Women in Action

There are only a few female action heroes that are not dependent on men. Action films are very dependent on a leading male role supported by a good looking leading lady. Women are almost always seen as sexual objects or as damsels for the male lead to save. This is not always the case... 

1. Lara Croft- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (West, 2001)

Lara Croft is one of those action heroes that has both feminine and masculine traits that allow her to be both empowering over men and kiss ass. Her attire of combat boots and a black vest and shorts is masculine and practical implying that she does not take much care in her appearance and is more focused on the challenging task that lies ahead. By her having her hair tied back into a plait indicates that it has been  put up as so so that it is out of the way while she is working. The belt that Lara wears around her hips carrying an array of dangerous weapons shows that she is prepared for anything and that she is not going to let anyone, including a man get in her way. 

Her feminine features contrast against her masculine appearance by her having a very curvaceous figure and soft facial features such as her pillowy lips. 

All of these features allow her to defeat those in her way or any obstacles that she might face and be dependent from men showing that she does not need their help to 'save her'. She is definitely more than capable of doing that on her own and to her own terms.

2. Beatrix Kiddo- Kill Bill: Vol.1 (Tarantino, 2003)

Beatrix Kiddo is not your normal action hero as she does not fight for a greater good. She fights for revenge. This means that she will not let anyone get in her way, no matter the cost in order to complete her vengeance. Her appearance is striking by her bright yellow and black tracksuit allowing her to stand out when she is surrounded by a sea of black. Her hair hangs around her face implicating that she has bigger things to worry about than doing something with her hair. Her weapon a samurai sword has connotations with samurai warriors which implies that she has certain qualities of a samurai warrior which allows her to fight as well as she does.

3. Natasha Romanoff- Iron Man 2 (Favreau, 2010)

Natasha Romanoff is an action hero that empowers women by saving men and being kick ass. Her tight, all black attire is very sultry and practical, and highlights her very feminine curvy figure. Her hair is down and frames her face in soft curls which adds to her alluring look. 

4. Hanna Heller- Hanna (Wright, 2011)

Hanna Heller is definitely not your average action hero as she is only 16. Her size and frame allow her to easily slip through the grasp of those after her. It also gives her the upper hand when fighting against those she fights as they will not give it their all as not to hurt her. The orange outfit she wears implies that she has been locked up and that she is dangerous while the gun shows that she means business and is certainly not afraid to fight. 

5. Neytiri- Avatar(Cameron, 2009)

Neytiri is kick ass by her defending her home from essentially an army and teaching an outsider the ways of her kind. This shows that she is loyal and trysting, and very willing to fight in what she believes in and cares about. What she wears is very tribal implying that she can tend for herself and be resourceful from what is around her. By the fact that she has a dagger attached to a belt around her waist shows that she constantly prepared for anything that may happen, whether it may be protecting herself or gathering resources. Neytiri is also not dependent on men as she rescues herself and those around her, both men and women, showing us that she is definitely not a damsel is distress.