She stands up, tired and stiff from the fight, but she knows in her heart that it's all over. She looks up into the eyes of the man who was with her through all of this and this time she sees something. Could this be true? Is it possible that she fell in love with the man who was once her opponent? The Hunger Games, starring Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence, is an excellent example of overcoming gender stereotypes. The scene is set in a post-apocalyptic, authoritarian dystopia called Panem, where every major industry has been divided into 12 isolated districts. The regime is ruled by President Snow, who controls the masses through fear, propaganda and the annual Hunger Games. Every year on the day of the Reaping, each district chooses one male and one female between the ages of 12 and 18 to fight to the death in an arena of violence. This is done to ensure that the districts remain loyal and that the population never rises up against the Capitol. The Hunger Games is unique in that it challenges and affirms Deborah Tannen's values ​​of "intimacy and independence", showing that women are capable of possessing qualities that are usually associated with men and describing a woman who possesses a latent need for intimacy that is overshadowed by his independent spirit. Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, is portrayed as a teenager with a difficult upbringing where she is often forced to assume dominance in her family. He lives in District 12, where citizens are forced to work in coal mines, live in prison-like conditions, and must scrounge to survive. At age 11, Katniss' father dies. This is a crucial time in her life, as she is forced to take care of her family. Every day he takes care of his sick mother and little sister... middle of paper... er. In this moment, Katniss expresses her need for intimacy. At the same time; however, she knows that martyrdom in defiance of the Capitol will spark a revolution among the districts, so she chooses independence from the system over a relationship with Peeta. While it's easy to pigeonhole people into gender roles, there will always be exceptions to the rule. Carefully written to defeat gender stereotypes, The Hunger Games breaks the norm by challenging and affirming Deborah Tannen's views. The film portrays Katniss as an example of a woman capable of taking on male roles usually reserved for men. Although Katniss reveals a latent need for intimacy, she is able to overcome society's gender roles by providing for her family, challenging the system, and, in doing so, displaying her independence. Works Cited Hunger Games