Marvel’s Black Panther: A Representation Women Film

MARVEL’S BLACK PANTHER: A REPRESENTATION WOMEN FILM By [First Name, Last Name] Course Professor Institutional Affiliation Date Marvel’s Black Panther: A Representation Women Film Evidence suggests that the role assigned to women in Hollywood films in the past sixty years centered around the social construct that women were less powerful and intelligent than their male counterparts (Penley, C., 2013, p.56). Thus, for long, they have played one-dimensional roles that are limiting while male characters were fully-dimensional. This paper draws on the feminist theory, which primarily focuses on gender-related inequalities where the society sees contributions of men as more valuable than those of women. The author draws on this feminist approach to explore the changing role of women in Hollywood film as it is evident in the 2018-released Marvel movie Black Panther. Misrepresentation of Women in Earlier Films Hollywood films released within the past couple of decades have devastatingly focused on identifying women as wives, mothers, or lovers. They have portrayed them stereotypically playing roles such as Jezebel, Mummies, with black women depicted in an unattractive way where they play evil or angry black woman. Such degrading representation of female characters in movies for decades ultimately impacted how the society viewed women (Erigha, M., 2015, p.27). Studies based on the feminist theory established a relationship between stereotypes about women and women inequality (Taylor, S., 2016, p.38). However, Black Panther portrays them as intelligent and powerful people who protected not only King T’Chaka during his reign, and the prince T’Chala after succeeding the father, but also form an elite team to protect Wakanda. Films have mainly represented women of color in themes of victimhood, marginality, entrapment, exotic, and ethnic. Until the past decade, this population’s sightings in mainstream movies have been sparse playing either a marginal or supportive role. Critics voiced their concerns over the domination of the white male protagonist in the industry and misrepresentation of the black women through a traditional discourse of disempowerment (Erigha, M., 2015. Notions of feminity were rooted in the society where a woman was expected to be gentle, stay at home and clean, remain submissive, and meet the desires and needs of her husband. Marvel’s Black Panther disrupts these notions through counter representations (Penley, C., 2013). The various female protagonists in the film embody different roles and themes that are new to the cultural frames of the west. The Portrayal of Women in Black Panther Black Panther is evidence that the long-held perspectives surrounding gender roles are slowly changing. African Americans, specifically women, can not only identify with the cultures depicted in the film but also enjoy that they are represented in a role that surpasses that of a supporting actress. Okoye and Nakia represent a powerful woman who forms the lifeline of the community. They not only serve as protectors of the King but also aid in different capacities such as the mission in Sambisa Forest in Nigeria where Okoye intervenes to save T’Chala when he “freezes.” This scene portrays women as reliable and robust people capable of coming to the aid of a man in desperate situations (Dralega, C.A., 2019). All-Female Army (Dora Milaje) An all-female army is perhaps the most noticeable phenomenon in the motion picture. This army not only has the respect of the King but the entire Kingdom as well. A comparison to our society depicts a male-dominated profession and an equal underrepresentation in several Hollywood films (Erigha, M., 2015). All Doras (female warriors) demonstrate courage, pride, and fierceness in one of the most decisive battles in the whole movie. Okoye shows her commitment to her country in a somewhat meaningful conversation with her lover W’Kabi when she notes that she responds that to a question that for a country, she is willing to kill her lover (Dralega, C.A., 2019). Women as Leaders Traditionally in films, male characters have been unopposed leaders of armies. Film roles that are assigned basing on such social norms, that a man is the only individual ideal for leadership, portrays gender inequalities (Erigha, M., 2015). Nevertheless, the release of Black Panther and other films such as Capt...