The Female Characters in Kill Bill

Quentin Tarantino is known for his male-centric roles like Reservoir Dogs and the highly-regarded Pulp Fiction. When I found the Kill Bill movies on Netflix, I didn’t know if it was going sexualize it’s female protagonist like other female-centric action movies. Suffice it to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does this film treat it’s female characters with as much respect as any male character, the movie has mostly female characters in regards to highest billing.

Though these characters are nothing to look up to, since most of them are trained assassins and brutal at that, the female characters are complex and respected. This contrasts to the other female-led action movies at the time, like the Charlie’s Angels films. While Charlie’s Angels objectify and degrade the main characters, Kill Bill does not. The women do not wear anything degrading, do not depend on men, and act toward their own goals that do not concern being in a relationship with a man.

How the female characters appear in Kill Bill was also very noticeable. Many films that have female characters, regardless of gender, will try to keep the women looking at beautiful as possible. Not in Kill Bill, where various characters are seen with bloody face, torn limbs, and bruises, no matter the gender.

“The Bride” is known to be the deadliest woman in the world, and the other female characters hold different occupations. Elle Driver is an assassin, O-Ren Ishii is a mob boss, and Vernita Green is a homemaker and mother. All women have different personalities and goals, making them well rounded characters.

Kill Bill tells the story of a woman (called “The Bride” in the first volume) wronged by a man and his assassins after she leaves the assassin group when she finds out she is pregnant. While viewing the film, most of the plot and action dynamics makes the viewer suspend their disbelief, the main character of the film is realistic. Not only does she use physical strength to get out of a sticky situation, but she also used mental strength. Her character is not only a great example of a strong female character, with her own flaws and strengths, but a great example of a strong, dynamic character, regardless of sex.

19 Kids and Counting - The Limited Roles of Women in the "Quiverfull" Religion

Since the fall of 2008, TLC has run a show documenting the fundamental religious the Duggars. They are part of a small religious sect called the Quiverfulls; they are called that because their philosophy is to produce as many children as possible and send them out like “arrows” to spread the word of God. While the Duggars, the poster family for the religion, have smiles on their faces and appear happy, it is much more darker than that. Not only are the Duggars homophobic (last year they tried to get rid of LGBT rights and the oldest Duggar son works for the Family Research Council, an anti-gay hate group) but also they are very sexist.

The Duggars have a strict binary they follow. Like something out of the 1950’s, men are expected to go out in the workforce and women are to stay home and raise children. While these roles are fine if chosen, like Jim Bob and Michele Duggar did, it is wrong to enforce these roles on their 19 children.

From the moment they come into the world, a child’s role is already determined. If they are male, they will have a variety of careers and dreams to choose from. If they are female, they will be raised from the moment they learn to walk to become a housewife, or if they choose to do something outside of this, a midwife or a nurse. The children are not allowed to watch television, movies or read  books unless it’s religious and adheres by their strict gender roles. One of the books on the girls reading list is Before You Meet Prince Charming. The book preaches that women shouldn’t engage in premarital sex, and then goes onto compare women to objects. The book The Reverend Spy, the book on the boy’s reading list, doesn’t say anything similar.

The Duggars have strict roles in the household; the girls are never seen wearing pants, only skirts. The boys all dress masculine. When they become of dating age, they have to be chaperoned, but because this is both evident for the boy and the girl children, this isn’t sexist. Michele Duggar promotes a “servant-like” position for wives, in her quote below.

 Audience reactions to the Duggar family have been overwhelmingly positive, but as people see through their masks, the reactions are garnering less praise. The reason the Duggars have such a solid fan base is because of how they present. On television, they are not emotionally abusive or state their outlandish and sexist beliefs. They might say them in an interview, but never on TLC. It’s a shame how the adults force gender roles and limited options on the girls, because they can be so much more in life then what has been told to them since they were young.

Marge Gunderson - A Strong Female Lead

          

In the world of Hollywood, there are very few action movies that star women as the leads. If they are the leads, they are usually sexualized like Charlie’s Angels or Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, or violent like Lucy or Kill Bill. The 1996 thriller film Fargo stands the test of time, not only with it’s brilliant writing, amazing cinematography, and talent, but with it’s main character and hero, Marge Gunderson.

In the film Fargo an in-debt car salesman arranges for his wife to be kidnapped and held for ransom by two criminals, so that his wife’s father can pay for the ransom and the salesman can pay off his debts. The women presented in the first thirty minutes of the film are either victims (the salesman’s wife) or hookers. Then, the audience is introduced to Marge Gunderson, a police officer investigating the crime.

Marge Gunderson is not only a police officer, but the police chief as well.  She is one of the most charming characters in recent times, with a folksy Minnesota accent and a cool and calming nature. When the situation gets rough, whether it’s her meet up with a stalker from high school, an interrogation, or driving with an arrested killer, she remains collected at all times. She does not blow up or act on instinct, just like many of the other characters in the film. Marge is also seven months pregnant, and very effeminate. While dealing with mostly men and working in a male dominated field, she does not sacrifice any of her effeminate qualities to succeed. Being pregnant does not stop her either.

Marge is a great female character for the fact her role in the movie is not defined by her gender. Even in movies outside of Fargo’s genre, many women are defined by their gender even if they are holding masculine-type roles. Katy Gilpatric in her study published in Springer’s journal Sex Roles, said that over 58 percent of violent female characters were portrayed in a submissive role to the male hero. 42 percent were in a romantic relationship with him. This was with films published in the same time period as Fargo. Fargo remains a unique and feminist film, because it shows how a pregnant, effeminate, kind and caring woman can too be the hero in an action/thriller film.

The Female Characters of John Hughes and How They Are Represented

Movie critics and his fans of John Hughes, known for movies like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, as the voice of a generation. Although I am a huge fan of his writing and talent, I examined his most influential work in terms of gender and noticed some problematic things.

            John Hughes most notable works are Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty in Pink, Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, and Home Alone. Out of those nine movies, only two movies have female leads.  The motivations of the two female leads, Sam from Sixteen Candles and Andie from Pretty In Pink, are to be with their high school crushes. While the female leads goals are centered on being in romantic relationships, the male leads goals are far more versatile. Ferris Bueller wants to have the best day ever, Uncle Buck has to take care of his brother’s children, and Kevin McCalister has to defend his house from two burglars.

I organized the most prominent female characters from each of his movies into a chart, so I could better examine their roles.  Overall, most female characters created by Hughes fall into typical female gender roles. The only female character that stands out is Chanice Kobolowski, who owns her own car repair business and isn’t particularly effeminate. If the women do have interest or career outside the film’s plot or conflict, it usually involves clothes or fashion. Both Andie from Pretty in Pink and Kate from Home Alone are fashion designers. Claire from The Breakfast Club gives Allison, or “the Basket Case,” a make over, to make her appear more feminine.

            Allison’s individuality in her appearance is sacrificed in order for her to look conventionally attractive. Instantly, the athlete is enamored with her. The only reason he is with her is because of her new appearance.  This is problematic because Allison, the conventionally unattractive female character, is the only character who changes her appearance. It’s okay for the male characters and the feminine female character to stay the way they are, but not Allison.