Constructing Female Leadership Through Andromache of Scythia’s Character: A Representation Study of Old Guard 2

Abstract

This study examines the construction of female leadership in The Old Guard 2 through
the character of Andromache of Scythia. Although recent scholarship highlights
increased visibility of women leaders in action cinema, many portrayals remain
narratively marginal or symbolically constrained. Addressing this gap, the study
employs a qualitative descriptive–interpretative design grounded in textual analysis
and Stuart Hall’s constructionist theory of representation, complemented by
contemporary female leadership frameworks. Data were analyzed through systematic
scene-based examination of visual and verbal signs related to authority, ethics,
relationality, and collective action. The findings demonstrate that Andromache’s
leadership is constructed as legitimate, ethical, relational, and enduring, independent
of physical dominance. Female authority is normalized through narrative recognition,
emotional competence, and collective orientation. The study concludes that The Old
Guard 2 offers a progressive representation of female leadership that challenges
conventional gendered norms in action cinema.