Gender Representation

Thelma and Louise, 1991.
Thelma and Louise is a westen film which is a 'road' film, this challenges the expectation of the film's genre. There are two female protagonists who are strong and empowered. They are quite masculine characters who go for the cowboy look which goes against tradition female stereotypes. They are women who criticise men's aggressive behaviour but use masculine behaviour to over power the men. They choose to use guns, which are phallic symbols and are usually associated with men. They create a sense of power using guns, bad language and violence.
Women are represented in a somewhat positive but problematic way as in the representation of power, it challenges stereotypes.

"You'll be there" - Spice Girls
The Spice Girls created music for teenage girls and so would look at creating a positive representation of women. In this video they are being represented not only by being strong empowered women but they also representing a highly sexualised image. The thought of women being strong is a positive image however for teenage girls to be introduced to a sexualised image of women can be looked at being a negative thing as young teenage girls do not have to be sexual consequently making them act in a manner that is out of character for young girls in order for people to find them 'attractive'.

Prime Suspect
The main female protagonist in Prime Suspect is a strong character and stands up for herself. This shows that she is competent. She is a successful police woman which is showing that women can have a career and can earn respect. She also is domesticated which challenges typical gender stereotypes.