundation, Media Diversity Institute, RNW Media, World Association for Christian Communication and WAN-IFRA

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5 Powerful Essays Advocating for Gender Equality

Gender equality – which becomes reality when all genders are treated fairly and allowed equal opportunities – is a complicated human rights issue for every country in the world. Recent statistics are sobering. According to the World Economic Forum, it will take 108 years to achieve gender parity . The biggest gaps are found in political empowerment and economics. Also, there are currently just six countries that give women and men equal legal work rights. Generally, women are only given ¾ of the rights given to men. To learn more about how gender equality is measured, how it affects both women and men, and what can be done, here are five essays making a fair point.

Take a free course on Gender Equality offered by top universities!

“Countries With Less Gender Equity Have More Women In STEM — Huh?” – Adam Mastroianni and Dakota McCoy

This essay from two Harvard PhD candidates (Mastroianni in psychology and McCoy in biology) takes a closer look at a recent study that showed that in countries with lower gender equity, more women are in STEM. The study’s researchers suggested that this is because women are actually especially interested in STEM fields, and because they are given more choice in Western countries, they go with different careers. Mastroianni and McCoy disagree.

They argue the research actually shows that cultural attitudes and discrimination are impacting women’s interests, and that bias and discrimination is present even in countries with better gender equality. The problem may lie in the Gender Gap Index (GGI), which tracks factors like wage disparity and government representation. To learn why there’s more women in STEM from countries with less gender equality, a more nuanced and complex approach is needed.

“Men’s health is better, too, in countries with more gender equality” – Liz Plank

When it comes to discussions about gender equality, it isn’t uncommon for someone in the room to say, “What about the men?” Achieving gender equality has been difficult because of the underlying belief that giving women more rights and freedom somehow takes rights away from men. The reality, however, is that gender equality is good for everyone. In Liz Plank’s essay, which is an adaption from her book For the Love of Men: A Vision for Mindful Masculinity, she explores how in Iceland, the #1 ranked country for gender equality, men live longer. Plank lays out the research for why this is, revealing that men who hold “traditional” ideas about masculinity are more likely to die by suicide and suffer worse health. Anxiety about being the only financial provider plays a big role in this, so in countries where women are allowed education and equal earning power, men don’t shoulder the burden alone.

Liz Plank is an author and award-winning journalist with Vox, where she works as a senior producer and political correspondent. In 2015, Forbes named her one of their “30 Under 30” in the Media category. She’s focused on feminist issues throughout her career.

“China’s #MeToo Moment” – Jiayang Fan

Some of the most visible examples of gender inequality and discrimination comes from “Me Too” stories. Women are coming forward in huge numbers relating how they’ve been harassed and abused by men who have power over them. Most of the time, established systems protect these men from accountability. In this article from Jiayang Fan, a New Yorker staff writer, we get a look at what’s happening in China.

The essay opens with a story from a PhD student inspired by the United States’ Me Too movement to open up about her experience with an academic adviser. Her story led to more accusations against the adviser, and he was eventually dismissed. This is a rare victory, because as Fan says, China employs a more rigid system of patriarchy and hierarchy. There aren’t clear definitions or laws surrounding sexual harassment. Activists are charting unfamiliar territory, which this essay explores.

“Men built this system. No wonder gender equality remains as far off as ever.” – Ellie Mae O’Hagan

Freelance journalist Ellie Mae O’Hagan (whose book The New Normal is scheduled for a May 2020 release) is discouraged that gender equality is so many years away. She argues that it’s because the global system of power at its core is broken. Even when women are in power, which is proportionally rare on a global scale, they deal with a system built by the patriarchy. O’Hagan’s essay lays out ideas for how to fix what’s fundamentally flawed, so gender equality can become a reality.

Ideas include investing in welfare; reducing gender-based violence (which is mostly men committing violence against women); and strengthening trade unions and improving work conditions. With a system that’s not designed to put women down, the world can finally achieve gender equality.

“Invisibility of Race in Gender Pay Gap Discussions” – Bonnie Chu

The gender pay gap has been a pressing issue for many years in the United States, but most discussions miss the factor of race. In this concise essay, Senior Contributor Bonnie Chu examines the reality, writing that within the gender pay gap, there’s other gaps when it comes to black, Native American, and Latina women. Asian-American women, on the other hand, are paid 85 cents for every dollar. This data is extremely important and should be present in discussions about the gender pay gap. It reminds us that when it comes to gender equality, there’s other factors at play, like racism.

