With the recent news of the US election, Trump is yet another world leader who aims to suppress the perspectives and opportunities of women. If you, like me, want somewhere to channel your rage and frustration, this watchlist is for you. Many of these films go beyond the often narrow depiction of women in a range of contexts in media, and I think all of them pass the Bechdel test.

Lady Bird (2017):

Lady Bird is about a teenager who goes to high school in California and longs to escape despite her family’s financial struggles. The film deals with the protagonist Christine’s struggles in her relationship with her mother, and handles issues such as abortion and sexual freedom. It is written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who’s now a household name with titles like Little Women (2019) and, Barbie, the blockbuster movie of last year.

“Bottoms indirectly allows us to critique the over-sexualisation and objectification of teenage girls from a queer perspective”

Bottoms (2023):

Described as a ‘satirical comedy’ film, Bottoms centres around two nerdy lesbian teenagers who start a fight club at school as a decoy to impress (and romance) the popular cheerleaders. Its exaggerated comedy style is not only hilarious to watch, with multiple laugh-out-loud moments, but indirectly allows us to critique the over-sexualisation and objectification of teenage girls from a queer perspective. The film stars Ayo Edibiri and Rachel Sennott, who was also a co-director. They regularly star in comedy sketches together, and this is clearly evident as they work fantastically as a pair on screen.

Insecure (2016) and Awkward Black Girl (2011):

Insecure is a 2016 series which ran until 2021, centred around best friends Issa (played by Issa Rae herself) and Molly. These women in their late 20s navigate life together, with different outcomes in their careers and dating life. The show combines a dry sense of humour, whilst highlighting how the main characters deal with being black women in the US, including issues they face within and outside their community. It also has an amazing soundtrack (Solange Knowles served as music consultant for the show), and I particularly love the original song Insecure by Jazmine Sullivan and Bryson Tiller from season two. Insecure is a HBO series, which means it’s a little hard to access in the UK, but don’t fear! The show is based on Issa Rae’s semi-autobiographical Awkward Black Girl series, which is available on YouTube and is a great, lighthearted watch.

“Women don’t have to be presented in a way that’s palatable or likeable to be compelling characters”

Never Have I Ever (2020):

Never Have I Ever is a comedy centred around Devi Kumar, an Indian-American teenager who is coming of age in high school after suffering from a recent tragedy. The series deals with friendships, relationships and academic pressure in a fun and relatable way, and has a goofy sense of humour which can often veer on the side of being cheesy. Despite this, Never Have I Ever remains a comfort show. As a series which mostly portrays young women in everyday situations, it is enjoyable watching the simplicity of some of the storylines that are presented, particularly as university students who want to reflect on our not-so-distant school days.

Hillbilly Elegy (2020):

Since this film is based on JD Vance’s memoir, it feels ironically placed in this list. However, before his political turn to the hard right and his vice-presidency, Vance wrote a very compelling read about his upbringing in a working-class ‘hillbilly’ family, originally from Appalachia, and his journey to Yale Law School. Crucial to both the memoir and film are the role of strong women in his childhood - including his sister, mother and grandmother - who are troubled, yet complex and very resilient characters who help shape the protagonist.

Women don’t have to be presented in a way that’s palatable or likeable to be compelling characters. What these films and series highlight is the nuance of women’s lives and stories, particularly well-showcased in media that is led by women. Male dominance on the screen is evident when we turn on our TVs, but it is more pervasive behind the screen. I think that the key to creating film through a feminist lens is allowing women to create their own stories and not separating lived experience from media, particularly when it comes to women from underrepresented communities. I hope these recommendations bring you joy, and perhaps even inspire you to curate your own stories!