The novel Emma and the film ""Clueless both show representations of female's as dependent entities. The female characters in both the film and the novel are portrayed to need men in order to survive. The representation of females in these two works follows the gender bias that women are inferior to men and cannot be happy unless they are in a relationship. .
In Emma, by Jane Austen it is easy to see that the female characters main purpose throughout is to find suitable husbands. Even Emma who originally states that she does not need a man in the end has found true love. "Clueless" has that exact parallel in it's plot when Cher mentions that she would not date a high school boy and yet she still ends up happy and in love with Josh. One reason for the novel Emma to focus so much on marriage and relationships is that it was set in the early 1800's and that was the way of society. Another possible reason Jane Austen may have written the novel to end in such a happy manner is merely that it is a love story. What is important to realize is that it is constantly forced upon us by society that in order to be happy one needs to be in a relationship. Emma herself although originally not looking for a husband is trying to play match maker for everyone else so it remains a main plot focus.
Another way in which women are not portrayed as having any independence is that although Emma is not consciously looking for a husband she is taking care of her father. Emma in the novel refers to herself as being content taking care of her dad and being his nurturer. Emma does not ever allude to being without a man in her life instead she has her father. Cher also has her father to care for because obviously a rich adult male lawyer cannot manage life on his own without his daughter caring for his every need. Although both Emma and Cher do not appear to be out looking for a future relationship it is evident that they are already dependent upon their relationships with their fathers.