One Red Hot Country Mama!

There are a lot of great things about being a feminist. I get to go against traditional gender stereotypes and do things like own my own business for example. I also get to feel like I am doing the right thing for my two nieces, and for the other young up and coming girls and women. One thing that is sometimes not so fun, is that I get to see everything through a feminist lens. Which is a problem when it comes to enjoying popular culture.

For example, there is Iron Man, a movie that I watched with my boyfriend last night and really enjoyed. Interesting story, Robert Downey Jr. was amazing and the effects were astonishing. Except for the important and irksome part… the fact that the female supporting role, played by Gwenyth Paltrow was pretty much encapsulating every female stereotype there is.

• Downey Jr. got to do all of this very cool stuff and influence the world, whereas all she could do was support him.
• She was his assistant, and he ended up falling in love with her. A big reason why he loved her was because she took care of him – it didn’t show her having many interesting personality characteristics other than that.
• The only time she was helpful was when she was listening to Downey Jr.’s instructions.

All of the other females in the movie were either serving or having/wanting to have sex with Downey Jr.

After I came out of the movie, I wondered about what Paltrow thought playing this role – acting as such a clear stereotype. Then I heard her on BBC Radio this morning saying that she enjoyed playing the role with the heartbreaking line:

"I believe in the old saying, that behind every great man is a great woman."

You can see a previous post on this line. Basically the post is saying… what a stupid expression. What if the man is single? What if the man is gay? What then? And most to the point for me: what if it is the woman that is great, who is behind her? What if both of them are great? Of course I realize that these words are scripted by a PR agency somewhere, but PR is a very female profession, so – are we really still doing this to ourselves?

So, great movie, terrible female role. Thanks for nothing Gwyneth (and all of those who have created the Gwyneth personality and her roles). All of you ought to think about doing the right thing for your nieces/daughters/etc.