FEMALE REPRESENTATION : AN ANALYSIS OF FEMALE CHARACTERS IN THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE ACROSS THREE ERAS

Sammanfattning: This thesis uses discourse analysis to examine how female characters are portrayed in the Star Wars franchise. It compares the representation of women in three eras aiming to analyze the changes, in views on gender roles. The focus is on Princess Leia, Padme Amidala and Rey and how they reflect these changes. The study explores whether there has been an evolution in the representation of characters over the 40 years. It will delve into their agency, empowerment and identity looking at whether they challenge or reinforce gender stereotypes and how their interactions with characters impact their development and gender dynamics, within the series.