Portrayal of Women in Million Dollar Baby
I read the article “Representing the Female Pugilist: Narratives of Race, Gender and Disability in Million Dollar Baby” by Ellexis Boyle, Brad Millington, and Patricia Vertinsky. I found this article really interesting. This article looks at the film “Million Dollar Baby” and how it represents female boxers. A former professional boxer comments on this film and whether they are portraying truth or lies about female boxers. The article also points out the gender and racial hierarchy that is portrayed in this movie. There is also underlying issues about people with disabilities.
The main character is Maggie, a struggling female boxers. She has to beg for a male coach to take her on. He sees her as a freak, and an outsider. But when he finally does agree, Maggie is seen as subordinate to him. Also, the male African-American is also seen as subordinate to the male coach. This movie still upholds this racial and gender hierarchy. The coach is the highest figure in the movie.
This movie does not portray Maggie as a overly sexual female but she is still sexually attractive. They portray Maggie as a still feminine female. She has muscles but they are not big or unsightly. She has a toned thin body that would be considered the ideal for women. She is also portrayed as heterosexual, which gets rid of the belief that all female boxers are lesbians. When she fights there is strength and aggression, which are seen as masculine traits. The movies still portrays her as feminine despite her masculine traits. A number of other Hollywood movies portray women boxers as sexy. The women are usually half-naked and sometimes fighting in mud in a sexual manner.
Former professional boxer, Kate Sekules states that this movie has some false depictions of professional boxers. In the film, Maggie has problems getting the main male character to coach her. She also as seen as an outsider because she is female in a boxing gym full of males. Kate says that male coaches has been coaching female boxers for years. Also, that male and female boxers have been practicing together in the same gym for years. So the film, Million Dollar Baby, making Maggie look like an outsider is not the norm in professional boxing.
Another interesting thing about this movie is its portrayal of people with disabilities. When Maggie becomes disabled, her body is covered as if she can no longer be ‘hot’ because of her disability. She also no longer wants to live if she can’t compete in boxing and have full physical abilities. She just gives up. This is a very negative look at people with disabilities.
This movie is ground-breaking in some aspects but also uphold some of the myths about female professional boxing. It is interesting that Hollywood is putting out female boxing movies instead of another Rocky.
Reference
Boyle, Ellexis & Millington, Brad & Vertinsky, Patricia (2006). Representing the Female Pugilist: Narratives of Race, Gender, and Disability in Million Dollar Baby. Sociology of Sport Journal, 23, 99-116.
