The issue of women's representation, or lack there of in the media, has gone from bad to worse. In today's society, many women are represented in Hollywood films as sex symbols, or the center of "chick flicks," where their only goal is to find a man. Yes, these movies have their "twists" but they tend to have the same general formula. Boy meets girl, they become friends, girl suddenly "catches feelings" but is afraid boy doesn't feel the same way, turns out boy has liked girl all along. How cliché!
First, the woman just happens to be the "girl next door that no one has taken interest in." Then, all she wants is a man, someone to make her happy and treat her like she deserves. So basically, this tells young women that the only way for them to achieve true happiness is by being valued by a man. This idea is so misguided and it's just plain sad.
Secondly, if women are featured in an any other type of film such as action, they are often seen as a sex symbol. A female in an action film tends to be young, physically fit, and attractive. Very few physical or emotional flaws are represented. This reinforces a message to young women that society will only value them based on their physical appearance. This is another devastating message we are sending to girls. Have you ever seen a big-budget film made about a woman who was only mildly attractive that wasn't about her finding love? Me neither.
Now, moving onto the next big problem: the men. Let's take the movie "Couples Retreat" for example. Four couples. The four men, all older and much less attractive than their female counterparts, (I love Vince Vaughn as much as the next person, but let's be real). So, not only do women have to be young, fit and beautiful, but their significant others can be older, and way less physically fit.
Perhaps the reason we have so much patriarchy in today's films is because the majority of filmmakers are men! According to Martha M. Lauzen, less than 19% of producers are women, less than 12% of writers are women and less than 2% of directors are women. Clearly, the film industry is "a man's world."
It's time for Hollywood to step up and realize that women can do the same things as men. It is almost 2016 for God's sake. It's about time we start seeing some films about women taking on some leadership positions in movies, and being the main character in more than just chick flicks. It's time for women to be represented as smart, savvy and more than just a "hot body" on a screen.
