Here is a list for all the women (and men and non-binary people) out there that enjoy seeing a powerful woman rightly represented in a film or TV show.
Representation for women in the film and television industry is still far from perfect but in the past couple of years there has been a more noticeable change in how women are being portrayed on screen.
Looking back at the early 2000's films like Mean Girls, although are entertaining, are flawed in the ways they make the audience view women.
In Mean Girls the women are "catty" and stuck up or "geeky" and depressed.
The whole premise of Cady Heron’s character is for her to change herself, and sabotaging other girls along the way, to get a guy. The film presents women with one goal: to change themselves for a man.
Thankfully, limited series like The Queens Gambit are changing the female representation on popular platforms like Netflix. Showing the younger generations that women can create successful careers for themselves and that the happy ending to their story can be a career achievement rather than finding a partner.
Yet, the industry isn’t perfect as shows like The Queens Gambit were directed by one male and written by three males. It’s not only hypocritical to the message of the show but the fine details in episodes especially ones centered on women's unique experiences, like getting their first period, can rarely be written well without a woman’s input. Although they may be sympathetic, men simply cannot experience certain situations.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the representation that is being given to more women onscreen, I just wish that same representation was provided behind the screen.
Nonetheless, here are my top 5 favorite films and TV shows that highlight women in a justified light.
1. "The Queens Gambit" (Netflix) TV
Everyone that I've talked to about the Queens Gambit has loved it including male and female viewers. I can testify to it’s all ages (16 and above) audience as my 80-year-old grandma enjoyed it just as much as I did.
2. "Girlboss" (Netflix) TV
Girlboss shows the more stereotypical independent women where Sophia is decidedly not polite in many instances and is relentlessly self-sufficient meaning there are moments of utter collapse in her life throughout the show.
3. "Stranger Things" (Netflix) TV
Although surrounded by a dismal world the main character Eleven is still a bada**, frozen waffle eating female, with scientific powers that make her an outcast but still relentlessly strong. She is the sci-fi precedent of all that women can be.
4. Little Women (2019) Film
A book that was written before its time has been adapted again into what I believe as the best showing yet. This film is a mixture of elegant cinematography, wonderful acting, and resilient women. A combination worth every minute of your screen.
5. 10 Things I Hate About You Film
Sometimes viewed by critics as a dry 2000’s movie, strips this film of it’s strong female leads and feminist remarks. Kat, one of the central characters is decidedly unconventional as she tries to defy every expectation put upon her. She goes through a journey of self-discovery but ends where she started happier alone (I think.)
Each of these films or series' will be worth the time and make you or the women in your life inspired to be unapologetically female.
Georgia, thanks for a great list of content, I've seen some of them and will check out the others, it is for certain a "new day," more accurate, more powerful in how women characters are portrayed. I'm not sure I agree with "men could never write certain aspects of female characters...." or vise versa. If that was true, then only astronauts could write fiction about space travel, only lion tamers could write about taming lions and so on. Can we agree that some women write great male characters and experiences and likewise male writers for female characters?