Uniformed combat and the silver screen in 21st century: the evolution of modern military women in the U.S. Army through Hollywood’s lens

Abstract

This thesis will explore the parallel and contrasting narratives of women in the U.S. Army through the portrayals in 21st century Hollywood movies. It will analyze the roles of female soldiers in service, their real-life advancement and challenges. In comparison with cinematic depiction, the representation of women as combat and leadership integration offers a sense of understanding the interplay between the reality of women’s role in the U.S. Army and media representation. Additionally, this study will investigate how U.S. Army- themed Hollywood film’s characterization and criticism of women’s roles in the U.S. Army influenced the stereotypical damsels in distress to intervene in the complexity of gender studies.