Girl power manifestation or feminine values degradation? : a feminist criticism of the movie mean girls by mark waters

Oleh :
Rosalina - C0304046 - Fak. Sastra dan Seni Rupa

ABSTRACT This research is purposed to explain how the movie Mean Girls constructs its primary teenage heroines, whether the heroines are depicted challenging feminine values in society or rather go along with the values. The research is descriptive qualitative research of which the source of data is the movie Mean Girls directed by Mark Waters. The main data of the research are the characters and characterizations, costume, dialogue, body language, visual images, and other cinematographic elements of the movie. The supporting data are taken from the other sources such as the film script, books, and internet articles related to film and the issues of women, specifically the issues of American women, which supports in answering the research question. The research is in the scope of American studies which is an interdisciplinary study. Therefore, the research involves some disciplines which in this case are applied in the form of theory and approach. In answering the research question, the researcher uses feminist theory, semiotic film theory, socio-cultural approach, and feminist approach. After conducting the analysis, it is found that the primary teenage heroines in Mean Girls are constructed challenging the values of femininity embraced by mainstream society, which tends to be traditional, as they are depicted promoting the contemporary values, the values of Girl Power. But instead of being encouraged, Girl Power values in the movie are discouraged as in the last session of the movie the filmmakers lead the heroines to go along with the values held by mainstream society. Girl Power values and ideology promoted by the teenage primary heroines of the movie is seen as negative since the values do not go along with the mainstream society values. As the movie is a mass media product, it is created with the mass society values.