Choose a film that exemplifies a strong female character. You must get the film approved by
the instructor before beginning the assignment.
I. Describe the historical context within which the film heroine a.k.a.”S*hero”1 emerges.
Explain the social ideas of the time and place in which the film is set.
II. Social Ideas
Introduce the female character you have chosen to analyze. Write about her. Describe
her in detail.
Examine the social ideas about
o women
o men
o children
o elders
o family
o village
o spirituality
o work
o play
o sexuality
III. Social Resources
List social resources that are available to women in general and to your heroine, in
particular. What social resources are absent? (economic, social, personal, political,
organizational, legal resources, etc.).
IV. Social Norms
Examine social norms of the time (in the film). Define gender norms and link to social
ideas and social
resources. What behaviors are associated with maleness?
o femaleness?
o childhood?
o adulthood?
o group participation?
o community?
How does this woman conform to and deviate from social norms?
V. Societal Reactions
What forces have reshaped the lives of women in this period? What societal reactions
does your film character experience?
Refer to scholarly literature throughout. (At least ten different sources, i.e., film reviews, texts,
class readings e.g. Diamond, Bernard, Engels, Luepnitz, etc.). Document your sources. Ten
pages without references (APA style)
Note: You must use APA research writing format for all
references, citations, quotations, etc. Typed, double-spaced, APA research writing format.
References should be from scholarly sources (journal articles, and books). Sources from the
internet such as websites will not be acceptable.
Use the movie Mulan
