I think portrayal of females as strong enduring emotional people has improved at times even if here and there a director will be found who produces a film or TV media that shows lots of sexism. Like at times some people might make films that give people the idea that all women are only about sex and fighting over/controlling men (Baby Boy, Road Trip, etc) but then there will be films that show them as courageous & protective (Aliens, Labrynth , Pocahantas) determined to safeguard those who they love and matter to them in their lives. So it all depends on the message that the film is trying to bring across but yeah I do feel some directors put no thought into the lives of their characters and will at times just follow fads to put something on the screen that is R rated just make a buck due to popular trend (like how lots of comedians curse in their jokes because it is a popular trend). I am a 23 year old guy. Oh and I forgot to include The Little Mermaid and Mulan (Disney films) which also show courageous protagonists. They took action and didn't always rely on a guy to protect them from danger. They protected the men they cared about.