The Feminism Awakens: En feministisk studie av de kvinnliga karaktärerna i Star Wars tre generationer

Abstract

The female action hero has become more visible in the last years, which has created both a critical and positive response. Through feminist film theory and theories about the female action hero this essay analyses the characters Leia, Padmé and Rey from the Star Wars-films. The aim is to examine how these characters is portrayed in three different time periods, from the 1970s when the female action hero began to appear in movies until today when more female action heroes have the leading role. The result indicates that the female action hero has undergone a change alongside society and the feminism movement. Rey is not sexualized in the same manner as Leia and Padmé and she is a strong character who takes part in long action fights. Despite being a strong character the male characters’ are still constant surprised by her strength, which helps to maintain old patterns and patriarchal structures such as the belief that a woman can’t be as strong as a man.