Following the announcement that a new installment to the Star Wars franchise would be released in December of 2015, I, like many, immediately began theorizing upon how the newest film would compare to the originals. Being the newest in a franchise which has thus far earned over $20,127,065,639, The Force Awakens had some massive shoes to fill. As the theater lights dimmed and the now-iconic yellow script scrolled across the screen, I most anticipated how the seventh episode would portray its female characters. While the previous six films have been praised by many as groundbreaking and boundary-pushing, the flimsy attempts at “feminism” and “strong female leads” have always left me extremely unsatisfied.
The character of Princess Leia, who appears in the original trilogy as well as the most recent installment, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, has been hailed by many as a feminist icon. I entirely agree, as she can be seen throughout the movies leading the Rebellion, fighting the dark side, and being generally fearless, passionate, and dedicated. However, much of what we remember her for is the infamous "Slave Leia" scene, in which she is draped in a sultry gold bikini and loincloth. While she is only bikini’d for less than three minutes, this oversexualization often overshadows all of her other “feminist warrior” moments in countless viewers’ minds.
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This heightened my overwhelming enthusiasm after viewing the newest film in the Star Wars franchise. The female lead, Rey, is displayed throughout the film as a fierce, independent heroine who needs no saving. In the numerous sequences of her saving herself as well as Finn and BB-8 through her piloting skills, quick thinking, and discovery of the Force, Rey is never, not once, oversexualized. Once again, there is finally a feminist lead in a record-smashing film who displays NO signs of oversexualization! In fact, Rey’s costume greatly mirrored that of Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy.
However, the Star Wars franchise did more than simply improve upon the female costuming. The previous female leads in the franchise, mainly Leia and Padme, often fluctuated between two extreme states; absolute independence, or helplessly distressed damsels. The latter happened far too often, and the women were frequently incapable to an almost humorous degree. Rey’s role was altered entirely, as she simply did not have the luxury of being the damsel in distress; she was too busy surviving. Growing up a self-sufficient loner, she quickly proved she had neither the time nor the need for rescuing. As a result, Finn’s consistent attempts at well-meaning chivalry actually seemed extremely out of place, and quickly proved her to be the equal of her fellow male rebels.
Lovers of equality rejoice, for the subtle hints of feminism were not simply limited to Rey. Instead, characters such as General Leia and Maz Kanata further enforced the notion that this Star Wars was created by viewing the role of female characters in an extremely different way. By altering her status from royalty to military commander and taking the leadership role which many believed Han Solo would hold, Leia reclaimed her title of hardcore heroine. In addition, Maz Kanata proved to be an extremely well-developed female character. By acting as the catalyst which prompted Rey to discover the Force, she filled the role of a guiding elder similarly to Obi Wan Kenobi or Yoda.
By altering the very concept of what makes a heroine, as well as how women are portrayed in supporting roles, Star Wars, Ep. VII has truly raised the bar for future films.
