Hilla Shaviv
Does feminism come to mind when thinking of Avatar 2?
Movies, stories, and novels have a powerful effect on our lives as individuals and as a society. From inspiring us to think differently to encouraging positive change, films undeniably impact our collective psyche and ignite differences in our lives. The new Avatar 2, the sequel to the hit 2009 film Avatar, was quite a shocking experience for me. While the first movie is set to feature a female protagonist, a strong female lead who is pitted against a potent male antagonist, in the sequel, we find that despite all the advancement, there is nothing new under the sun. The female character is dominated by her male partner, as usual. For the young women who are watching this movie today, the man that they will desire in the future as their partner is the real-life twin of Jake Sully. Tall, handsome, strong, but gentle, dominant but considerate, in short, perfect. Life partners come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. Imagine the disappointment of these young hearts when they grow up to discover that Jake is fiction, setting unattainable expectations of what a partner is and represents. Young girls must learn on their own what an equal partner is to them and what they prioritize as a need from a partner. If there are any Jake Sully's out there, they weren't exposed to the same books or movies society pushes as an example of mainstream behavior! This kind of blockbuster is one of the roots that determines and preserves the gender inequality still existing in our community.
In this day and age, there should be no space for such movies. Storytellers and scriptwriters should work harder and imagine a world where men and women are equal, how their life looks, their relationships, and how it affects our life. Pls do not feature a superwoman as a gender anomaly, we want to see real life, and we want to learn to obtain the tools for really creating such a society.
Ultimately, movies have the potential to be powerful forces of positive change. Through films like Avatar 2, we can challenge existing gender norms and create a more just and equitable society.
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