Representation of women in Kick-Ass

Throughout the film Kick-Ass it is clear that gender is represented in a stereotypical way. There are a very few female characters in the film and event he ones that are in the film have minimal speaking parts apart from Katy and Hit Girl.  

Women are represented in traditional and stereotypical ways. The mums of the film are seen as domestic and defined by family life where as the teen girls and Dave's teacher are seen as sexual beings and are defined by their sexuality. The women in the film have little development of their own and are purposely there for Dave's growth.  

 

We are first introduced to Dave's English teacher as somebody that provides Dave with sexual pleasure, we firstly see her bent over with her chest exposed which instantly makes the audience see her as a sexual being and there for sexual entertainment. She highlights Dave's adolescence and desire for a sexual companion, in addition to this she shows his character arc as he begins the film desiring a older woman that he cannot attain but by the end of the night. The audience are forced to look at his English teacher through his POV which introduces the audience to the male gaze (visual pleasure and the narrative cinema) this is where the woman in shot in segments and fetishized to emphasise parts of her body and see her in parts rather than a whole person, therefore this is shown by her stripping in a classroom in front of Dave. 

Another character that is viewed this way is the prostitute at Rasul's house, this shows women are used for sex and suggests a traditional representation of women in film as women have things done to them whereas men do things to women. Once again we are force to look at her in a sexual way as she reveals her chest to Dave (male gaze), however her function in the film is now to help Dave's character to develop but allow the film to express the brutality of Hit Girl as the prostitute runs from her but is still brutally tormented and murdered.  

 

Other than Hit Girl Katy has the largest speaking part. Katy is the princess of the film and although she does not necessarily need to be saved she is the prize for Dave (or it may be seen her sexuality is the prize for Dave). Katy as a character is popular, innocent and friendly, however she can also be seen as needy as she never seems to do things for herself she always has another person to help her out, reinforcing the idea that she is an extremely passive character. She her no name friend follow her around everywhere to enhance her popularity. In addition to this Katy's main goal in the film is to have a gay best friend which shows how shallow and vapid she really is. However the most controversial of all is the fact that Dave lies and deceives her, but when the truth is revealed he suffers no consequences and is rewarded with sex showing that her only power is her sexuality reducing women down to just sexual beings.  

 

Overall the film shows the unimportance of women and perfectly displays how women are exploited. Female character are never shown without a male present and are essentially helpless. The women are either viewed in a sexual way or a domestic way, they have little depth and development and are there to allow other characters to develop.