Where Are the Women? The Boxtrolls
The only female presence is the daughter of a male authority figure… unless we also count the man in drag. Even the fantastical boxtrolls all read as male. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
where are the women
Where Are the Women? Selma
Coretta Scott King is mostly an adjunct to her husband here… but even this traditional representation of a woman is better than many films manage. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
Where Are the Women? Shaun the Sheep Movie
A couple of sheep in human-female drag are essential to the plot of this kids’ flick… whose central characters — human and farm animal alike — are all male. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
Where Are the Women? Mr. Turner
The artist may treat them like nothing more than sex toys or helpmeets, but women adore him anyway. What a lovely fantasy for a man! [This post is not behind the paywall.]
Where Are the Women? Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Even among the chimps, there’s just one token female, and she’s defined solely as the sexual partner of a male and as the mother of his children. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
Where Are the Women? Finding Vivian Maier
The film does double feminist duty: it brings to light the work of an extraordinary artist and ponders why she kept it all a secret. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
Where Are the Women? Nightcrawler
Rene Russo’s smart, aggressive TV news director is fantastically complex, though she is in several ways entirely at the mercy of the male protagonist. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
Where Are the Women? Kingsman: The Secret Service
No matter how smart, competent, or ambitious a woman is, her place is in support of a man, or — preferably — as a sexual reward for a job well done. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
Where Are the Women? Son of a Gun
The contradictions of mainstream film’s treatment of women are built into the weft of this story: they’re perfect, yet not worthy of personhood of their own. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
Where Are the Women? Trash
As usual, engaging in a daring adventure is something only boys get to do. [This post is not behind the paywall.]
