Media Investigation - The Dark Knight Rises feminist view

"Anyway, while there are a few failures, my overall reactions to the gender situation are positive. The two main female characters, Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) and Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard) are strong, independent, and pretty much badasses. It was a shift from the previous main character in Nolan's Batman universe, Rachel Dawes, who much more fell into the stereotype of the goodhearted woman who needs to be saved."

"I guess I'll get out of the way what I didn't like about the gender situation first. The movie failed the Brechdel test epically, as the only two women don't really ever converse. In fact, besides Selina Kyle and Miranda Tate, it's almost like Gotham is totally devoid of women. For example, major scenes involve a bus load of orphans (no really!) who are all male, an all male football team, and a police force of 3000 where I didn't spot a woman among them. And the main villain, Bane's, crew is all dudes too. And of course, when the movie only contains two thin, sexy, able bodied white women, it's a universe where women of color, fat women, women of differing abilities and looks, are almost nonexistent."

"It feels like a case of female exceptionalism--where Tate and Kyle are created to be so interesting, but we're not sure how Nolan views women in general. Additionally, both women have a physical relationship with Bruce Wayne at different points in the film, which was disappointing to me and felt unnecessary to the story. Honestly--I was puzzled what that element added at all."

"Kyle, much like the Black Widow in The Avengers, uses her femininity to her advantage and preys upon the sexism of the men she encounters to get ahead. In the end, she also becomes an ally to Batman and they work together to ultimate success. At first I was disappointed when Batman saved Catwoman, but later, she saves him too. Again, similar to The Avengers it displayed a sense of teamwork between the men and women instead of an unequal balance of power."

http://www.nerdyfeminist.com/2012/07/the-dark-knight-rises-women-can-be.html