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Femmes Fatales Research Paper

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Femmes Fatales (causing male anxiety)

Femme Fatales have redefined the perception of traditional women in society. A

conventional outlook of women is associated with demeaning characteristics, which in most

cases perceive them as helpless individuals and always dependent on males. This view presents

men as the archetypes of society who define typical society elements, and females have to

conform to the said norms. Men have so long been enjoying superiority and dominance that they

felt that the depiction would stay forever. Early and modern films have, however, challenged this

view. Currently, femme fatale depictions in films are being integrated into the current society.

Femme Fatales is designed to thwart men's power through usual female charms and eventually

diminish their influence. Although the perception first took effect in films, it is evident that their

effect has been a source of stress and anxiety among men (Walker 11). Films describe a woman

who is ready to prey on men through lies and playacts.

Additionally, femme fatale has been caused by male anxiety where men are rendered

duped and inscrutable and duplicitous by females. The current study identifies these characters in

men and connects them to women's advantage over men to exert elements of power and control

over men. These elements portray femme Fatales as the figments contributing to symptoms and

projections of male anxiety.

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Recent works

According to Bronfen (2004), a femme fatale is a stereotype of feminine evil and male

anxiety. In other words, the character is seen as an illusional figure present in emanations of

other people (Bronfen 114). This argument translates to the elemental effect femme Fatales have

on men. To them, she is an influential figure that is difficult to control. The character does not

show at first view, but when it does, it can leave men dazed and confused about who the woman

is as they will be seeing a different woman. In an article by Jones (1991), the new role of women

presented by femme Fatales is a source of male paranoia. Once encountered by these women,

men become fearful about losing the traditional patriarchal framework and become subjects of a

new postmodern society (Jones 297). The presentation of femme Fatales, in this case, is the

production of male anxiety due to the collapse of conventional laws about gender difference.

These laws have since been in force for a long time when men were above women in different

sectors and were elemental power figures. However, through the introduction of femme Fatales,

these institutions are collapsing and making men fall into bouts of depression and anxiety. Hales

(2007) argues that femme fatale characters have contributed to male anxiety. The author argues

that male fears about feminism are actualized by the representation of femme fatale characters

who act as emblems of historical movements (Hales 228).

Conclusion

The current study will identify the effect of femme fatale characters in presenting men

with anxiety. Femme fatale characters reject the traditional institution of patriarchy and lead to

the collapse of the male ego. By losing their position in society, men are likely to worry about

their fate in society when the character is adopted by a more significant percentage of women in

society.

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Surname 1 Name Professor’s name Course Date Femmes Fatales (causing male anxiety) Femme Fatales have redefined the perception of traditional women in society. A conventional outlook of women is associated with demeaning characteristics, which in most cases perceive them as helpless individuals and always dependent on males. This view presents men as the archetypes of society who define typical society elements, and females have to conform to the said norms. Men have so long been enjoying superiority and dominance that they felt that the depiction would stay forever. Early and modern films have, however, challenged this view. Currently, femme fatale depictions in films are being integrated into the current society. Femme Fatales is designed to thwart men's power through usual female charms and eventually diminish their influence. Although the perception first took effect in films, it is ...
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Tags: Femmes Fatales feminism male anxiety traditional women in society stereotype of feminine evil