Female Rage On Screen And Beyond
By: Deanza J. Andriansyah
Edited by: Kei Sipani
Over recent years, female characters have become increasingly complex. Audiences have grown more intrigued by TV shows and movies that explore the difficulties faced by queer women, women of color, and more. As shown through characters such as Pearl, Fleabag, and Amy Dunne, women have found a particular connection to the characters and adore the female rage they represent. However, the depiction of female rage is not new.
The movie was labeled as ‘toxic feminism’ by John Leo in Time Magazine and Richard Johnson wrote for the New York Daily News that it was ‘degrading to men’ and ‘justifies armed robbery, manslaughter, and chronic drunken driving as exercises in consciousness-raising.’
Meanwhile, it was adored by feminist critics. Raina Lipsitz praised the film, stating, ‘it was revolutionary, the first film in a long time to tell the truth about women's lives.’ In comparison, male rage and violence do not receive nearly as controversial reception from audiences. Whether it be colonial westerns, Hollywood war films, or portrayals of toxic masculinity such as Clockwork Orange (1971) and American Psycho (2000), male on-screen brutality has been widely accepted by audiences. It seems as though the public has accustomed themself to believing that aggression is simply a traditional male trait. A study from The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania found that 90% of the highest-grossing movies over 25 years had a component of violence – and significantly little of that is executed by women.
But why has there been a surge of appreciation for characters who display female rage on screen? In social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, it is clear that many young women have a particular connection to these characters. They have made fan edits of these characters, recreated their makeup looks, and adopted their fashion while simultaneously idolizing them for their relatability in how they process their emotions. Female rage could be here to stay, as it has proven itself to be powerful in pop culture and the real world.
There has been a long legacy of violent and rageful women in stories, myths, and on screen. Ancient Greek mythology told the story of Medea, a wronged wife who turned murderous to seek revenge on her unfaithful husband. There has also been a multitude of femme fatales on screen such as Kathie Moffat in Out of the Past (1947) and Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction (1987). Many of these depictions were controversial upon their release, but would later become iconic feminist pieces. For instance, Thelma & Louise (1991) told the story of two women who went on a disrupted spree as a result of an attempted rape.
Whether it be discrimination faced in the workforce or the fact that basic human rights are not given to women in certain parts of the world, it is easy to see why some women are so angry. The alleged murder of Mahsa Amini – a 22-year-old woman in Iran, sparked outrage and protests. She suffered an unfortunate death after being arrested by the Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrols) simply for wearing her hijab incorrectly because some of her hair was visible. The women-led revolution which followed the tragedy was historical as the whole country united to protest, and was also led by very young women. Government reports stated the average age of protestors arrested was 15 years old.
Women have been either silenced or condemned for their rage for too long. Without female rage, perhaps change would not be implemented to serve justice. When we look back at historical heroines, from Ibu Kartini of Indonesia to Malala Yousafzai, many of them made a difference as a result of ‘female rage’. Rage may be essential in order for women to be heard, especially women of color and other marginalized groups. After all, rage is merely a human emotion, and human emotions evoke change.