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We have come far ahead of the stigma where Star Wars was labeled as a sexist pop culture film back in 2014. A decade after Star Wars has proved us wrong on multiple occasions in a good way.
The first release, A New Hope, in 1977 featured three women including Princess Leia and Beru Lars. It stayed that way throughout the original trilogy. Even with this number, the influential role played by Princess Leia by far cancels the sexist culture.
As the franchise expanded and expanded. New characters were introduced to support the political intrigue and galaxy dynamics. In came strong, inspiring, and authoritative women who pivoted the course of significant events in the leading galactic years.
Let’s take a look at Galaxy’s prominent women characters and their impact on Star Wars, war and peace history!
Despite the circumstances, Leia Organa faced time and time again in Clone Wars and the early Force Awakens. She is praised for her strong and nurturing force character. She is Luke Skywalker’s twin and a daughter to Anakin Skywalker.
For someone who was born into the world of light and dark push and pull. Leia remained strong and resilient in the beliefs she was raised on. In A New Hope, she is a guiding figure compared to her young uncertain, general, Phantom Menace days. She quickly climbed the Jedi ranks and pulled the course of her life with her blaster pistol.
Moreover, she was an important part of Poe Dameron's life and raised him to be a leader in The Rise of Skywalker. Organa tried to keep Kylo Ren attached to the light side and favored him till the end.
Lastly, Leia left a strong impression on Rey Skywalker as her mentor. Leaving a kind and intelligent legacy.
Rey Skywalker is yet another Skywalker woman who has a resilient and independent mindset. In reality, the part where Rey’s conscience is stretched between two forced sides is relatable. She rebelled against her inherited legacy and turned towards the light side honoring Luke Skywalker. In the last episode Rise of the Skywalker, 2019, Rey is shown to have stood up against her destiny holding a unique yellow saber.
She has always been one to forge her path. Despite zero weaponry Rey, as a desert scavenger, built her neopixel lightsaber from scratch showing remarkable intelligence. Moreover, Rey is the last remaining Skywalker Jedi to restore the Jedi Order. Yet she is not afraid and is shown ready to shoulder the duty in the ending scenes of the episode.
Ahsoka Tano left a strong impression on Star Wars fans in The Clone Wars, that a whole series is dedicated to her innovative character. Ahsoka, a 2023 live-action franchise, shows Ahsoka as an independent Jedi knight and a padawan to Anakin Skywalker. However, After facing a deep betrayal from the Jedi Order Ahsoka sets her priorities straight. She goes from being loyal to the Jedi ways to being loyal to herself only.
After her detachment from the Jedi ways, Ahsoka continues to help the light side against the rising Empire. She has shown a commendable character keeping her priorities straight when she should have been busy with redemption.
Padme Amidala first appeared in Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, 1999. From the beginning of her days as the Queen of Naboo, she corrected the wrongs and fought the political turmoil for her people. As a compassionate and well-informed leader, Padma later became a senator in the Galactic Senate.
Through all the screen appearances Queen Amidala is depicted as a nurturing and loyal woman. She was the last strand of sanity anchoring Anakin Skywalker. Additionally, Queen Amidala, despite the shortcomings of her husband, trained her children to be good at heart and be faithful force followers.
Several figures from the Star Wars canon and legends have been mentioned as having embraced the dark side of the force. To restore their honor, some characters, nevertheless, turned back to the good side.
Mara Jade, a heroine well known for her purple lightsaber, is one example of this. She was a prominent woman in the Star Wars universe who was friendly, intelligent but also strong and stern.
Mara Jade was born a Jedi. Darth Sidious gave her a close-up and personal introduction to the evil side. Afterward, she made her own decision. She expresses her evolving relationship with force energy and sides with Luke Skywalker. As a redemption for her past actions, Mara helped restore the Jedi rule.
These are a certain few women who have shaped the actions of the galaxy, after and during the Clone Wars, and the Republic’s occupation.
Women in Star Wars have taught a lot to eager young fans about sticking to their decisions, taking life by the horns, and fighting for their rights. More women characters are being introduced as the space odyssey expands creating influential and relatable female dynamics.
