According to the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University, only 16% of the highest-grossing films of 2023 were directed by women. The film industry is merely one example of this census; the lack of female representation in media creation is astoundingly low. However, as media industries begin to grow and expand, so does the prominence of female artists within them. To celebrate the beginning of Women’s History Month, here are some exceptional choices of movies, books, and songs created by women. As a warning for younger readers, many of these picks are intended for mature audiences.
The Woman King by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Film, 2022. PG-13)
This historical action-drama film, set in 19th century Africa and directed by Prince-Blythewood, centers around a group of female warriors known as the Agojie, a sector of the Dahomey tribe. As the movie progresses, the Dahomey people are threatened by a neighboring tribe that desires to capture some of their people and sell them to wealthy European enslavers, intending to gain profit through their people’s suffering.
The Woman King characterizes the female characters in the movie as resilient, liberating fighters who bend the socially acceptable gender and racial norms of the movie’s established time period. Earning positive reviews from critics, the film exemplifies the amount of power women have in solidarity, brushing past the confines of the patriarchy. According to the movie’s positive attention and feedback from movie critics, it is an astounding film that is worth watching.
“Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill (Song, 1993)
Released in 1993 as a single from the all-female punk rock band Bikini Kill, “Rebel Girl” immediately captured the attention of a vast audience at the band’s very first live shows and gigs. With the song’s distorted guitar chords and aggressive drums, Kathleen Hanna’s passionate, almost hostile vocals sing lyrics that challenge ideas of female conformity, with lines like “That girl thinks she’s the queen of the neighborhood.” With its daring statements and belligerent guitar strums, “Rebel Girl” has long been interpreted by many as an anthem for Riot Grrl, an underground feminist musical movement pioneered by Bikini Kill themselves.
Emerging from Olympia, Washington, in 1990, the completely female punk rock band Bikini Kill took the world by storm with their heavy sound distortion and genre-influencing lyrics that address sensitive topics such as politics, third-wave feminism, and forms of patriarchal ill treatment. With groundbreaking music, the band has demonstrated its strong presence in the music industry as an all-female band for decades, inspiring future generations of musicians.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (Novel, 1985)
Set in a dystopian future, this book delves into a totalitarian society where women, known as the “Handmaids,” are assigned to important officials to forcibly bear children on behalf of their infertile wives. Treated like cattle, the women in this novel are unable to possess basic human rights and are treated based on patriarchal gender norms established by the government. The book is told through the eyes of a handmaid; her story reveals the utter brutality and absence of humanity in the government. Intended for mature audiences, The Handmaid’s Tale is a novel that emphasizes the power of human fortitude when societal norms enforce oppression. Overall, it is an amazing read that enlightens you on many important subjects, such as gender inequality and the harms of extreme patriarchy.
With the myriad of extraordinary stories and messages created by women in their respective media industries, these selections are a few of the countless female-produced films, books, and songs that shine light on important issues and topics in our society. Whether you need to let off some steam with the aggressive vocals and sounds offered in “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill or relax and spend a quiet evening reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, these pieces of media will definitely leave you entertained.
