Gender in American Film Since the 1960s

During the 1960s, Hollywood enters a second wave of feminism tied

directly with the civil rights movement.
If we look back in history, we can see key moments for feminism and
when society (or women) have taken a stance for womens rights. Two of
these key moments were known as the first and second Wave of Feminism.
The First Wave of Feminism is when women were fighting for contraception
rights and womens suffrage. The Second Wave of Feminism was after World
War II. During the war the men were off fighting so women stepped out of he
home and into the (once male dominated) workforce. What this did for
women was give them a since of independence, so after the war women
were pressured to return home to be housewives and mothers.
Women primarily spurred Civil Rights Groups and the anti-war
movement, but Civil Rights Groups focus was solely on equality and freedom
for men. This lead to the breakaway and forming of Womens Rights Groups.
Betty Friedan among others helped to jumpstart the feminist movement in
the 1960s. She is the author of The Feminine Mystique which she said is
about the culturally constructed image of passive, homebound, uneducated,
eroticized, and cosmeticized femininity.
In the 1960s Hollywood took little interest in political issues and
continued to make standardized genre films. Marry Poppins and Funny Girl,
are examples of films that came out in this time that have strong and

independent leading female characters. The setting in these films was also
safely set in the 1900s so as not to get involved with political issues of the
1960s.
During this time there were many stereotypes in the film industries.
The blonde bombshell was one of these stereotypes. It is similar to the
flapper of the 20s. The blonde bombshell was an over sexualized women but
because the Production Code was still in place, movies that alluded to risqu
scenes could not live up to their potential. To get around this, Sexploitation
Cinema was created. Sexploitation Cinema had mostly female nudity and
simulated sexual encounters, so it was considered pornographic. It became
very trendy to attend these pornographic movies, which strongly impacted
Hollywood. Sexploitation Cinemas popularity helped weaken local and state
laws and Hollywood started incorporating its tactics and appeal into many
movies.
Other stereotypes of this time (that can still be seen today) are Buddy
Films and the Sensitive Man. These two stereotypes could not be more
opposite. An example of a Buddy Film is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance
Kid. These films have two leading male characters that are depicted as real
men and share a homosocial bond. Womens roles in these films are usually
as love objects and to reassure the audience that despite the two characters
homosocial bond that they are indeed heterosexual. The Sensitive Man is a
man that is more in touch with his feelings and is nurturing to others. Though
this stereotype portrays men in a more vulnerable way it can be interpreted

that men surpass women as parents, even as a woman, as depicted in the

movie Mrs. Doubtfire.
Feminism in Hollywood takes a step backwards as we enter the 1980s.
The eighties brought forth great music and fantastic style while feminism
takes a hit. The Eighties were not kind to the feminist movement. Ronald
Reagan was elected for two terms during this time running on the platform of
returning America to good old family values. During his campaign he spoke
of yesteryear where Family Values mattered most of all. It painted a picture
of a better time when the family was kept intact. The wife stayed at home
nurturing and caring for the family while the bread winner went out and
provided for the family. This idea of the traditional values directly attacked
the progress that women have made during the 60s and 70s. The most
telling sign of the decline of the feminist movement was the death of the
Equal Rights Amendment.
The Equal Rights Amendment fails, the feminist movement stutters, and the
attack on feminism begins.
Rush Limbaugh, the voice of conservatism himself takes an immediate
attack on feminism. During his rise to fame Rush constantly assaults the
feminist role and position. His attacks were set at working women and
anyone that was in favor of helping breakdown the glass ceiling. He used
zero subtly in his approach in fighting feminism as he popularizes the phrase
femi-nazi to describe anyone women fighting for equality. This blunt

approach eventually helps Rush become the king of Radio. As his popularity
grew, many others joined in the push for a return to good old fashion
America. While Rush was leading the charge against feminism, Jerry Falwell
was flanking the feminist position from the religious front. Falwell takes it one
step further and renames the National Organization of Women as the Nation
Organization of Witches.
It didnt take Hollywood long to cash in on the additional support of the
dominant ideology in film making, the white patriarchal capitalist. From the
late 70s to the early 80s some amazing shows are being released. Jaws,
Star Wars, Rocky, and Raiders of the Lost Ark are the big shows of the era.
They still have a dominant male role who is there to save the princess from
certain tragedy. These classic Hollywood blockbusters differ from the hyper
masculine films of the 80s. The films of the 80s are dominated by mostly
male casts sprinkled with a few women that play limited roles. Hollywood
littered the movie screens with these action-adventure. Rambo, Commando
and Predator were huge films during this time that multiple sequels. These
action adventure films offered little to no exposure to female actors of the
time.
The other popular movie type of the time were slasher shows. These
slasher films helped reinforce the virgin-whore complex of Hollywood. These
shows featured many women including the protagonist of the film usually a
white virgin like character that eventually survives or escapes the villain.
During this film the whores did not do so well, women that were portrayed as

easy or sexual characters were killed off graphically on screen. This tactic
isnt new to the 80s but this is a wildly popular film type of the time. These
films in their own way attack the feminist movement. The only way to
survive in this world is to embrace the modest traditional life of a better
time. Those more progressive or feminist types that take charge of their
sexuality were killed off and the message was clear. There is no place for
feminists, at least in the 80s.
From the 80s on, we start to see more female film directors. This is
partially due to affirmative action programs that help employ women. The
American film industry is still a largely male dominated industry and women
have a tough time making it in. Most women in the film industry have to
prove themselves before they can get behind the camera to direct. Penny
Marshall is an example of a director that made her way into the industry due
to her successful acting career. She starred in the hit sitcom Laverne and
Shirley, which her brother created and produced. She went on to direct many
hit films in the 90s.
Another filmmaker paving the way for women in the industry is Sophia
Coppola. Her start in film making came from the help of her father Francis
Ford Coppola, who is a notable film school brat. Sophia Coppola was the first
woman to earn a Best Director Oscar for her film Lost in Translation. Sophia
has gone on to make many other critically acclaimed films that feature
women as lead characters.

Although more and more women are directing films, only a small
percentage are actively progressing in displaying feminist ideals. Many of the
films being released by women directors are still playing by Hollywoods
formula of the white patriarchal capitalist. Thus, women are forced into
following the pattern that makes Hollywood the most money if they want
their films to be shown at theaters nationwide. Women wanting to create
more progressive films are often forced to work as independent film makers
if they want to create a film that goes against the grain of standard
Hollywood film
In the last century there have been huge gains for women everywhere,
yet the playing field is still not level. We as consumers have to step up and
show Hollywood who and what we support if we want to see any change.