*Spoilers*
We’ve been hearing a lot
recently about some of the strong women portrayed in the media like the cast of
Orange is the New Black, Olivia Pope, Black Widow, to name a few. Not that we’re
tired of these tougher than tough ladies, but let’s talk about the great
feminist role models in various forms of media that don’t get nearly as much
attention, because that’s a shame.
Felicity Smoak is a name that you’ve probably never heard. Ms. Smoak is a character on
the hit TV show Arrow, on the CW network. Felicity is a computer expert whom
helps the superhero known as the Green Arrow fight crime in Star City. In too many
TV shows, when there’s a woman “sidekick” character, she’s relegated to being
the damsel in distress or love interest for the main character. However, in Arrow,
Felicity Smoak is a character that defies odds. Raised by a single mother, who
worked primarily as a cocktail waitress in Las Vegas, Felicity strived at a
young age to do bigger, better things than her mother. After graduating from
MIT, she works in the IT department at one of the country’s largest
corporations. She rises through the ranks, based completely on her skill and
motivation. In the most recent season, she has taken the CEO position at this
company and succeeded, when many thought she would fail.
One of the breakout
television hits of the year was Mr. Robot on USA Network. The show follows a hacktivist
group known as “fsociety” as they attempt to take down the largest business conglomerate
in the world. The favorite character for many viewers is Darlene. When we Darlene, she bursts into a scene with immeasurable
confidence. She says what she wants, dresses how she wants, and her confidence
is only matched by her intelligence. She has a “take me as I am” mentality that
challenges the characters she interacts with. Darlene is unafraid to use
sexuality to achieve her goals, and never is ashamed about it. Darlene’s
magnetic, strong personality is even more impressive when you learn that she
was raised in an abusive household with a brother who struggles with mental
illness. After the death of her dad, Darlene watched as her domineering mother
verbally and mentally abused her brother. As adults, she watched her brother’s
mental illness spiral out of control, all the while staying motivated and
strong. Darlene is her brother’s “rock” and becomes a pivotal person in his
life. Showing that women can be kind, caring, and strong, while also being
confident, unique, and often brash, Darlene challenges conventional thinking on
what a feminist looks like.
Television is definitely not
the only place showcasing strong women. Comic books and graphic novels are now
a great medium to find these characters. While comics have been historically
known for their sexist, and oftentimes demeaning and hypersexual, portrayal of
women, in recent years there has been a rising trend of women that break those
rules. 2015 saw the launch of arguably the most feminist comic book of all
time, Bitch Planet. This story takes place in a future run by the extreme and
literal patriarchy known as The Fathers. When women are deemed “non-compliant,”
they are shipped into space to a prison commonly known as Bitch Planet. Much
like Orange is the New Black, this book has an incredible cast of women.
However, the standout in the early issues is Penny Rolle. Judged by her appearance, as a proud fat, black woman,
she is viewed by society as angry and violent. Every time she tries to comply
with the rules, the unapologetic racism and body shaming she faces forces Penny
into bad situations, eventually sending her to Bitch Planet. While there, the
authorities try to “rehabilitate” her by telling her that she can’t possibly be
happy the way she is currently. Penny is put in front of a monitor that is
going to read her brainwaves and show her the person she wishes she could be.
When she looks into the monitor, she doesn’t see what society views as the
idealistic woman, Penny sees herself. She exemplifies feminist ideals about the
female body.
Released amidst the chaos
that is Summer Movie Season, an independent film called Infinitely Polar Bear
features one of the strongest woman characters of the year. Taking place in the
1970s, Maggie is a woman with two
kids and a loving husband. Unfortunately, Maggie’s husband struggles to cope with
his bipolar disorder. The pressures of raising two children, working a full
time job that barely pays the bills, and trying to help her husband has pushed her to the edge. She knows the only way to help her
children, and possibly salvage her marriage, is to go to school and get her
MBA. Not only is Maggie facing challenges of being an independent woman in the
70s, where many people didn’t understand why the wife was going to school to
become the breadwinner and the husband was home watching the kids, but she also
is a person of color during a time when overt racism was common. Overcoming
those odds, she gets her MBA and a great career. Maggie is a strong role model
to her children and an inspiring figure to viewers.
Movies, television, and even
comic books are media that are showcasing feminist characters with great
success. Gone are the days of women only being the damsel in distress, the diminutive
housewife, or the overly sexual eye-candy. More and more complex female
characters are popping up that challenge a viewer’s preconceived notions, and
it’s not just in Orange is the New Black.
Written By: Callie Barfield
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