The emergence of the female heroine in young adult dystopian fiction is working to change stereotypical representations of women through texts. Women are often under represented, hyper-sexualised or lack complexity in modern works, with just 23% of films distributed globally from 2010-12 featuring female protagonists according to a report released by the Geena Davis Institute. While it is true that female protagonists have been seen over time, they are all too often represented in manners that focus on appearance, their domestic roles and subservience, or emphasized femininity (Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005). Cult classics like The Hunger Games and Divergent are working to empower young women through the characters of Katniss and Tris who are
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Bucking the popular culture trend of the helpless girlfriend who needs to be saved by her man, Collins presents Katniss as the strong one. “The thing I like about this movie, which is different from many others, is Katniss is focused on survival, focused on a revolution and not focused on who is going to be her boyfriend,” Lawrence said in an interview with The Times in 2012.The relationship has a clear gender inversion, with Peeta being sensitive and nurturing while Katniss is stoic and logical. However, Katniss still needs Peeta’s sensitivity and good nature. Peeta begs for children and Katniss gives in, and Peeta bakes while Katniss hunts. The romance between them offers a welcome change from the expected gender roles in relationships as seen in pop culture.
Though Tris starts off as Four’s student, they come to realize they are equal in strength and must acknowledge at times that they need help from each other. Four says to her, “You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're wrong." (Divergent, 240) They also have a consensual relationship, Tris making it clear to everyone that her body will not be touched without her consent, but the commitment goes both ways; she doesn’t pressure Four into doing things he’s not comfortable
Bucking the popular culture trend of the helpless girlfriend who needs to be saved by her man, Collins presents Katniss as the strong one. “The thing I like about this movie, which is different from many others, is Katniss is focused on survival, focused on a revolution and not focused on who is going to be her boyfriend,” Lawrence said in an interview with The Times in 2012.The relationship has a clear gender inversion, with Peeta being sensitive and nurturing while Katniss is stoic and logical. However, Katniss still needs Peeta’s sensitivity and good nature. Peeta begs for children and Katniss gives in, and Peeta bakes while Katniss hunts. The romance between them offers a welcome change from the expected gender roles in relationships as seen in pop culture.
Though Tris starts off as Four’s student, they come to realize they are equal in strength and must acknowledge at times that they need help from each other. Four says to her, “You think my first instinct is to protect you. Because you're small, or a girl, or a Stiff. But you're wrong." (Divergent, 240) They also have a consensual relationship, Tris making it clear to everyone that her body will not be touched without her consent, but the commitment goes both ways; she doesn’t pressure Four into doing things he’s not comfortable