Where the Women Have Agency

[barbarienne]

Several posts in the SF/F corner of the internet this morning on the topic of Women in Refrigerators.

Marie Brennan talks about it here, discussing the concept of women having agency, that is, taking action as independent people.

kateelliott has a related post here, wherein she discusses one of the most notable movies in SF wherein a woman is an action hero

Comments

[shadefell]

"Alien Vs Predator" features an African American woman who is the actual leader of the expedition (as opposed to the rich white guy giving jerky rich white guy orders and ignoring her experience) and the only one of the humans to survive the encounter based on her intelligence and quickness. She also defeats the Aliens (including a Brood Queen), which the Predator is unable to do

[kateelliott]

[shadefell]

It's a good movie for when you have friends over, or you don't want to pay close attention. It's a popcorn movie. It's not super smart, but it doesn't leave me yelling at the plot holes too badly.

I haven't read the AVP comic, but apparently it features a super kick-ass African American woman who... travels with the Predators? Something? She Proved Herself Worthy.

[la_marquise_de_]

Both the main female characters in Black Widow: it's a psychological thriller where both protagonist and antagonist are women and the men are the victims.
Also, if I can go out of US film, pretty much any of Michelle Yeoh Chi-King's Hong Kong films.

[ddrpolaris]

I was just thinking of the Heroic Trio and the Executioners.

[la_marquise_de_]

Oh, yes!

[kateelliott]

[ddrpolaris]

There's the remake of Night of the Living Dead (1990), but that was an intentional subversion. Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight. (These two are covered in a fog of it being many years since I last saw them).

[kouaidou]

My friends and I just watched the Richard Donner cut of Superman II. Lois may just be the love interest there, but she has some amazing agency in trying to figure out Clark's secret, including a fabulous bit where she shoots him that was changed for the theatrical release.

[barbarienne]

Oh! I would love to see Lois shoot Clark.

Yes, that was one of the things I hatedhatedhated about Superman Returns: Lois. She was awful. What agency she has is driven by her being stupid. It was particularly obvious when contrasted with the Karen Allen version of Lois. This expansion of the character you mention just makes me love that version all the more.

[kouaidou]

You mean Margot Kidder, right? Karen Allen was Marion in Indiana Jones (a character who was definitely awesome, though I can't recall if she actually had a lot of agency...?)

[barbarienne]

Yes, Margot Kidder. They do look annoyingly alike