The Portrayal Of Female Characters In Films

The passage Of Fe priapic Characters In FilmsFilms have long been substance abused as a tool to portray human imaginations and ideas that atomic number 18 sometimes deemed impossible in reality. The characters in films have had a huge impact, with regard to gender imprint, on audiences of all ages (Neuendorf et. al., 2010). though in that respect have been debates of how feminine characters be existence visualized in films, from being submissive to hyper-sexualised and lately, adopting much dominant routines in films, has there really been a change in anthropoid characters in films instead (Gilpatric, 2010)? Have staminate characters in films adopt pi exemptate traits comparable how the fe phallic person characters have adopted manly traits? This paper looks into how the portrayals of male characters in films have changed or are changing and how they affect gender construction.The libber movework forcet has constantly fought for wowork forces right and luciferity s o as to military post wo workforce on equal abideing to workforce in the corporation. This revolution has since been translated onto the ash gray screens as films depict wo workforce playing prominent and dominant roles in films (Gilpatric, 2010 Neundorf et. al., 2010) which is a stark contrast to the past when wo custody played a submissive and instrumental roles to the male character. Further more, films mirror the changing character of our society, expecting men to behave in accordance to societal expectations deconstructing the male assort. Thus, the increasing slew in films fault away from portray men as having the traditional virile trait, reconstructing it to more what termed today as the newly Age Men (NAM) has been a offspring of the increasing prominence and authorisation of females in films and the evolving personality of the society.The NAM is thus seen as a fusion of having both the traditional traits of males and females, embracing both mannish and feminine traits. Here, maleness is defined as having the size, physical strength, rejection to authority and the use of physical force (Eschholz and Bufkin, 2001). Along with those masculine traits, the NAM are in like manner expect to have traits wish well caring and being able to handle housework. The endure of the NAM has been heavily attri neverthelessed to the rise of females in films and the changing nature of the society. Men today feel there is a need to state themselves from females in films to swear their dominance in the industry and to reintegrate into the society, deconstructing the male classify.Female Characters in Films Today.Male characters in films are moving away from having masculine traits imputable to the rise of female prominence and dominance in the roles they play by adopting those masculine traits. Female characters like Lara Croft and put to death Bill highlights the point that traits like submissive and implemental are no longer being associated w ith female character. The casting of the adhesiveness girl character is as equally important, receiving safe as much attention as the casting of James stand by himself, and though a link up film may lack the progressive gadget, never has there been a Bond film without a Bond girl (Neuendorf et. al., 2010). This accentuates that the womens roles are equally important to the Bond character. Men, who relate about to Bond who usually portray masculine traits, view this as a challenge to their masculinity as the Bond character is dependent on the female character. The lack of innovative gadgets also portrays a crisis in masculinity since men regard these technologies as macho (Neuendorf et. al., 2010). This is further amplified with female characters playing main characters in films being created with complex and enthralling personalities relative to male characters who are rather one-dimensional and are of minor interest (Russell-Watts, 2010).Women are also selected to play roles previously played and deemed suitable for men. Though Lara Croft and Kill Bill props to mind, the village by William Shakespeare is a nonher example. Despite settlement being a male character, women have been manifesting their interest to play the role and there has been an increasing trend of women getting selected to personify hamlet (Howard, 2007). Moreover, the Hamlet is known to be involved in violence as visualized by the character Alexandra Tranda, who parallels the happenings of Hamlet to the events occuring in her life and ends up cleaning her father (Howard, 2007). Violence is defined as any intentional painful sensation of physical pain or harm (Eschholz and Bufkin, 2001) and has a positive correlation coefficient to masculinity (Eschholz and Bufkin, 2001 Neuendorf et. al., 2010 Gilpatric, 2010) thus proving an annex in violence equates to in an increase in masculinity. Men feel the idea of a women hamlet as unhealthy and feel ashamed for a woman to take out the Hamlet role (Howard, 2007). This is an indication to men that women are challenging their masculinity and dominance in the film industry especially in roles crafted for men.The rise of females in films adopting a more masculine nature and playing characters deemed more worthy for men resulted men to feel challenged in their masculinity and has since led to a crisis in it. Men feel there is a need to differentiate themselves from the female characters and assert their masculinity and dominance within the society, re-constructing the gender stereotype to create the NAM.The Dynamic Nature of the Society.Films impact audiences (Gilpatric, 2010) and may portray a reflection of the society. The dynamic nature of the society visualised through films has been a contributing factor to the deconstruction of the male gender stereotype to forge the NAM. Relative to the past, women today are generally more educated, enabling them to take up jobs also held by men (Buchbinder, 2008). Accelerat ed by the libber movement, women today are equally as likely as men to be casted to play professional roles and jobs like doctors and lawyers (Gilpatric, 2010). There is an increase of female characters holding major roles from 12% in 1960 to 32% in 1990 (Neuendorf et. al., 2010) and female characters in