Independant Study - Men and Women in Film Noir - UPDATED

In Film Noir, the characterisation of men and women within film noir often reoccur.
The base of a film noir is usually developed around the idea of a male character who is cynical and hardened to the world, often a detective who is isolated and estranged from society. These types of characters often link to the general mood of bleakness and pessimism that is found in film noir, and help to establish the themes of alienation and paranoia. A common plot device within the male protagonist is amnesia, as is their ultimate downfall due to their inability to resist temptation, a self destructive urge, or being framed.
The loss of hope and unforeseeable future that also comes with the protagonist transpires from the mentality people had during the war, and reflects on the idea that much of film noir is inspired by those times.

An example of a male protagonist within film noir is Mike Hammer, a fictional private eye detective who has featured in several novels and films such as The Jury, Margin for Murder and Kiss me Deadly. His protagonist character is known as a tough and cynical man, prone to solving problems with violence, showing no mercy towards the criminals. 

In Kiss Me Deadly, Mike Hammer (played by Ralph Meeker) is portrayed as vengeful, and is said to capture the 'true essence' of the character. Mickey Spillane, the writer of the novel Kiss Me Deadly is based upon, uses Hammer as an example of consequentialism, the idea of a morally wrong act being suitable if it has a good outcome. This is shown in Hammers actions, which present him as a violent but ultimately moral character, who will stop at nothing if the goal is important enough. Mike Hammer is a good example of a protagonist used in film noir, as he is moral, but hardened to the world.

As for the women in film noir, they are mostly always portrayed as a stereotype of one of two types of characters. The femme fetale, or the Wife. 
The wife is often a character attached to a male character who has an important role within the plot, and is portrayed as dutiful, without much screen time. The use of this character is to show that the male character has a life away from the main plot, and to also present a contrast against the femme fetale. 
The femme fetale, the main female character, is portrayed as seductive and manipulative, often using her her sexuality to lead the male protagonist astray. Her power and strength when enticing and beguiling the protagonist is often represented not only through iconography such as guns and cigarettes, but also through visual style. The danger and boldness of this character is often represented through red lipstick and blonde hair, these features immediately presenting fierce beauty. 
An example of a femme fetale in film noir is Sherry Peatty in The Killing (1956), a scheming wife who uses men to kill so she can run away with her lover after performing a heist. Her character is described as bitter and promiscuous, caring for nothing but money and willing to do anything to get it. She wears red lipstick and has blonde hair, two features often found in a femme fetale, and is a classic example of this character, as she is unforgiving and cunning in her intentions. 

In film noir these classic character types can often be found, and have become iconic in the world of noir.  Men are often portrayed as strong but ultimately weak when faced with a threat, and often are victims in a cruel and unforgiving setting. The female character are mostly portrayed as cunning, dangerous and cruel to men, often made that way after being treated as a prize to be won. Over the years many films have taken inspiration from these character types, and they are often found throughout many genres.

The historical context behind these gender roles, especially the role of the femme fetale, could lie behind the beginning of efforts for a legal declaration for women to be equal to men. As women moved further into the public sphere and community, they gained a degree of respect and power, especially after opportunities for women to have jobs. This was an opportunity gained after the war, as women worked in factories while the men fought, gaining respect as they looked after the community without their husbands. This relates to much of film noir as the war did heavily inspire many of these films, and perhaps is the reason women are portrayed as powerful and deadly.