The developing role of women within the Science Fiction Genre

The role of women in science fiction films has developed to reflect the dominant ideology and hegemony of the society at the time and it is easy to trace this development through a range of film texts chronologically. The role of women in science fiction films has developed to reflect the dominant ideology and hegemony of the society at the time and it is easy to trace this development through a range of film texts chronologically.

Starting with the inception of the film genre and a film such as Metropolis 1926 the ideology of the day dictated that women were Starting with the inception of the film genre and a film such as Metropolis 1926 the ideology of the day dictated that women were the fairer and very much the weaker sex. the fairer and very much the weaker sex. The maternal home makers The maternal home makers and respectful wives. and respectful wives.

Any deviation from this was met with suspicion and derision. Any deviation from this was met with suspicion and derision. The dominant hegemony being patriarchal in structure these ideals ‘rules’ were enforced mainly by men who dominated positions of authority both in society and naturally within the film making industry. The dominant hegemony being patriarchal in structure these ideals ‘rules’ were enforced mainly by men who dominated positions of authority both in society and naturally within the film making industry.

In Metropolis 1926 we see the creation of a female robot / machine. In Metropolis 1926 we see the creation of a female robot / machine. On one hand she fulfils the ideology of the day with her glamorous appearance On one hand she fulfils the ideology of the day with her glamorous appearance But she is established as a version of womanhood to be treated with suspicion due to her position of power and influence over the down trodden male characters trapped in the world below. But she is established as a version of womanhood to be treated with suspicion due to her position of power and influence over the down trodden male characters trapped in the world below.

Women who used their sexuality to control and dominate men were both feared and spurned by society and seen as something insidious and threatening; in keeping with the narrative conventions of the genre where the greatest threat to humanity often comes from within. Women who used their sexuality to control and dominate men were both feared and spurned by society and seen as something insidious and threatening; in keeping with the narrative conventions of the genre where the greatest threat to humanity often comes from within. It is no surprise therefore given the hegemony of the film industry that whilst the female character is sexually attractive intelligent and powerful she is something to be feared and looked upon almost as an ‘alien’ creature outside of societies expected norms. It is no surprise therefore given the hegemony of the film industry that whilst the female character is sexually attractive intelligent and powerful she is something to be feared and looked upon almost as an ‘alien’ creature outside of societies expected norms.

If we then move forward to films such as The War of the Worlds 1954 it is not only the film industry and genre that have continued to evolve and develop but the role of women in society has also changed. If we then move forward to films such as The War of the Worlds 1954 it is not only the film industry and genre that have continued to evolve and develop but the role of women in society has also changed. Post war women had had a taste of freedom and independence Post war women had had a taste of freedom and independence They had assumed male roles in industry and society whilst the men were away at war. They had assumed male roles in industry and society whilst the men were away at war. Returning men found a strange new breed of women who could actually be quite self sufficient and found them selves out of role. Returning men found a strange new breed of women who could actually be quite self sufficient and found them selves out of role.

this reversal of roles needed addressing. this reversal of roles needed addressing. It is therefore not surprising in The War of the Worlds that, come the alien invasion, the female characters are represented as being totally reliant on the might of the men, the army and their weaponry to save and protect them; It is therefore not surprising in The War of the Worlds that, come the alien invasion, the female characters are represented as being totally reliant on the might of the men, the army and their weaponry to save and protect them; they once again are represented as being defenseless and in need of protection. they once again are represented as being defenseless and in need of protection.

This is the role that the society of the day ideologically wanted its women to re assume. This is the role that the society of the day ideologically wanted its women to re assume. It could almost be seen as a form of propaganda sending messages to women through this mass media form of what an acceptable role for women was. It could almost be seen as a form of propaganda sending messages to women through this mass media form of what an acceptable role for women was.

Something very interesting then happened within the Media industry Something very interesting then happened within the Media industry The gradual relaxing of censorship within the film industry The gradual relaxing of censorship within the film industry The beginnings of the end of the Hollywood studio system which had so dominated film production. The beginnings of the end of the Hollywood studio system which had so dominated film production. With this new development came a new role for women in films and where better to exploit this than within the fantasy realm of science fiction? With this new development came a new role for women in films and where better to exploit this than within the fantasy realm of science fiction? This new role was of course the male gaze object. This new role was of course the male gaze object.