Bonnie Chu is a gender equality advocate and a Forbes 30 Under 30 social entrepreneur. She’s the founder and CEO of Lensational, which empowers women through photography, and the Managing Director of The Social Investment Consultancy.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Barbie — Exploring Identity and Cultural Reflections in the Barbie Movie 2023

Exploring Identity and Cultural Reflections in The Barbie Movie 2023

Categories: Barbie Film Analysis

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Published: Oct 25, 2023

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Introduction, gender, identity, and cultural shifts: a screenplay’s influence, challenges and triumphs: bringing barbie to life, beyond the screen: societal impact and cultural significance.

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What does gender equality look like today?

Date: Wednesday, 6 October 2021

Progress towards gender equality is looking bleak. But it doesn’t need to.

A new global analysis of progress on gender equality and women’s rights shows women and girls remain disproportionately affected by the socioeconomic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, struggling with disproportionately high job and livelihood losses, education disruptions and increased burdens of unpaid care work. Women’s health services, poorly funded even before the pandemic, faced major disruptions, undermining women’s sexual and reproductive health. And despite women’s central role in responding to COVID-19, including as front-line health workers, they are still largely bypassed for leadership positions they deserve.

UN Women’s latest report, together with UN DESA, Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2021 presents the latest data on gender equality across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The report highlights the progress made since 2015 but also the continued alarm over the COVID-19 pandemic, its immediate effect on women’s well-being and the threat it poses to future generations.

We’re breaking down some of the findings from the report, and calling for the action needed to accelerate progress.

The pandemic is making matters worse

One and a half years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the toll on the poorest and most vulnerable people remains devastating and disproportionate. The combined impact of conflict, extreme weather events and COVID-19 has deprived women and girls of even basic needs such as food security. Without urgent action to stem rising poverty, hunger and inequality, especially in countries affected by conflict and other acute forms of crisis, millions will continue to suffer.

A global goal by global goal reality check:

Goal 1. Poverty

Globally, 1 in 5 girls under 15 are growing up in extreme poverty.

In 2021, extreme poverty is on the rise and progress towards its elimination has reversed. An estimated 435 million women and girls globally are living in extreme poverty.

And yet we can change this .

Over 150 million women and girls could emerge from poverty by 2030 if governments implement a comprehensive strategy to improve access to education and family planning, achieve equal wages and extend social transfers.

Goal 2. Zero hunger

Small-scale farmer households headed by women earn on average 30% less than those headed by men.

The global gender gap in food security has risen dramatically during the pandemic, with more women and girls going hungry. Women’s food insecurity levels were 10 per cent higher than men’s in 2020, compared with 6 per cent higher in 2019.

This trend can be reversed , including by supporting women small-scale producers, who typically earn far less than men, through increased funding, training and land rights reforms.

Goal 3. Good health and well-being

In the first year of the pandemic, there were an estimated additional 1.4 million additional unintended pregnancies in lower- and middle-income countries.

Disruptions in essential health services due to COVID-19 are taking a tragic toll on women and girls. In the first year of the pandemic, there were an estimated 1.4 million additional unintended pregnancies in lower and middle-income countries.

We need to do better .

Response to the pandemic must include prioritizing sexual and reproductive health services, ensuring they continue to operate safely now and after the pandemic is long over. In addition, more support is needed to ensure life-saving personal protection equipment, tests, oxygen and especially vaccines are available in rich and poor countries alike as well as to vulnerable population within countries.

Goal 4. Quality education

Half of all refugee girls enrolled in secondary school before the pandemic will not return to school.

A year and a half into the pandemic, schools remain partially or fully closed in 42 per cent of the world’s countries and territories. School closures spell lost opportunities for girls and an increased risk of violence, exploitation and early marriage .

Governments can do more to protect girls education .

Measures focused specifically on supporting girls returning to school are urgently needed, including measures focused on girls from marginalized communities who are most at risk.

Goal 5. Gender equality

Women are restricted from working in certain jobs or industries in almost 50% of countries.

The pandemic has tested and even reversed progress in expanding women’s rights and opportunities. Reports of violence against women and girls, a “shadow” pandemic to COVID-19, are increasing in many parts of the world. COVID-19 is also intensifying women’s workload at home, forcing many to leave the labour force altogether.

