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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Films or TV shows with strong female characters - recommendations for a 13 year old girl

141 replies

GCmiddle · 10/04/2020 13:10

Hi,
My 13 year old daughter is just staring to develop a feminist consciousness and is wanting to watch stuff with strong female leads. She doesn’t like reading, so my book recommendations fall on deaf ears. She has recently enjoyed the Hunger Games films and (though she is loathe to admit it) the CBBC Mallory Towers adaptation.
Can anyone recommend anything she might like to watch please?
Thanks.

OP posts:
Lilolily · 26/04/2020 03:41

Anne With an E. I remember watching it, or Anne of Green Gables as it was called then, and wanting so much to be like Anne. X

Justhadathought · 26/04/2020 09:32

There are lots of foreign language 'coming of age' films ( available on DVD) - which feature pubescent girls finding their own way in the context of a conventional world.

At 12/13 years of age....becoming comfortable with sub-titles may not be a bad thing either. Watching foreign language films can really broaden your experience of different places, languages and cultures.

stumbledin · 04/05/2020 15:49

In case she hasn't seen it or wants to record to watch later Hidden Numbers is on Film4 tonight.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 04/05/2020 17:58

@TeenPlusTwenties

I don't think that is strictly true is it? There are 3 proper books and 3 films. There is a fourth book but that looks at things from a different angle iirc? The ending to the last film is different from the book

Nah. Meant to be 4 films from the 3 books.They split the last book in half for the film but only did one half and was abandoned after that. Think cause so much was changed and so poorly received.

Book Tris came across so much stronger and relatable then the way they portrayed her in the films

Hidden figures definitely a good film to show.
Also Charmed. Some iffy bits towards the last few series but the rest worth a go.

MrGHardy · 04/05/2020 18:13

Hanna - there's the movie and now the TV show. It is kickass.

Beamur · 05/05/2020 20:59

Clueless is a bit of retro fun. (Based on pride and prejudice). Cher is a great female lead.

ANoiseAnnoys · 05/05/2020 21:11

I haven’t RTFT but the film “An Education” with Carey mulligan comes to mind. It’s a fab, understated film and Mulligan won an Oscar for it. It has a great message for a young girl I think!

I’m sure someone has probably mentioned Erin Brockovitch too. Erin was and is properly kick-ass! My dd14 loved both of them. There is a bit of mild sex and swearing in them though!

FireUnderTheHand · 06/05/2020 15:33

The 100

  • based around 'teens' making it on their own
  • about survival after nuclear fallout and living on a space station for a very long time and then stranding 100 teens on Earth to see if they can survive as resources were diminishing
  • a little Sci-fi, a little teen drama, underlying tension of new civilization after ancestors destroyed the planet and working with/fighting with the people that were left behind (and survived) the nuclear fallout
  • strongest of the leads are the female roles; the teen female leads start out a little dull with one lead seeking the attention of males to a fault; the boy characters start out aggressive
  • all characters evolve over time, the adults/teens all experience hardship and have to make hard decisions always struggling with what they personally want versus what is best for their people
  • the clans that transcend are all based around female warriors/rulers
  • lots of challenges for them to handle, it gets quite brutal at times but the heroines shine again and again even after they've fallen and eaten shit

A League of Their Own is a great movie... I would add that having her watch A Secret Love (no sex, about two women that spent 70+yrs together as a couple shrouded in secrecy only to expose their life to the world beyond their closeknit circle after 65+yrs) follow up would be a good idea as it is about a lesbian couple one of which played on the team documented in A League of Their Own

Lordfrontpaw · 06/05/2020 16:12

Alien?

MsTSwift · 06/05/2020 16:37

Can’t believe someone suggested Silence of the lambs that’s a horror terrifying nasty film wouldn’t let my 13 year old watch that pretty sure it’s an 18 🙄

Ghostbusters 2
Oceans 8
Hidden Figures

MsTSwift · 06/05/2020 16:46

Titanic had my two girls (13 and 11) gripped and it’s quite feminist Kate Winslet rebelling against the strictures of having to get married and surviving to live an adventurous life

LokiOdinson · 06/05/2020 20:23

His Dark Materials.

jennylouisaa · 06/05/2020 20:38

The original Sabrina the teenage witch tv series!

Ameanstreakamilewide · 06/05/2020 21:22

Some of the early Simpsons episodes, specifically about Lisa still surprise me even now; and they're 30 y/o.

RabidChinchilla · 06/05/2020 23:26

Whenever I read about 'strong female characters' I says think "what about those women who aren't ass kicking, patriarchy stomping badasses."

I feel like men are able to be more multifaceted (e.g. a Benedict Cumberbatch rather than a Tom Hardy) but there's an expectation that feminist characters must fit a 'strong' stereotype.

RabidChinchilla · 06/05/2020 23:27

'Always think' not 'says think'.

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