"Pretty Woman" or "Lara Croft"?

A couple of days ago, some beauty contest winner was asked about how the media portrayed women - did it empower them or did it make them eye candy. (I paraphrase.)

Her answer has generated controversy because she chose as her narrative the movie Pretty Woman, in which Julia Roberts plays a prostitute who falls in love with Richard Gere - and he reciprocates her love.

The woman said that her character was someone who took no nonsense and went after what she wanted. (I paraphrase, I admit I can't remember it exactly and I don't feel like looking up, but that's the gist.)

And I might wonder...why didn't she use Lara Croft as an example insteasd?

And I answered my own question...well, because Lara Croft was unrealistic. Fun, but unrealistic. A woman can not stand toe-to-toe with a guy and duke it out - one blow of his fist to the chin and the woman is going down (unlike in Mr and Mrs Smith in which they were trading body blows. No, I"m sorry, would not work in real life)! Which is why they need to use karate or some other martial art, go for pressure points, etc., and not just try to punch the guy in his "double-prominent" chin - as opposed to the "single-prominent" and thus easily broken chin of the woman.

Could she not have chosen Amelia - from the movie Amelia Earhart who wanted to fly around the world and disappeared fulfilling that dream?

Who else could she have chosen...?

For the life of me I can't think of any positive female role models who played the lead in movies... Catwoman? Mebbe so if Halle Berry hadn't had to wear that ridiculous "here's my belly button and my breasts better not fall out of this very narrow piece of fabric covering them costume.

Let's hope Hollywood will make movies about some real women, as for example:

From WREX 13: Female pilots rock the runway at Airfest

Move over boys, because this one's for the girls. This weekend at the Rockford Airfest, female pilots rocked the runway.

High-octane action, incredible demonstrations, and performing stunts that people only dream about.

That's Major Caroline Jensen's reality, flying right wing for the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.

"When I was 13-years-old, my dad took me to an air show in Eau Claire [Wisconsin], and I got to see the Thunderbirds fly." -says Caroline.

Ever since that day, Jensen knew she would one day be a part of "America's Ambassadors in Blue."

For Captain Gloria Hatcher, operating some seriously heavy equipment is her niche. She pilots U-P-S cargo planes here in Rockford, and K-C 135 refueling tankers.

Hatcher says that despite being outnumbered in the industry as a female, it's hard work and dedication that outweighs gender issues.

"Any female can do this job, and it just takes a little perseverance, and that's whether you're a male or a female." -Hatcher says.

According to Major Jensen, women make up about seven percent of USAF fighter pilots, but it's a number that will continue to grow as long as girls keep the attitude of 'skies the limit.'

"Just realize that there are no limits, for anybody, in whatever they wanna do; being in the military, flying airplanes, or, any other career that they decide." -says Jensen.

Girls interested in taking their careers to "new heights" are encouraged to join programs that advocate women in this industry.

"Now I'm involved with programs like 'Women in Aviation,' so I go out and talk to women who are interested in aviation or think they might be interested, and, encourage them to pursue their career and their love for aviation." says Hatcher.

Whether it's twisting and soaring with the Thunderbirds or operating a Boeing 707, there are plenty of careers in military aviation for women to explore.