Hollywood VERSUS THE PATRIARCHY
bella reeves The stereotypical female character in media has tainted my views on true feminism and what others may consider forward-thinking. During the pandemic, I binge-watched countless shows and movies. Using my self-made rating method, which integrates the Bechdel Test rating system, I analyzed how accurately women are portrayed within the scripts and scenes of shows and movies. The Bechdel Test, or “Bechdel Rule,” is the method in which one judges a show or movie using three criteria: “(1) it has to have at least two women in it, who (2) talk to each other, about (3) something besides a man.” Movies that don’t pass the Bechdel Test include “WALL-E,” “Ratatouille,” “Fight Club,” and many others. Before we rate any shows using my new method, we must first understand what qualifies as accurate women representation in the media. Despite the large social advances made since the early 1900s, subtle sexism is still very prevalent in the United States, especially in the shows we watch. For example, the phrase “you’re not like most girls,” is the coined compliment used to flatter the female lead; although they are suggesting she is unique, it implies she’s more masculine than feminine, and further dismisses the importance of her gender. Growing up, girls are introduced to the world of Disney princesses and
taught to believe that their happily ever after is finding Prince Charming. We must be mindful of these stereotypes in the shows we watch as they directly impact our society’s behavior. In a 2017 poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, it was found that most Americans agree that women face more pressure than men to be great parents and appear physically attractive, while men feel they have to financially support their loved ones and have a successful career. In some action movies, the female lead has no interesting qualities other than her model figure and beautiful face. Movies such as “The Princess Bride” or “Mission: Impossible III,” present actresses Robin Wright and Keri Russell as none other than a glorified damsel in distress, a seemingly helpless, beautiful girl whimpering for her male counterpart to save the day. Despite this, Wright and Russell have successfully conveyed strong female characters in “House of Cards” and “The Americans.” In contrast to overly-emotional female characters that carry no redeeming qualities other than their ability to scream for help, the iconic callous career woman with zero emotion is another stereotypical female character portrayed in the shows we watch. Movies such as “The Devil Wears Prada” teach our society that women can’t have it all, that the career-focused woman sacrifices all other walks of life, especially love, to achieve her dreams.
As we’ve discussed the major female stereotypes in the shows we watch, we will now acknowledge the shows and movies that I believe portray women accurately and artistically. While some may believe that the stereotypes I’ve listed above add to the cheesiness and humor of movies, I strongly disagree. Movies and shows such as “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Jane the Virgin,” include realistic female-leads who not only have an established career, but are intelligent, charismatic, and have a healthy love life as well. The reason these two productions are beautifully done, in terms of writing and accurate women representation, is solely due to the subtlety of feminist undertones in the script and how they are portrayed. The movie “Crazy Rich Asians,” with female lead Constance Wu alongside Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, and Michelle Yeoh, is what we should call a movie movement. The importance of tone in movie production is critical; it is done perfectly in this film. The tone of female empowerment is carried throughout the entire story, whether it be the women-led households or the new generation of immigrants, “‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is a Tribute to the Power of Single Mothers and Independent Women,” as the headline of a /Film article states. Rather than being a part of the dialogue, the movie portrays the women to be more realistic. Another film critique
6 HIGHLANDER FEATURE
