This document summarizes the portrayal of female characters in popular films from the 1980s. In E.T., a mother protects her children while a rebellious teenager feels blamed. In Star Wars films, Princess Leia transitions from needing protection to taking a more dominant role. In Batman, Vicki Vale helps Batman after initially being a damsel in distress. Marion Ravenwood in Raiders of the Lost Ark is an independent woman who still needs some assistance. Ghostbusters and Indiana Jones films also depicted women as beautiful and sometimes manipulative objects of male attention who show weakness but gain strength. Many other films like Beverly Hills Cop and Back to the Future had few or no female roles.

1. 1980’s

2. E.T (1982)
• A motherly figure, who tries to keep everything in
order and look after her children. Trying to do what
is best for them.
• A stroppy teenager, who thinks everything is going
against her and feels as though she is blamed.
• An innocent young girl, who doesn’t do anything
wrong and contrasts the stroppy teenager. She is
seen this way due to the way she looks, by her
clothes and her hair in piggy tails.

3. Star Wars – Episode VI (1983)
Return of the Jedi
• Princess Leia is seen in less clothes compared to the
previous episodes, she is seen to be slightly less
powerful, this then changes as she gets help and then
takes over a more dominant female role again. She has
power over Luke and Han Solo.

4. Star Wars – Episode V (1980)
The Empire Strikes Back
• Princess Leia is seen to be dominant over Luke and
Han Solo but not through negative ways. She is seen
to be joining in the fight, but still needs Han Solo and
Luke to protect her from things.

5. Batman (1989)
• Vicki Vale is portrayed as a beautiful, blonde haired
young women.
• She is portrayed as being the damsel in distress and in
the need of help, but ends up helping Batman.

6. Raiders of the lost ark (1981)
• Marion Ravenwood is portrayed as an independent
woman who does need some help despite what she
thinks. She is portrayed as dominant due to the
skills she has. She plays the role of the missing piece
in the puzzle.

7. Ghostbusters (1984)
•Seen as quite seductive and manipulative in
the trailer. However, is an independent
woman.

8. Beverley Hills Cops (1984)
•No women seen in the trailer at
all, no female cops seen.
Stereotypically more of a male
profession.

9. Back to the future (1985)
•No women in the trailer, only a woman’s
voice, less roles. Man being the main
focus, the clever man who get go back in
time. Why not women too?

10. Indiana Jones and the last crusade
(1989)
•Elsa Schneider – Clever, is providing
small forms of help, is manipulative,
adhering to female stereotypes.
Shows weakness around rats,
stereotypical female fear. Fits a
dominant ideology, beautiful young
blonde woman. At the end dies
because she is selfish.

11. Indiana Jones and the temple of doom
(1984)
•Willie Scott – Fits again with the dominant ideology of
a beautiful young woman. Can be very manipulative
and seductive. In the trailer is shown to put perfume of
an elephant, she can not deal with the jungle,
portrayed as weak. Towards the end becomes stronger
and more independent.