The objectification of women as objects of gaze began to be noticeable within the mass media at about this time. The objectification of women as objects of gaze began to be noticeable within the mass media at about this time. What the science fiction genre allowed directors and producers to do was to push boundaries a little further as by casting women in these fantasy roles they were able to break yet further away from accepted society representations of women. What the science fiction genre allowed directors and producers to do was to push boundaries a little further as by casting women in these fantasy roles they were able to break yet further away from accepted society representations of women.

If we take an early example such as Planet of The Apes 1968 the fantasy aspect of the film allowed the director to have scantily clad mute women as part of the narrative which fulfilled the function of male gaze whilst fulfilling what was becoming the conventional role of women in science fiction that of a non protagonist. If we take an early example such as Planet of The Apes 1968 the fantasy aspect of the film allowed the director to have scantily clad mute women as part of the narrative which fulfilled the function of male gaze whilst fulfilling what was becoming the conventional role of women in science fiction that of a non protagonist. This was of course still a reflection of the dominant hegemony within the film industry of the time This was of course still a reflection of the dominant hegemony within the film industry of the time

Whilst it could be argued that there are many contemporary science fiction films that still contain elements of these earlier female roles within science fiction Whilst it could be argued that there are many contemporary science fiction films that still contain elements of these earlier female roles within science fiction Sexual predators and threats; “Species” 1995, Sexual predators and threats; “Species” 1995, Helpless female needing male protection; “Independence Day” 1996 etc Helpless female needing male protection; “Independence Day” 1996 etc And of course objects of the male gaze: Halle Berry in skin tight cat suit in “X-Men” 2000 And of course objects of the male gaze: Halle Berry in skin tight cat suit in “X-Men” 2000 There has however been an evident shift in both societies ideology and the hegemony of the film industry that has had an impact on the female role within science fiction films. There has however been an evident shift in both societies ideology and the hegemony of the film industry that has had an impact on the female role within science fiction films.

The most obvious of these is of course Aliens 1986 which cast Sigourney Weaver as not only the main protagonist but protector of the human race and pseudo action hero all rolled into one, a role usually reserved for male characters within this genre. The most obvious of these is of course Aliens 1986 which cast Sigourney Weaver as not only the main protagonist but protector of the human race and pseudo action hero all rolled into one, a role usually reserved for male characters within this genre. This of course reflects the shift in society and the empowerment of women in the 80’s which led to role reversal in both the work place and home with women pursuing careers before family and the emergence of the fist generation of ‘house husbands’. This of course reflects the shift in society and the empowerment of women in the 80’s which led to role reversal in both the work place and home with women pursuing careers before family and the emergence of the fist generation of ‘house husbands’. It is therefore not surprising that this change in society is reflected in the change within the genre. It is therefore not surprising that this change in society is reflected in the change within the genre.

Weaver’s character is strong, independent and courageous though ultimately the industry hegemony still dictates that she display feminine attributes such as maternalism and even as action hero there are still elements of gaze. Weaver’s character is strong, independent and courageous though ultimately the industry hegemony still dictates that she display feminine attributes such as maternalism and even as action hero there are still elements of gaze. Weaver’s character can trace her independence back to other female characters within the genre. Weaver’s character can trace her independence back to other female characters within the genre. Princess Leia in Star Wars Episode Princess Leia in Star Wars Episode

Leia still fulfils the role of gaze, who can forget the gold bikini scene in The Empire Strikes Back 1980,and she is always beautifully turned out but.. Leia still fulfils the role of gaze, who can forget the gold bikini scene in The Empire Strikes Back 1980,and she is always beautifully turned out but.. she is allowed a certain amount of independence and courage though she never quite reaches the action hero of Weaver’s character. she is allowed a certain amount of independence and courage though she never quite reaches the action hero of Weaver’s character. Being a much early prototype cast in the 70’s it is also hardly surprising that the industry hegemony is even more apparent in the fact that ultimately Leia is tamed and of course rescued by a male protagonist. Being a much early prototype cast in the 70’s it is also hardly surprising that the industry hegemony is even more apparent in the fact that ultimately Leia is tamed and of course rescued by a male protagonist.

