Pop Culture Creates New Heroines

"For years, maybe forever, the essence of women has often been reduced, to put it somewhat crudely, to a deeply etched dichotomy: madonna or whore. Marry one; have sex with the other. It is a view of women that has survived shifts in social attitudes and periodic bouts of feminism.

But in recent decades — marked by a more radical advance of women and some appreciation for that shift — variations on the theme have emerged in society and pop culture. In films, books, music and television and on the social media networks, we have rethought gender roles, and the old virgin versus slut metaphor rings false, if it ever was true.

Now, in keeping with what some call (hopefully) the age of female empowerment, women are more likely to be cast or depicted as sex objects or action heroes — or both in one..." Which actresses do you think it is referring to? Read the rest of the NYT article.