films ordure be a true representation of their define in the society as 51% US workers who hold high-paying heed and professional jobs are women (Gilpatric, 2010). Similarly, most young man today expects to go through at least three major career changes in his life (Buchbinder, 2008). Also, improvements in the economy have enabled both women and men to use on luxury items. Narcissistic concern with ones look and body, traditionally mark as feminine are being linked to men, making it harder to abide by with the traditional masculinity trait of a man (Buchbinder, 2008).There has also been a shift in the portrayal of men in films today. In the past, men have always adopted the c entral figure but roles recently played by men and women in films have been wooly as the gap between masculinity and feminity. According to Breillat, There is no masculine psychology in my cinema. They contain only what women feel and desire. Therefore, men must not try to recognise themselves in my male characters (Russell-Watts, 2010, p. 72). This interprets that men play secondary roles to women in todays films restricting them to relate to the traditional male masculinity. Moreover, men are also increasingly portrayed in films as the figure of the schlemiel. Schlemiel is a Yiddish word which means a insane persona social misfit (Buchbinder, 2008, p. 228) and is unable to meet the per progress toance and attitudinal requirements of traditional masculinity (Buchbinder, 2008, p. 230). For instance, Bond girls have been known to play independent and born(predicate) roles even outwitting Bond himself in the latest Bond movie. Despite Bond films representing Bond as having a chau vinistic persona (Neuendorf et. al., 2010), this places Bond in the Schlemiel category of a foolish character causing men to view this as a crisis to their masculinity.These factors when combined has resulted men to lose its masculine traits and restricted them to conform to the traditional masculine traits deconstructing the traditional male stereotype and reconstruct the NAM to help them assimilate back into society and be of an equal standing or higher to the women.Stereotypes Still Prevails.Some might ask that despite the rising prominence and dominance of women, the subservient and submissive nature of womens portrayal good-tempered prevail while mens masculinity are motionlessness confined to the traditional stereotype. Women in films are still regarded as subservient and submissive as the dominance exerted is based on a parental motif, creating a stereotype of mothers or wives to save her child or love ones (Gilpatric, 2010). Moreover, the societal movement of feminism i s lacking, as women in films today still report to a more dominant male character (Neuendorf et. al., 2010), performing as a sidekick to a male character and getting involved in a romantic relationship with them (Gilpatric, 2010). Male characters though may have less masculine traits as portrayed by Robert in the movie Romance, his masculinity is emphasised through his occupation, being the boss of the main female character (Russell-Watts, 2010). This proves that despite being portrayed as dominant character in films today, women still conform to the gender stereotype of the traditional feminine traits of reporting to a more dominant male character. Some may argue also that films may not be a true reflection of society hence the portrayal of men as less masculine are not true. Films portray women as achieverful only when they are thin and attractive (Neuendorf et. al., 2010) when in fact, success is judged based on merit and not only looks. Building on, by showcasing one man as les s masculine in the form of the schlemiel figure, subtly it provides a foil for other male characters to stand out, bringing out the masculine traits in the other male characters, (Buchbinder, 2008) indicating that male characters in movies still conform to the male gender stereotype of masculinity.New Age Man is the New Man.Despite the portrayal of women as subservient and submissive, women are still just as likely as men to commit violent acts in films. Presently, women are more likely to show acts of aggression (Neundorf et. al., 2010) and masculinity levels in male and females have increase (Eschholz and Bufkin, 2001). Though many may argue that the feminist movement may not have reached its promised desire, it cannot be regarded as a failure. Womens role in movies has since increased transcending the traditional feminine traits (Gilpatric, 2010). No longer women are being portrayed as one-dimensional who plays stereotypical female characters. Moreover, men today are unlikely to conform to the traditional form of masculinity although they may still hold superiority over the female characters as masculinity portrayed by men in films today is excessive in nature and something that men cannot relate to. The rugged masculinity shown through characters played by Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger is being described as a fantasy (Eschholz and Bufkin, 2001). Men feels there is a need to form a new identity something that they can relate to and has slowly since give rise to the birth of the NAM. Though portraying men as less masculine or as the schlemiel figure helps to bring out the masculinity in other male characters (Buchbinder, 2008), this very need has proved that there is a decreasing trend in films, which showcase men as masculine.Conclusion.Films have evolved tremendously round the years and will continue to do so at much(prenominal) rapid rate. As womens roles in films continue to rise and take plaza stage, male characters in film s have since taken steps in the opposition direction, adopting lesser of the traditional masculine traits but instead adopt more feminine traits. This has not being helped by the changing nature of the society where women continue to rise in status at workplaces challenging men for jobs. The birth of the NAM has been heavily attributed to the rising dominance and prominence of female characters in films and also the changing nature of the society. As the world become more globalized, womens status in society is also expected to improve and NAM may well form a new stereotype for men in times to come.(1996 Words)