@ Sarah: It's the old 'damsel in distress' trope. Action heroes (men) needed something to motivate them to go out and do daring things. Plus women being tied up meant that they couldn't run away before being 'rescued'. These days, of course, such a trope is no longer acceptable and has (generally) been replaced with the 'child in distress' trope. Of course this plugs into the 'nurturing female' trope.... But have you noticed how often the child being 'rescued' is a girl - especially an attractive one kidnapped or threatened by men? Yet another trope I think.... You certainly don't see many women rescuing men who are obviously not 'inadequate' in some way (Nerds etc..). Even when a woman does rescue a man they either become equals immediately (so why did he need rescuing if they are both equally capable?) or He immediately takes charge/she immediately defers to him from then on...
Not that I've over-thought this in any way mind.... [grin]
5 comments:
"action-packed" for a dime!
But WHY are the women always tied to something?!?!
good point, Sarah...
@ Mudpuddle: Action was cheap back then...
@ Sarah: It's the old 'damsel in distress' trope. Action heroes (men) needed something to motivate them to go out and do daring things. Plus women being tied up meant that they couldn't run away before being 'rescued'. These days, of course, such a trope is no longer acceptable and has (generally) been replaced with the 'child in distress' trope. Of course this plugs into the 'nurturing female' trope.... But have you noticed how often the child being 'rescued' is a girl - especially an attractive one kidnapped or threatened by men? Yet another trope I think.... You certainly don't see many women rescuing men who are obviously not 'inadequate' in some way (Nerds etc..). Even when a woman does rescue a man they either become equals immediately (so why did he need rescuing if they are both equally capable?) or He immediately takes charge/she immediately defers to him from then on...
Not that I've over-thought this in any way mind.... [grin]
Woe is me!
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