Women in action
This critique examines the portrayal of women in recent action films, arguing that many are still designed to cater to the male gaze despite featuring female leads. The author questions whether action heroines must maintain traditional femininity and poise rather than showing authentic struggle.
Why it matters
It contributes to the ongoing cultural discourse regarding gender representation and the subversion of tropes in modern cinema.
Over the last two weeks, there has been chatter surrounding the release of women-led action films where the heroines slice up the bad guys with perfectly manicured nails.
There is Alpha starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, which I had the misfortune of watching. This ‘slick’ action film with two sisters (Sita and Durga) on a mission has the leads prancing around in an array of colourful athleisure between major action sequences. They are whimsical enough to play with young pahadi children while still looking for their lost father, and have stern ‘game on’ faces while fighting the bad guys. Though the sequences seem well-choreographed and executed, it is but apparent that the entire film is written by a man and is created to cater to the male gaze.
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