If we then take a film such as Blade Runner 1982 we can see yet another development in the female role. If we then take a film such as Blade Runner 1982 we can see yet another development in the female role. Whilst the two aggressive female replicants are faintly reminiscent of those created first in Metropolis they filmatically have more in common with the action hero Weaver. Whilst the two aggressive female replicants are faintly reminiscent of those created first in Metropolis they filmatically have more in common with the action hero Weaver. Whilst clearly used as objects of gaze both the pleasure replicants are intelligent, independent, though of course ultimately a threat which must be destroyed, but capable of looking after themselves and engage in fight and chase sequences usually reserved for the male role. Whilst clearly used as objects of gaze both the pleasure replicants are intelligent, independent, though of course ultimately a threat which must be destroyed, but capable of looking after themselves and engage in fight and chase sequences usually reserved for the male role.

The hegemony is still evident in Rachel’s ultimate rescue by Harrison Ford’s Deckard but there is an equality evident in the portrayal of Rachel’s character that whilst fulfilling the fantasy aspect of science fiction i.e. the creation of a perfect female for men’s pleasure she is an equal to Deckard’s intelligence which again reflects changes in the ideology of the day. The hegemony is still evident in Rachel’s ultimate rescue by Harrison Ford’s Deckard but there is an equality evident in the portrayal of Rachel’s character that whilst fulfilling the fantasy aspect of science fiction i.e. the creation of a perfect female for men’s pleasure she is an equal to Deckard’s intelligence which again reflects changes in the ideology of the day.

Later films such as Gattica 1997 and Later films such as Gattica 1997 and Minority Report 2002 Minority Report 2002 Have allowed for much more diversity in the female role within the genre which contrasts starkly to the earliest female roles and this diversity is a direct reflection of shift in modern ideologies regarding women in society and their role within the media. Have allowed for much more diversity in the female role within the genre which contrasts starkly to the earliest female roles and this diversity is a direct reflection of shift in modern ideologies regarding women in society and their role within the media.

Whilst aspects of representation within the genre remain consistent i.e. Whilst aspects of representation within the genre remain consistent i.e. the use of female characters as objects of gaze the use of female characters as objects of gaze developments are allowed and there is an equality more evident in the worlds of Gattica and Minority Report where male and female characters fight, think and discover side by side and occasionally as in the case of Weaver in Aliens play a more direct role in saving the world. developments are allowed and there is an equality more evident in the worlds of Gattica and Minority Report where male and female characters fight, think and discover side by side and occasionally as in the case of Weaver in Aliens play a more direct role in saving the world.

Ultimately however there is still no escaping aspects of the hegemony which dictate whilst Tom Cruise’s wife in Minority Report can Ultimately however there is still no escaping aspects of the hegemony which dictate whilst Tom Cruise’s wife in Minority Report can solve the mystery, solve the mystery, break her husband out of jail break her husband out of jail orchestrate the down fall of the villain and the technology that ultimately threatens the fabric of human society orchestrate the down fall of the villain and the technology that ultimately threatens the fabric of human society she ultimately must return to John as his wife and assume her maternal role and we are left with the final shot of her contented, pregnant and barefoot. she ultimately must return to John as his wife and assume her maternal role and we are left with the final shot of her contented, pregnant and barefoot.

It is clear to see that within the genre of science fiction the development of the female role has been given more freedom due to the fantasy aspect of the conventions of the genre but ultimately is a reflection of society as a whole and the role media plays in re enforcing dominant ideologies and hegemony. It is clear to see that within the genre of science fiction the development of the female role has been given more freedom due to the fantasy aspect of the conventions of the genre but ultimately is a reflection of society as a whole and the role media plays in re enforcing dominant ideologies and hegemony.