Women's liberation began in late 19th century and began as fight for woman to have equal rights to their male counterparts. Long before this happened, women quite often than not took a tertiary role in cinematic pieces and if they didn't, they often fell into very restricted archetypes: the femme fatale, the "weak" woman who must depend on a male as her moral backbone and so on. Along the way, the movement sublimated the use of a women's sexuality as an essential tool for women, a notion that is still showing gradual resurgence today.
Modern cinema, at least in North America, has shown a greater degree of latitude in women's roles. We have on one extreme, the Rambo-type of female perhaps most evident in the film Aliens, wherein James Cameron depicts of a woman named Ripley, a gun-toting woman who shoots her way in order to save a young girl, an image that figures prominently in promotional signage for the film. Such a depiction is merely putting traditional male attributes over a female fascade: outwardly feminine, inwardly a male.
In modern cinema, we also see a resurfacing of certain femme fatale type characters, or at least characters that exhibit the qualities of one. Sexuality, when wielded by female, is still considered dangerous, if not stated outright, then implied. I won't exclude the Erin Brockovich-type, which, even under selfless or good motives, seems rather debasing. (argh its late, argue with me if you want)
To no one's surprise sexual roles in society are more confusing then ever before. What began with Women's Liberation paved the way for the male revolution. Women began to acquiesce to the "new male", one who is sensitive to a woman's feelings, and is also confortable with showing feelings himself. That of course, is already known.
What we discover in popular media right now, is that the male gender has taken to many of the insecurities of women as well. It was women who had to worry about looks as it relates to how she will be accepted by the opposite sex and now men have the same insecurities, however superficially mended by alterations such as cosmetic surgery, etc.
The same ideas found its way into modern cinema. Male characters seem to hover somewhere between liberated and clueless: they may have some traditional male qualities but are confounded with the opposite sex, and vice versa with female characters. This is a great theme for comedies, in fact its probably exploited well by that genre.
Let me say that I do not agree with the Rambo-type characterization that is given to females. This renders essentially male, and I don't think, truly deserving of the term "Empowerment", a word that's used far too loosely. Jungian principles talk about "Anima" and the "Animus", basically a feminine and masculine energies inherent in all individuals.
Let me be brief by saying film protagonists need to exhibit both qualities to create a truly multi-dimensional character. A female protagonist should be able to emote well in film and
moreover, show that this can be positive and constructive as well. Producers and writers need to show more than ever, they have a greater degree of freedom and control, initiating change and action in a plot as well exhibiting the range of emotions that were previously reserved for males protagonists.
Argh, I must sleep.
