Why “Rogue One” Is So Important For Young Women

When I was 12 my dad forced me to watch the 2009 version of Star Trek, he convinced me that “I would love it” he didn’t know that this would lead to an addiction. Seven years later I would be in college pursuing a career in Entertainment Journalism and Advertising. One movie (a sci-fi movie) single handily changed my identity.

I know this sounds insane. It actually is insane. But, Star Trek and Sci-Fi in general, shaped me into the person I am today. I know that I got into the game late. That most kids start watching Sci-fi when they're toddlers (I know my children will one day). But as I watched sci-fi movie after sci-fi movie I noticed a trend. The main character was always a male. Luke SkyWalker, Han Solo, Captain Kirk, Spock, Spider-Man, Iron-Man…. my list could go on for days. When a woman was in these movies she was always in the background. She had to prove her worth to the characters and to the audience. Any male lead was just destined for greatness, you knew inadvertently that he could save the day and HE always did. When a woman saved the day it was surprising, “Wow SHE got the bad guy.” You’d watch as the superhero looked on in wonder and he usually made out with her afterward to reward her for her badassery.

I was older so I understood that this was ridiculous. Women deserved to be in the spotlight. I wanted a Cat Woman movie. I wanted a female to pilot the starship Enterprise (seriously how bad ass would that be). If I was any younger I may have never noticed this. I might have just gone along with the notion that men will always save the day. That only a man can be the super-hero.

This notion that men have to be the hero. That a woman is only good for her pretty face and rocking bod (cat woman). THAT SHE HAS TO BE A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. Makes me so angry inside. I don’t want my future daughter to have to think that she can never be the hero. I want her to want to dress up as Rey for Halloween. I want her to have strong female characters to look up to.

When I watched the Rogue One trailer I cried, Rogue One proves that you can have an AMAZING Sci-Fi movie with a brave, strong female protagonist.

Rogue One gives me hope that young girls will be able to grow up with amazing female superheroes and protagonists to look up to.