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March = Women's History Month.
We know there are a lot of important women in history that have helped create the path we are each on today, but have you ever thought about the importance of fictional women?
While some viewers/readers are mainly interested in the sexual appeal of female characters, many others consider the strength of these characters and what they represent.
Here are some examples of kickass women who specialize in badassery and making fiction a better place:
1. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
- Of course I have to put my girl Lara first! After much back and forth with the initial development and design, Croft was created to defy stereotypes of female characters (helpless victims and hostages or "dominatrix") and became the first independent, gun slinging, bungee jumping, ass-kicking, internationally exploring video game heroine who barely blinked in the face of danger. She remains a revered icon of gaming to this day as her character continues to evolve through different franchises. Despite holding six Guinness World Records, critics often debate whether Lara is a positive catalyst for gaming or a negative influence on young girls.
2. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Joss Whedon, the writer for Buffy, stated that the initial concept of Buffy was "the idea of some woman who seems to be completely insignificant who turns out to be extraordinary". The Vampire Slayer series was created to invert the popular Hollywood stereotypes of blond girls in horror movies (killed in a dark alley) and instead create a hero that had, used, and shared the joy of female power. The supernatural factors of the show were actually metaphors for typical teenage angst. Buffy and equally badass gal pal Willow (played by How I Met Your Mother and American Pie's Alyson Hannigan) are the only two characters that appear in all episodes of the series. Buffy has also been popularly used for academia in fields such as sociology, psychology, and women's studies.
3. Diana Prince/Princess Diana of Themyscira (Wonder Woman)
- The first female comic book character ever created, Wonder Woman was created in 1941 during World War II by world renowned psychologist and writer [also a lawyer, scientist, and professor], Dr. William Moulton Marston. He once famously stated "Wonder Woman is psychological propaganda for the new type of woman who, I believe, should rule the world.” Both the badass character, greatly influenced by the two women in Marston's polyamorous home life, and Marston, were pivotal in the development and continuation of DC Comics. Though critics continue to debate the feminist character's lack of stereotypical feminine features (child-bearing, home-making, etc.), her symbolic chains, revealing attire, and her influence on children; many still praise her fight for justice and equality and admire her position as one of equal ranking among male superheroes that were created numerous years before she was. Her earliest comic strips featured many prolonged bondage scenes which were greatly protested by many officials and caused much controversy. They were eventually toned down by the 18 year old young woman Marston eventually hired to help him write. Wonder Woman's character has been relaunched many times and continues to be one of the most popular representative characters of comics.
4. Arya Stark (Game of Thrones)
- Starting the Game of Thrones series at the age of nine, Arya is the youngest of four children and rejects the traditional expectations of young girls (sewing, dancing, marrying, etc). Contrary to her stereotypical 'appropriately feminine' older sister, she is often chastised and mistaken for a boy as she prefers fighting and exploring and being independent, high-spirited, and cunning; these qualities prove useful in keeping her hidden and alive when dire times near.
5. Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan (Star Wars)
- Although Princess Leia was one of shamefully few prominent female protagonist roles in the evident sexism and racism of the times (almost 40 years ago), she often managed to hold her own. Despite numerous sexist scenes and lines from others, not only does she rescue her own rescue party, but she belonged to the Imperial Senate, was a spy for the Rebel Alliance, and a diplomat. Although the franchise is highly criticized for eroticizing slavery, a blatant show of sexism, and high focus on a world of men (and what...three women??? The whole time....the whole universe...THREE women??? Well...other than the space hookers, of course.), Leia proves to be confident, outspoken, high-spirited, and frequently asserts her identity despite all this. One can only imagine what she could have accomplished in a world with equal-footing for men and women, where girls have more options than being born into high class or serving as sexual entertainers.
I know a lot of other great characters belong on this list. Who would you add? What do you think of these characters?
We know there are a lot of important women in history that have helped create the path we are each on today, but have you ever thought about the importance of fictional women?
While some viewers/readers are mainly interested in the sexual appeal of female characters, many others consider the strength of these characters and what they represent.
Here are some examples of kickass women who specialize in badassery and making fiction a better place:
1. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
- Of course I have to put my girl Lara first! After much back and forth with the initial development and design, Croft was created to defy stereotypes of female characters (helpless victims and hostages or "dominatrix") and became the first independent, gun slinging, bungee jumping, ass-kicking, internationally exploring video game heroine who barely blinked in the face of danger. She remains a revered icon of gaming to this day as her character continues to evolve through different franchises. Despite holding six Guinness World Records, critics often debate whether Lara is a positive catalyst for gaming or a negative influence on young girls.
2. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Joss Whedon, the writer for Buffy, stated that the initial concept of Buffy was "the idea of some woman who seems to be completely insignificant who turns out to be extraordinary". The Vampire Slayer series was created to invert the popular Hollywood stereotypes of blond girls in horror movies (killed in a dark alley) and instead create a hero that had, used, and shared the joy of female power. The supernatural factors of the show were actually metaphors for typical teenage angst. Buffy and equally badass gal pal Willow (played by How I Met Your Mother and American Pie's Alyson Hannigan) are the only two characters that appear in all episodes of the series. Buffy has also been popularly used for academia in fields such as sociology, psychology, and women's studies.
3. Diana Prince/Princess Diana of Themyscira (Wonder Woman)
- The first female comic book character ever created, Wonder Woman was created in 1941 during World War II by world renowned psychologist and writer [also a lawyer, scientist, and professor], Dr. William Moulton Marston. He once famously stated "Wonder Woman is psychological propaganda for the new type of woman who, I believe, should rule the world.” Both the badass character, greatly influenced by the two women in Marston's polyamorous home life, and Marston, were pivotal in the development and continuation of DC Comics. Though critics continue to debate the feminist character's lack of stereotypical feminine features (child-bearing, home-making, etc.), her symbolic chains, revealing attire, and her influence on children; many still praise her fight for justice and equality and admire her position as one of equal ranking among male superheroes that were created numerous years before she was. Her earliest comic strips featured many prolonged bondage scenes which were greatly protested by many officials and caused much controversy. They were eventually toned down by the 18 year old young woman Marston eventually hired to help him write. Wonder Woman's character has been relaunched many times and continues to be one of the most popular representative characters of comics.
4. Arya Stark (Game of Thrones)
- Starting the Game of Thrones series at the age of nine, Arya is the youngest of four children and rejects the traditional expectations of young girls (sewing, dancing, marrying, etc). Contrary to her stereotypical 'appropriately feminine' older sister, she is often chastised and mistaken for a boy as she prefers fighting and exploring and being independent, high-spirited, and cunning; these qualities prove useful in keeping her hidden and alive when dire times near.
5. Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan (Star Wars)
- Although Princess Leia was one of shamefully few prominent female protagonist roles in the evident sexism and racism of the times (almost 40 years ago), she often managed to hold her own. Despite numerous sexist scenes and lines from others, not only does she rescue her own rescue party, but she belonged to the Imperial Senate, was a spy for the Rebel Alliance, and a diplomat. Although the franchise is highly criticized for eroticizing slavery, a blatant show of sexism, and high focus on a world of men (and what...three women??? The whole time....the whole universe...THREE women??? Well...other than the space hookers, of course.), Leia proves to be confident, outspoken, high-spirited, and frequently asserts her identity despite all this. One can only imagine what she could have accomplished in a world with equal-footing for men and women, where girls have more options than being born into high class or serving as sexual entertainers.
I know a lot of other great characters belong on this list. Who would you add? What do you think of these characters?
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