Tag Archives: Feminism

Last post, I denounced the term CHICK FLICK, insisting we adopt a more accurate, and less derogatory, term for films intended to appeal primarily to female audiences: “female-targeted films.” Today I want to expand on what that means, and perhaps more importantly, what it doesn’t mean. The female-targeted film hails from a fundamental logic in […]

Hear the term “Chick Flick” and what pops to mind? A girlie rom-com like PRETTY WOMAN or BRIDGET JONES’ DIARY? A female-driven comedy like BRIDESMAIDS or a musical like MAMMA MIA? Or is it a tearjerker like LOVE STORY or a weepie teen flick like THE FAULT IN OUR STARS? Hell, it might even be something more action-oriented, like THELMA & LOUISE or WONDER WOMAN.

And herein lies the problem. Just what the heck is “Chick Flick” trying to say?

The first movie I ever saw in the theater was Jaws. It was the summer of 1975 and my parents were too cheap to hire a babysitter. While I credit that experience with sparking my lifelong love of film (horror films in particular), JAWS is not a remotely feminist film. Every character experiencing the adventure […]