Women and Violence

Violence and women's association brings in certain power dynamics, the violent woman on screen is not a symbol of Power, freedom, free will or strength but a symbol and facilitator of the masochist and bdsm fantasies of men. 

When the idea of the violent women surpasses the fantasies and overcomes the idea by shaping itself to be something bigger than the idea of bondage and masochism, the next burden put into it is of the villain, the femme fatale. Women with violent tendencies or violent reactions ( note it doesn't matter what the initial action is in terms with the reaction) are either something to lust for or something that disrupts the intricate plans or perfect life of the hero with her seduction and plotting. 

The women in more modern films are now given some agency as to in relation with violence but it is still a by-product of feelings of vengeance, self defence or revenge.

A woman's violent tendencies are nothing but a reaction to a man's violence. 

Please know in no way am I trying to glorify violence done by women but it is interesting to note that the violence done by a woman must bear the burden of a justification, a reasoning; it cannot be the same animalistic drives that a man exhibits, it can only be a receiver of that untill she can no longer take it and decides to react to the violence with violence. That is the only way a woman's violence could be applauded or enjoyed in a theatre full of people. But a man's violence is not only met with admiration and awe of his strength, sharpness, focus and genius ( example: serial killers) but certain arousal be it secretly. 

The wisdom gaining journey of a woman going through hardships is an example of a woman's agency in holding the grief and transforming it into wisdom and experience, this transformation and journey without the woman being seen as a victim is seldom seen in cinema. The reaction to grief and hardships shouldn't and wouldn't always be an ephinany but a mere reaction like it happens in morvern callar (2002)