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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

How about entertainment we *can*stomach?!

136 replies

moofolk · 30/09/2020 06:31

Inspired by the other thread of feminism ruining TV.

Let's compile some good stuff.

Not too many men, lots of strong female characters, hopefully some lesbians, definitely not loads of women being raped and murdered for male titillation.

I watched The Women with Meg Ryan and Annette Benning recently. It's bubblegum and hardly a feminist manifesto. It has a very strong female cast including Bette Midler and Carrie Fisher and crucially there are no men in it at all.

What have you got?

OP posts:
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Mollscroll · 30/09/2020 07:22

Currently really enjoying Grace and Frankie. Older women being funny and caring for each other.

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moofolk · 30/09/2020 07:52

Oh god I loved that! It was total binge comfort watching for me. Got bored by the latest series though.

I also think it's funny that Lily Tomlin is so much better at playing straight than Sheen and the other dude are at playing gay.

I've been watching Harlots on BBC. I thought it might be a bit too happy hooker myth but a fully shows the desperation and how rough it was for women.

I watched The Favourite which is an excellent film. Funny yet hideous.

OP posts:
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Mollscroll · 30/09/2020 07:54

Yes it’s funny. They are not gay men somehow.

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LadyButton · 30/09/2020 07:59

Mrs America was really good, huge cast of women. About a period of American feminism that I really should have known more about.

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WhoEatsPopTarts · 30/09/2020 08:01

Britain’s biggest dig, ok it’s a documentary but if you love history it’s fascinating. I’ve noticed a lot of the presenters, archaeologists, historians are women.

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HMSSophie · 30/09/2020 08:12

Ghosts.
Mum
Er um that's all I've got!

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CigarsofthePharoahs · 30/09/2020 08:18

I did enjoy the film Annihilation. Probably a bit more sci fi than you're thinking of though.

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CopsCantCatchCriminals · 30/09/2020 08:32

Twentieth century women.
With Annette Bening. About a woman trying to bring up a son without a male partner.

The secret life of bees.
All main characters women, original book by a woman and the film directed by a woman. An excellent film.

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CuteOrangeElephant · 30/09/2020 08:36

I've been watching Trinkets on Netflix, it's a show for teenagers though. It's about 3 girls who become best friends because they all have an addiction to stealing.

It's nice watching something that centres young women.

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LadyButton · 30/09/2020 08:45

I was disappointed with Twentieth Century Women. It was all about the boy really, with the women created as wish fulfilment characters for the writer/director.

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MedusasBadHairDay · 30/09/2020 08:58

Gentleman Jack and, going back a bit, Tenko

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AppleJane · 30/09/2020 08:58

Lily Tomlin in film Grandma. One of my favourite films even though it's not my usual thing.

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scrappydappydoooooo · 30/09/2020 09:01

For Sci-Fi, The Expanse is pretty great. I was a bit put off initially as the first series has a noir style detective plotline with a detective becoming obsessed with the missing woman he's searching for and imagining a whole relationship they never had. But every single character who recognises his obsession tells him how creepy he is and nothing about it is ever played as anything other than fucked up. While at the same time the main female characters are pretty great. Most especially Chrisjen Avasarala and Bobbie Draper.

And in many cases the women are expanded on hugely in the tv series compared to the books. Especially Cara Gee's Camina Drummer.

Unfortunately though, it's now marred by the sexual misconduct allegations against one of the male leads Cas Anvar which are currently being investigated.

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BlueCatRedCat · 30/09/2020 09:07

I would happily watch Cagney and Lacey again. It was one of my favourite programmes as a teen in the '80s. The two lead characters were incredible: complex, realistic, relatable and aspirational. I want to say it was ahead of its time, but actually, I feel like we have gone backwards since those days.

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Mollscroll · 30/09/2020 09:09

Yy to Tenko and Cagney and Lacey.

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Mollscroll · 30/09/2020 09:11

Also the much missed Victoria Wood. Always brilliant. Women at the heart. She wouldn’t have wasted her time with the current BS.

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drspouse · 30/09/2020 09:13

Unorthodox is brilliant.

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ErrolTheDragon · 30/09/2020 09:14

I mentioned some in the other thread. Gentleman Jack, as already mentioned. Vida - someone recommended it to DH. if I'd read about it first I'd have been put off, and there's a bit more sex than I'd have chosen but it's definitely women-centred with some good characters. Definitely meets the OPs hope for some lesbians!

Halt and Catch Fire - maybe particularly interesting for me having been in software albeit a different type since the era covered. It has some very good female characters.

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AppleJane · 30/09/2020 09:14

I enjoyed watching Hong Chau in film Driveways.

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BlueCatRedCat · 30/09/2020 09:15

Female led drama:

Unbelievable on Netflix is fantastic but shocking - it's based on a true story, and some might find it harrowing.

Sensitive Skin and Good Girls (both on Netflix).

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Hazelnutlatteplease · 30/09/2020 09:15

Enola Holmes was fab!

Another vote for gentleman Jack

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ErrolTheDragon · 30/09/2020 09:17

In sci-fi, most of Star Trek is ok; the latest ones ( Discovery and Picard) have a lot of women in important roles.

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Keepithidden · 30/09/2020 09:18

Anything with Mary Beard in it, I love her and her enthusiasm for history!

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BlueCatRedCat · 30/09/2020 09:23

20 Feet From Stardom on Netflix. About all the female backing singers, mostly unsung (pardon the pun), without whom the likes of Mick Jagger would have sounded ordinary.

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BlueCatRedCat · 30/09/2020 09:25

YY to Mary Beard. I also really like Lucy Worsley's historical programmes and books.

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