I'm keeping this fairly brief and then stepping off my soapbox, but I think there's something worth saying, especially in the aftermath of Hunger Games madness.
Recently, I've been preoccupied with the media's lack of strong, positive role models for young women. Rachel and Darcy of
Something Borrowed? Destroying a lifetime friendship for the sake of a boring, noncommittal guy. Jamie of
Friends with Benefits? Misguided and seeking intimacy without truth. Emma of
No Strings Attached? More of the same. Annie of
Bridesmaids? Insecure, unfulfilled and an overall mess. Bella Swan of
Twilight? I mean, really.
I'm tired of female role models without their own opinions. I'm tired of apathy. I'm tired of women who are bored of their lives and won't do anything to independently change their circumstances. I'm tired of women who need men to complete them. I'm tired of women who speak in short, breathy sentences, falling apart when their male counterpart runs off into the forest to do his vampire business. Yes, all (err, some) of these are real things that women deal with, and should be translated into cinema. But, for real - can we see these flaws against a balance of courage and self-sufficiency? No woman is so one-dimensional that she can be categorized as strictly "flawed" or "flawless". I want to see more real women who are dealing with both strength and weakness in a positive way.
It's 2012. Women have more opportunities than ever before, but if we don't empower adolescent girls to take chances, make plans and overcome the tough stuff, then Emmeline Pankhurst is going to roll over in her grave.
So if I say nothing else about The Hunger Games (and please, let that be the case), allow me to say this: I'm encouraged to see a young woman depicted as strong, capable, intelligent and captivating, yet still clearly flawed and dealing with these flaws in a real way. Even if her name is ridiculous.
