A Brief History

Film has shaped the way we view the world sine it had been invented in the late 19th century. Women have played a key part in film. In the early years of film-making women were not as prevalent on screen. However as time moved on women were needed to help illustrate a story. Even though women have finally been showcased on film it was not initially in a positive light. Women were either shown as the dutiful housewife or the overly sexualized femme fatale. The femme fatale is known for her provocative clothing, charismatic wit, and her crippling need for a man to save her. The earliest films showcase women as weaker than men. Women did not have leading roles in Hollywood cinema or they were shown as the enemy to the man. Traditional ideals were illustrated in film such as waiting to have sexual intercourse until marriage and wearing “appropriate” clothing.