The Huffington Post – Helen Drinan
“It took less than a month for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to smash through the record books. The latest edition of the beloved epic series surpassed the $1.56 billion earnings mark and became the top-grossing film in North America. With all eyes on when (not if) the film will take over the No. 1 spot in global earnings, it’s the pioneering content of this latest edition of the decades-old saga that intrigues me most…In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Princess Leia (played by Carrie Fisher) is a respected general in the Resistance, and the new star of the franchise, Rey (played by Daisy Ridley), is a scrappy, resourceful, young woman warrior. What’s crucial about this blockbuster…is the power it holds to influence a whole new generation of pop culture consumers on gender representations. This film gives women — and men — an opportunity to see women as adventurers and leaders in the infinite world of science fiction.”(more)