There are more and more films in Hollywood being led by females in a variety of genres ranging from dramas to action. The term “strong female character” has been thrown around a lot especially amidst the fourth wave feminist. This term is synonymous with feminism and has positive association with it. However, Game of Thrones star, Emilia Clarke thinks otherwise, believing it to be sexist.
At the Cannes festival for the debut of Solo: A Star Wars Story in which she plays Qi’ra, Clarke spoke to Variety, expressing her views on the phrase “strong female character” and she doesn’t like it. She considers it be sexist as considering a female character to be “strong” implies that other female characters are “weak”.
“Take the ‘strong’ out of it, find another adjective, damn it. I’m just playing women.”
She also highlights how male characters are never referred to as “strong” males unless it relates to physicality. She suggests other alternatives to the question, “how does it feel to play a strong female character?” such as questions relating to playing a person of power or a female lead in a major blockbuster.
Clarke makes a valid point both in regards to film and society. By an over-emphasis on some aspects which are not commonly associated with societal norms, it does the exact opposite of its intended purpose. The idea of “strong female characters” does imply a notion that women are not considered “strong”. That, in turn, would not change the societal perception of women but the standards of what is deemed “strong” would no doubt be higher.
The best way to change society and film-goers’ perception of a certain group of individuals is to stop talking about it! Clarke clearly believes that. In a world where media tends to measure women by how they are able to accomplish features that are commonly associated with men such as roles in power or combat, it is good to see Clarke seeing it some other way.
Source: Variety