Building forward differently and better will hinge on placing women and girls at the centre of all aspects of response and recovery, including through gender-responsive laws, policies and budgeting.

Goal 6. Clean water and sanitation

Only 26% of countries are actively working on gender mainstreaming in water management.

In 2018, nearly 2.3 billion people lived in water-stressed countries. Without safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and menstrual hygiene facilities, women and girls find it harder to lead safe, productive and healthy lives.

Change is possible .

Involve those most impacted in water management processes, including women. Women’s voices are often missing in water management processes.

Goal 7. Affordable and clean energy

Only about 1 in 10 senior managers in the rapidly growing renewable energy industry is a woman.

Increased demand for clean energy and low-carbon solutions is driving an unprecedented transformation of the energy sector. But women are being left out. Women hold only 32 per cent of renewable energy jobs.

We can do better .

Expose girls early on to STEM education, provide training and support to women entering the energy field, close the pay gap and increase women’s leadership in the energy sector.

Goal 8. Decent work and economic growth

In 2020 employed women fell by 54 million. Women out of the labour force rose by 45 million.

The number of employed women declined by 54 million in 2020 and 45 million women left the labour market altogether. Women have suffered steeper job losses than men, along with increased unpaid care burdens at home.

We must do more to support women in the workforce .

Guarantee decent work for all, introduce labour laws/reforms, removing legal barriers for married women entering the workforce, support access to affordable/quality childcare.

Goal 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Just 4% of clinical studies on COVID-19 treatments considered sex and/or gender in their research

The COVID-19 crisis has spurred striking achievements in medical research and innovation. Women’s contribution has been profound. But still only a little over a third of graduates in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics field are female.

We can take action today.

Quotas mandating that a proportion of research grants are awarded to women-led teams or teams that include women is one concrete way to support women researchers.

Goal 10. Reduced inequalities

While in transit to their new destination, 53% of migrant women report experiencing or witnessing violence, compared to 19% of men.

Limited progress for women is being eroded by the pandemic. Women facing multiple forms of discrimination, including women and girls with disabilities, migrant women, women discriminated against because of their race/ethnicity are especially affected.

Commit to end racism and discrimination in all its forms, invest in inclusive, universal, gender responsive social protection systems that support all women.

Goal 11. Sustainable cities and communities

Slum residents are at an elevated risk of COVID-19 infection and fatality rates. In many countries, women are overrepresented in urban slums.

Globally, more than 1 billion people live in informal settlements and slums. Women and girls, often overrepresented in these densely populated areas, suffer from lack of access to basic water and sanitation, health care and transportation.

The needs of urban poor women must be prioritized .

Increase the provision of durable and adequate housing and equitable access to land; included women in urban planning and development processes.

Goal 12. Sustainable consumption and production; Goal 13. Climate action; Goal 14. Life below water; and Goal 15. Life on land

Women are finding solutions for our ailing planet, but are not given the platforms they deserve. Only 29% of featured speakers at international ocean science conferences are women.

Women activists, scientists and researchers are working hard to solve the climate crisis but often without the same platforms as men to share their knowledge and skills. Only 29 per cent of featured speakers at international ocean science conferences are women.

And yet we can change this .

Ensure women activists, scientists and researchers have equal voice, representation and access to forums where these issues are being discussed and debated.

Goal 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Women's unequal decision-making power undermines development at every level. Women only chair 18% of government committees on foreign affairs, defence and human rights.

The lack of women in decision-making limits the reach and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergency recovery efforts. In conflict-affected countries, 18.9 per cent of parliamentary seats are held by women, much lower than the global average of 25.6 per cent.

This is unacceptable .

It's time for women to have an equal share of power and decision-making at all levels.

Goal 17. Global partnerships for the goals

Women are not being sufficiently prioritized in country commitments to achieving the SDGs, including on Climate Action. Only 64 out of 190 of nationally determined contributions to climate goals referred to women.

There are just 9 years left to achieve the Global Goals by 2030, and gender equality cuts across all 17 of them. With COVID-19 slowing progress on women's rights, the time to act is now.

Looking ahead

As it stands today, only one indicator under the global goal for gender equality (SDG5) is ‘close to target’: proportion of seats held by women in local government. In other areas critical to women’s empowerment, equality in time spent on unpaid care and domestic work and decision making regarding sexual and reproductive health the world is far from target. Without a bold commitment to accelerate progress, the global community will fail to achieve gender equality. Building forward differently and better will require placing women and girls at the centre of all aspects of response and recovery, including through gender-responsive laws, policies and budgeting.

