Independent Women in the Media
Independent women in the media
Movies
Fatal Attraction (1987) and Devil Wears Prada (2006) are two classical movies that talks about the story of independent women who is in the working force. Even though these movies are released almost 20 years apart, they share a lot of similarities with how independent women are being portrayed in the media.
Fatal Attraction was released in the 1980s when the third wave feminism movement began. It became an instant classic in the 80s and was nominated for 6 Oscar awards. Fatal Attraction is the story about a married New York attorney Dan. He has a one night affair with a woman named Alex, a female editor in a publishing company. Dan later find out that Alex is pregnant. Alex demands Dan to share the responsibility for her pregnancy but Dan refuses to continue the relationship with her. Alex later becomes lethal and threatens his family. She even temporarily kidnapped Dan’s daughter, in an attempt to win back Dan’s affection. Dan later on told his wife Beth about the affair. In the ending scene, Alex has a fight with both Dan and Beth, and Beth kills Alex with a gun.
The film is portrayed through male’s perspective. Even though Dan cheated on his wife, he does not seem to share any responsibility for his betrayal. When Alex told her that she was pregnant because of their affair, Dan tries to walk away from it by not answering Alex’s phone calls. He even contacts a lawyer to see if it is possible for him to not share any responsibility in a legal standpoint. Dan is being sympathized in the movie as he cared about his family; his irresponsible behaviors are thus being legitimized. All the faults seem to lie on the independent woman Alex in the film. When Alex was killed in the end by Beth, audiences were manipulated to cheer for Beth’s heroic act. It is the celebration of the victory for the traditional family value. Beth, the perfect wife and mother who adapts to her husband’s schedule and spend time with her
Movies
Fatal Attraction (1987) and Devil Wears Prada (2006) are two classical movies that talks about the story of independent women who is in the working force. Even though these movies are released almost 20 years apart, they share a lot of similarities with how independent women are being portrayed in the media.
Fatal Attraction was released in the 1980s when the third wave feminism movement began. It became an instant classic in the 80s and was nominated for 6 Oscar awards. Fatal Attraction is the story about a married New York attorney Dan. He has a one night affair with a woman named Alex, a female editor in a publishing company. Dan later find out that Alex is pregnant. Alex demands Dan to share the responsibility for her pregnancy but Dan refuses to continue the relationship with her. Alex later becomes lethal and threatens his family. She even temporarily kidnapped Dan’s daughter, in an attempt to win back Dan’s affection. Dan later on told his wife Beth about the affair. In the ending scene, Alex has a fight with both Dan and Beth, and Beth kills Alex with a gun.
The film is portrayed through male’s perspective. Even though Dan cheated on his wife, he does not seem to share any responsibility for his betrayal. When Alex told her that she was pregnant because of their affair, Dan tries to walk away from it by not answering Alex’s phone calls. He even contacts a lawyer to see if it is possible for him to not share any responsibility in a legal standpoint. Dan is being sympathized in the movie as he cared about his family; his irresponsible behaviors are thus being legitimized. All the faults seem to lie on the independent woman Alex in the film. When Alex was killed in the end by Beth, audiences were manipulated to cheer for Beth’s heroic act. It is the celebration of the victory for the traditional family value. Beth, the perfect wife and mother who adapts to her husband’s schedule and spend time with her