Tropes - Adrenaline Makeover

The adrenaline makeover is something that women often experience in films or shows when entering into action. When this occurs it's meant to expose the woman's attractiveness, as if it was lost before a man, or action, was present in the woman's life. This kind of transition is not only sexist for only occurring to women, but also a sort of stereotype, saying that women cannot be the way they are, they must undergo a makeover in order to achieve social attractiveness and be accepted. A film that comes to mind when thinking about the adrenaline makeover is Hunger Games. After Katniss volunteers as tribute, she is taken to a dark and cold setting where she lies on her back and is made over. He hair is trimmed, she is waxed, and she is scrubbed down. Once this happens, she is viewed by the Capital as beautiful, capable, admirable, and courageous. This trope being presented in major films plays into the gender stereotypes that plague our society. I do think that this film features a strong, mostly independent female protagonist, but the fact that she has to undergo a makeover subconsciously teaches viewers that in order to succeed and be taken seriously, you have to look attractive. Our society thrives on this structure, convincing female viewers that looks aren't just important, but vital to survival.