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Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. There has been progress over the last decades, but the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore also half of its potential. But gender inequality persists everywhere and stagnates social progress. On average, women in the labor market still earn 23 percent less than men globally and women spend about three times as many hours in unpaid domestic and care work as men.

Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and discrimination in public office, all remain huge barriers. All these areas of inequality have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic: there has been a surge in reports of sexual violence, women have taken on more care work due to school closures, and 70% of health and social workers globally are women.

At the current rate, it will take an estimated 300 years to end child marriage, 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.

Political leadership, investments and comprehensive policy reforms are needed to dismantle systemic barriers to achieving Goal 5 Gender equality is a cross-cutting objective and must be a key focus of national policies, budgets and institutions.

How much progress have we made?

International commitments to advance gender equality have brought about improvements in some areas: child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) have declined in recent years, and women’s representation in the political arena is higher than ever before. But the promise of a world in which every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality, and where all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment have been removed, remains unfulfilled. In fact, that goal is probably even more distant than before, since women and girls are being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are they any other gender-related challenges?

Yes. Worldwide, nearly half of married women lack decision-making power over their sexual and reproductive health and rights. 35 per cent of women between 15-49 years of age have experienced physical and/ or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.1 in 3 girls aged 15-19 have experienced some form of female genital mutilation/cutting in the 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, where the harmful practice is most common with a high risk of prolonged bleeding, infection (including HIV), childbirth complications, infertility and death.

This type of violence doesn’t just harm individual women and girls; it also undermines their overall quality of life and hinders their active involvement in society.

Why should gender equality matter to me?

Regardless of where you live in, gender equality is a fundamental human right. Advancing gender equality is critical to all areas of a healthy society, from reducing poverty to promoting the health, education, protection and the well-being of girls and boys.

What can we do?

If you are a girl, you can stay in school, help empower your female classmates to do the same and fight for your right to access sexual and reproductive health services. If you are a woman, you can address unconscious biases and implicit associations that form an unintended and often an invisible barrier to equal opportunity.

If you are a man or a boy, you can work alongside women and girls to achieve gender equality and embrace healthy, respectful relationships.

You can fund education campaigns to curb cultural practices like female genital mutilation and change harmful laws that limit the rights of women and girls and prevent them from achieving their full potential.

The Spotlight Initiative is an EU/UN partnership, and a global, multi-year initiative focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls – the world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

Facts and figures

Goal 5 targets.

With only seven years remaining, a mere 15.4 per cent of Goal 5 indicators with data are “on track”, 61.5 per cent are at a moderate distance and 23.1 per cent are far or very far off track from 2030 targets.
In many areas, progress has been too slow. At the current rate, it will take an estimated 300 years to end child marriage, 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.
Political leadership, investments and comprehensive policy reforms are needed to dismantle systemic barriers to achieving Goal 5. Gender equality is a cross-cutting objective and must be a key focus of national policies, budgets and institutions.
Around 2.4 billion women of working age are not afforded equal economic opportunity. Nearly 2.4 Billion Women Globally Don’t Have Same Economic Rights as Men
178 countries maintain legal barriers that prevent women’s full economic participation. Nearly 2.4 Billion Women Globally Don’t Have Same Economic Rights as Men
In 2019, one in five women, aged 20-24 years, were married before the age of 18. Girls | UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children

Source: The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023

5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere

5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation

5.3 Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

5.4 Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate

5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decisionmaking in political, economic and public life

5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences

5.A Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws

5.B Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women

5.C Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels

He for She campaign

United Secretary-General Campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women

Every Woman Every Child Initiative

Spotlight Initiative

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

UN Population Fund: Gender equality

UN Population Fund: Female genital mutilation

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UN Population Fund: Gender-based violence

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Fast Facts: Gender Equality

Infographic: Gender Equality

The Initiative is so named as it brings focused attention to this issue, moving it into the spotlight and placing it at the centre of efforts to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

An initial investment in the order of EUR 500 million will be made, with the EU as the main contributor. Other donors and partners will be invited to join the Initiative to broaden its reach and scope. The modality for the delivery will be a UN multi- stakeholder trust fund, administered by the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office, with the support of core agencies UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women, and overseen by the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General.

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