Faced with the force of love, 'Star Wars' women shed power and clothes, research finds

Pathetic feminist nonsensical ranting.

So, basically the purpose of studies like this are to try to force popular culture to bend to authoritarian PC policing.

Great, the US institutions of “higher learning” like Florida State University wastes their public funding for research like this. I would be embarrassed if I were the author of this type of “research”.

So, basically the purpose of studies like this are to try to force popular culture to bend to authoritarian PC policing.

I think they are intended to stimulate public discourse and debate. Whether it's a serious study or a light-hearted look at sci-fi tropes. Just think of the actual discussions to be had, rather than standalone reactionary comments. I recommend that to posters who just turn up, make an edgy comment in the morning and then flee for the remainder of the day.

Otherwise, it just seems like another case of Triggered broflakes again terrified by women shocker!

There, that's me being edgy.

Great, the US institutions of “higher learning” like Florida State University wastes their public funding for research like this

It does seem a bit wasteful. I think taxpayer-funded universities need to look closely at the humanities in particular.

Research into what women wear in Star Wars films?

international journal "Fashion and Textiles,"

Say no more. Someone should check their math.

Nothing says that the characters don't change clothes during the day and evening. Sometimes dressing for work and dressing to attract the types of people you want to attract for non-work activities are very different.

There’s a Styx song about time that just popped into my head.

So Leia's bikini dress in Return of the Jedi must have reflected the peak of her romance with Jabba the Hutt.

Fascinating all these things you can spot with a scholarly analysis.

For example, did you know that the characters dress in warmer clothes when they are on the ice planet Hoth? From this, we can conclude that Star Wars characters, like people in real life, tend to wear more clothes in cooler environments. We hope that the findings of this study will have various applications going forward. Thank you for the research grant.

For example, did you know that the characters dress in warmer clothes when they are on the ice planet Hoth?

LOL; this season I'll mostly be sporting the Tauntaun intestinal onesie look.

"Star Wars" characters Padme Amidala and Princess Leia typically wear stately robes and ornate dresses when protecting empires but shed those clothes when they fall in love

Princess Leia's gold bikini was iconic.

Friends - Ross and Rachel The Princess Leia Fantasy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhMPmt5hyVc

"Star Wars" characters Padme Amidala and Princess Leia typically wear stately robes and ornate dresses when protecting empires but shed those clothes when they fall in love

Princess Leia's gold bikini was iconic.

Possibly, but she was forced to wear it as Jabba's slave/property. I don't think love comes into it, in that instance.

Poor Chewbacca was naked but for a bandolier.

Poor Chewbacca was naked but for a bandolier.

And it was well slung.

Isn't the whole point of fiction that you can do what you want with the plot, characters, etc.?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycaryneking

Looks like Ms. King currently works for Disney, who of course owns the Star Wars franchise. Oh the irony...

Natalie Portman is so hot I can't stand it.

I agree. Loved her in LEON!

Total waste of money, and very arguable conclusions, raises the question as to the intellectual and academic validity of the work.

Feminist rubbish. They must know that everyone is getting tired of this

Feminist rubbish. They must know that everyone is getting tired of this

Ach, only the misogynist fennels that sprout up every now and then. Most people enjoy jarring about Star Wars.

I do find the study's conclusions rather... cart before the horse at best.

For example, in the case of Leia and her gold bikini, she showed up at Jabba's Palace dressed as a bounty hunter in full militaristic garb, including a thermal detonator. She only removed the mask to kiss Han and declare her love.

In the gold bikini, she ended up not declaring love, or submitting, but wrapping a chain around Jabba's neck and choking the Hutt to death with it. About as bada** feminist as you can get. She literally refused to be treated as an 'object' and showed it.

The same with Padme. Her scene where she declares her love to Anakin, she's in gear she put on to fight. In fact, while she needed help, considering that the battle ended up with dozens of Jedi dead, everyone needed help. Even Anakin needed help. And she quite ably handled a blaster more than once.

What I saw in those trilogies was not love stripping away clothing, but rather the female characters choosing functional clothing as they stripped away the false pretenses of their ceremonial offices (Princess-Senator, Queen-Senator) to become more involved and actually 'throwing down' with some of the best in each series.

"Princess Leia is introduced in a loosely fitted white gown, leading a rebellion, but is arguably best known for the iconic metal bikini she wears when she is a slave stripped of all power, the research said."

Completely ignoring that she single handedly killed Jabba with nothing more than the chain he was using to keep her captive, while the men were busy being rescued, and then went right back to the business of leading the rebellion, fully clothed.

It might have helped if the researchers had actually watched all the Star Wars films instead of just looking at screenshots of their costumes they found doing a Google Image search.

They could not have chosen a more profound subject for their scholarly endeavour! Indeed a waste of public funds!!! And why just Starwars?

I think Star Wars was a great choice. But I suppose they could have chosen something like The Godfather Trilogy? Concentrated on Talia Shire, Diane Keaton and Sofia Coppola's characters... Lots of power dressing as the characters age and grow more confident.

Going along with the same theme, Hit Girl in "Kick Ass" did not fall in love in the movie, and she maintained her level of kick-assery and power.

I'll add that I loved Chloë Grace Moretz in that role as well!

It's so funny to me how people jump to conclusions about a study based on some summary on random websites. John Oliver has a great discussion about this very thing. I decided to read through it (admittedly a lengthy read for someone like me who isn't used to reading studies) and most of these comments here are so far off base. Now I don't know about the public funding thing...seems like the study's lead author was by a student, at least that's what is on the first page and I doubt students get the same kind of fund, if any, as teachers or whatever do. Maybe an assignment that a journal picked up? I don't know. For the person who said they should have watched the movies, maybe you should read the study? They did exactly that. What I do know is that us guys have always talked about how "hot" certain costumes were in the movies. Yeah slave Leia is pretty damn sexy. But now we're gonna get upset because a woman pointed out that the actresses are being portrayed in the exact way we know we view them? Come on guys, grow a pair and admit you didn't like your behavior being called out. Maybe it's not comfortable, but if I can grow up, so can you.

For the person who said they should have watched the movies, maybe you should read the study? They did exactly that. What I do know is that us guys have always talked about how "hot" certain costumes were in the movies. Yeah slave Leia is pretty damn sexy. But now we're gonna get upset because a woman pointed out that the actresses are being portrayed in the exact way we know we view them? Come on guys, grow a pair and admit you didn't like your behavior being called out. Maybe it's not comfortable, but if I can grow up, so can you.

Well since your going to call me out, I’m going to return the favor. Did you bother to actually read the rest of what I actually said as well? Their study said that Star Wars dresses their women in sexier clothes as they proportionally lost their power and authority. Which is exactly opposite of what happened with Leia in her metal bikini (which I actually never thought was that attractive, thanks).

Jabba put her in a degrading outfit and held her on a leash and still couldn’t stop her from murdering him and escaping practically on her own, while the helpless men fumbled around trying and barely succeeding to rescue each other. I’d say that right there negates everything that their study tried so hard to prove and I stand by what I said that it sure seems that they barely bothered to tale more than a cursory look at the films.