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.
I loved the chart you mad and found the post to be very interesting. I haven't watched a John Hughes movie in a very long time. It's sad to see that these iconic movies had only 2 female leads and the female characters in general were usually cliched and one dimensional. This post inspired me to look up other female leads 80's movies, but not knowing where to start, I just tried to google a list. To my dismay, when I searched "80's movies female leads list" the results were "IMDb: Most Definitive 80's Movies" and "IMDb: The 80's hottest actresses." The 80's were't a time for engaging female leads, yet people consider 80's movies (particularly John Hughes films) to be superior movies.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm glad you mention Allison in the Breakfast Club. Allison definitely did not fit the common female character mold of the 80's. She did sacrifice her individuality as you said, with getting a makeover. Since she got a makeover she was noticed by the athlete, which is a terrible trope in movies like this, where the conventionally unattractive female character has a makeover and ultimately wins the heart of the popular guy for the makeover only.