ABSTRACT
During the last several decades women have moved from peripheral roles in violent films to the center of the action and the story. Female action heroes have evolved into muscular women who are independent of men, romance, and motherhood. They challenge the definition of womanhood by their unconventional combination of fighting prowess, brawn, and sexuality. Tensions between women warriors and gender norms are explored with reference to such iconic characters as Sarah Connor (The Terminator films), Ellen Ripley (Alien series) and Evelyn Salt (Salt).
