Xena, Buffy, Lara Croft. WWF, The Sopranos, Witchblade, La Femme Nikita. The women of pop culture are center stage and as tough as ever. "Action Chicks" is a collection highlighting the heroines we've grown to worship. What can they tell us about women in the 21st century? What can they tell us about how popular culture depicts women? Do the characters escape traditional gender role expectations? Or do they adhere to sexual, racial, ethnic and class stereotypes? The essays in "Action Chicks" provide fans with a new look at their favorite icons and their relationship to the popular media machine. | 
