The dilemma of whether to star a male or a female in a film or media text has been prominent ever since the film industry had started and the choice of a male or female actor can greatly affect the outcome and plot of the film. This choice also influences the representation of the film and other key components that affect the overall influence and meaning of the film. The topic has been in debate for quite some time and in recent times, the choice of putting female actors in films have skyrocketed and the representation of women in the film industry has increased. Some notable examples are Orange Is The New Black and Sex in the City. Both of these films greatly bolster the meaning of being powerful women living in their own world and breaking the stereotype that women need men in order to survive and be strong.
Feminism has had a great influence on Western society for the past 40 years and the idea that women are strong and independent beings that can live very comfortably by themselves has been a main focus of the movement. However, in media studies, women are typically defined as adopting some characteristics in film and in life. In media studies, representations of women include their beauty, size/physique, sexuality, emotional dealings and relationships. These are typically the characteristics taken on by women in movies by their producers to adhere with what the society portrays women.
The role of men and masculinity has clearly been dominant in the film industry since it started and there is no debate to that. The stereotypes that the men have to adopt in the films are also more rigid and more demanding to appeal to a specific target audience for a film. These include strength, power, physique, sexual attractiveness and the ability to be independent in choices and life. This also comes back to the question of representation with women as both genders have to fit in to certain stereotypes in order to carry out or even be offered a role for the film.
The representation of both genders in film are often questioned as men and women who don’t have the typical characteristics of usual women and men in film roles are often left out of being in the movie. Since they don’t adopt the typical stereotypes, they are often left out of being given a role due to the producer’s fear that it may face negative feedback from a target audience and viewers of the film in general.
Media studies blog 