Women Who Kick Ass
But do they, really?
This is the age of women kicking the butts of men, at least in the movies and on TV. I mean physically beating the crap out of them. Like, for example Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Scarlett Johansson in Lucy, Ultraviolet, Elektra, Alita: Battle Angel. Of course, these characters all have superpowers. Of course they can beat up men.
But what about these characters, who, as far as I know, have no superpowers: Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, Black Widow, Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde and Netflix’s The Old Guard and Mad Max: Fury Road, “Literally Anything With Michelle Yeoh”, Charlie’s Angels (especially the latest one), Milla Jovovich in the Resident Evil Series, Angelina Jolie in Salt (and probably Tomb Raider, too). You’ve seen them kick the **** out of men twice their size, haven’t you? You’ve seen them beating up guys who are soldiers or trained assassins or professional henchmen. Beating up a bunch of them at once.
And then there is this trailer for a Netflix movie, “Red Notice”. Gail Gadot beating up The Rock. Beating up The Rock!!! Really? (And Ryan Reynolds beating up, well, anybody?)
But really? Back in the day, I asked a guy who was into martial arts, “Who would win in a fight between Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee?” He chuckled and replied, “No question about it. Ali would mop the floor with Bruce.” I asked him how that could be, as Bruce Lee is fierce and has all the moves. He told me, “Ali outweighs him by probably 80 lbs, and that’s all muscle. He could stand there all day absorbing Bruce’s best shots, no problem. But as soon as he connects a solid one on Bruce, the little guy will be flattened.”
Same goes for women beating up men. Most women are smaller and less muscled that most men. Sure, some women could beat up some men some of the time, but ladies, I suggest you don’t try it unless you absolutely have to. The odds are heavily against us.
Now here is the problem with all these images of women beating up men on our screens all the time, and I am of a mixed mind about it: On the one hand, it probably feels empowering for a lot women a lot of the time. We definitely want to be rid of the old trope of every woman needing a man to rescue and protect her. These butt-kicking characters may be good role models of independence, self-confidence, and assertiveness.
But they are still images of men hitting women.
Isn’t that modeling abuse? …which is a huge problem in our society! …in most societies through the ages. Won’t these images make some men, consciously or unconsciously, more inclined to hit women? We still teach boys and men, “Never ever hit a woman,” but this rule is NOT modelled in our media. Quite the opposite, in fact. I think it’s a problem.
To fix this, we have to stop showing women beating up men! There are better ways for women to kick butt. Let’s make more movies about these types of women.
For that matter, images of men beating up men are harmful as well. What do you say we all stop beating up each other? No more hitting, kids! I don’t see this happening any time soon, but it’s something to think about.
Up Next: Images of Women Using the Toilet in Movies and TV: What’s Up With That?
