Misogynistic Movies, TV Shows, and Video Games

[Debater Slayer]

Recently, I watched an episode of WWE after not watching its shows for a while, and it occurred to me that the show was extremely misogynistic and male-dominated to the point of degrading female performers for the entertainment of the crowd at times. It's nothing new either: this has been a trend in WWE shows for years now, from what I have seen.

What are some of the most misogynistic TV shows, movies, video games, etc., that you have seen or played? And what tangible harmful effects, if any, do you think they cause or may have caused as a result of their content?

 

[technomage]

Recently, I watched an episode of WWE after not watching its shows for a while, and it occurred to me that the show was extremely misogynistic and male-dominated to the point of degrading female performers for the entertainment of the crowd at times. It's nothing new either: this has been a trend in WWE shows for years now, from what I have seen.

What are some of the most misogynistic TV shows, movies, video games, etc., that you have seen or played? And what tangible harmful effects, if any, do you think they cause or may have caused as a result of their content?

I have to admit, even before I got rid of my TV, I tended to avoid shows that were blatantly misogynistic. But it's not just about blatant actions. Some of the posters for one of my favorite movies were lampooned from a feminist viewpoint, and I had to reconsider my attitudes about how media frequently objectifies women.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I have to admit, even before I got rid of my TV, I tended to avoid shows that were blatantly misogynistic. But it's not just about blatant actions. Some of the posters for one of my favorite movies were lampooned from a feminist viewpoint, and I had to reconsider my attitudes about how media frequently objectifies women.

I really like the satirical version of the poster. It's simple yet so eye-opening.

 

[technomage]

I really like the satirical version of the poster. It's simple yet so eye-opening.

Yup. It's one of the reasons I won't watch (or read) Game of Thrones. I know misogyny and oppression happen in the real world ... I don't need to see it fictionalized.

 

[Sunstone]

I know misogyny and oppression happen in the real world ... I don't need to see it fictionalized.

That's pretty much my attitude, too.

 

[Penumbra]

Recently, I watched an episode of WWE after not watching its shows for a while, and it occurred to me that the show was extremely misogynistic and male-dominated to the point of degrading female performers for the entertainment of the crowd at times. It's nothing new either: this has been a trend in WWE shows for years now, from what I have seen.

WWE as in like, that wrestling thing?

I guess if there was a place I'd expect to be rather on the misogynistic side, it would be pro wrestling.

What are some of the most misogynistic TV shows, movies, video games, etc., that you have seen or played? And what tangible harmful effects, if any, do you think they cause or may have caused as a result of their content?

Mostly what comes to mind is just almost everything being male-centric.

Like there's Superman, Batman, Avengers, Green Lantern, Iron Man, Thor, Green Arrow, Captain America, Hulk, but no Wonder Woman yet. Lord of the Rings is now five movies in with like 20 hours of film and there have not been any instances of two important female characters speaking to each other, because almost every character is male and the few important female characters speak with men rather than each other, because they're rare enough to not really run into each other. A lot of video games are guys, although for some you get to customize your own character. I don't really play video games anymore but most of the games I have played were me playing as males like Link, Donkey Kong, Mario, James Bond, Sonic, Spyro, Starfox, Cloud, Squall, and various usually male first person shooting characters, with a few female exceptions like Lightning.

Female characters in big films, shows, and games are often supporting characters like Zelda, Catwoman, Lois Lane, Black Widow, Black Canary, Galadriel, Hermione, etc. Once in a while there's an exception like Katniss from Hunger Games or Maya from Zero Dark Thirty or Ryan from Gravity, some Disney movies, the tv show sOnce Upon a Time or Legend of Korra, etc. Generally I have to go into dramas or romances to see a female lead, but even there it's often split between a dual male/female leading couple, so guys have a pretty strong foothold there in a way that women don't in the other genres. I don't watch as much of that genre anyway.

So I don't think I watch a lot of really misogynistic stuff, but instead I just encounter large absences of women in the movies, shows, and games I've watched or played. I just deal with it as is, and I'm used to it so I don't notice it as much, but it would be nice to see a Wonder Woman movie that is as well-done as Dark Knight or Iron Man 1, and to see more movies like Hunger Games.

 

[MoonWater]

Yup. It's one of the reasons I won't watch (or read) Game of Thrones. I know misogyny and oppression happen in the real world ... I don't need to see it fictionalized.

Are you refering to the misogyny displayed within the context and cultures of the story or do you mean that the series itself is misogynistic overall? Cause if it's the latter I can say that I've been reading the series myself and really don't get that sense. The show could definitely be argued considering all the nudity I've heard about but I think that would depend on the context and I've only seen the first episode and am still on the fence about watching it for other reasons.

WWE as in like, that wrestling thing?

I guess if there was a place I'd expect to be rather on the misogynistic side, it would be pro wrestling.

Mostly what comes to mind is just almost everything being male-centric.

Like there's Superman, Batman, Avengers, Green Lantern, Iron Man, Thor, Green Arrow, Captain America, Hulk, but no Wonder Woman yet. Lord of the Rings is now five movies in with like 20 hours of film and there have not been any instances of two important female characters speaking to each other, because almost every character is male and the few important female characters speak with men rather than each other, because they're rare enough to not really run into each other. A lot of video games are guys, although for some you get to customize your own character. I don't really play video games anymore but most of the games I have played were me playing as males like Link, Donkey Kong, Mario, James Bond, Sonic, Spyro, Starfox, Cloud, Squall, and various usually male first person shooting characters, with a few female exceptions like Lightning.

Female characters in big films, shows, and games are often supporting characters like Zelda, Catwoman, Lois Lane, Black Widow, Black Canary, Galadriel, Hermione, etc. Once in a while there's an exception like Katniss from Hunger Games or Maya from Zero Dark Thirty or Ryan from Gravity, some Disney movies, the tv show sOnce Upon a Time or Legend of Korra, etc. Generally I have to go into dramas or romances to see a female lead, but even there it's often split between a dual male/female leading couple, so guys have a pretty strong foothold there in a way that women don't in the other genres. I don't watch as much of that genre anyway.

So I don't think I watch a lot of really misogynistic stuff, but instead I just encounter large absences of women in the movies, shows, and games I've watched or played. I just deal with it as is, and I'm used to it so I don't notice it as much, but it would be nice to see a Wonder Woman movie that is as well-done as Dark Knight or Iron Man 1, and to see more movies like Hunger Games.

Unfortunately if you read the books, Hunger Games does a lot of back pedaling when you reach the third book especially. I'll avoid spoilery details but suffice to say Katniss becomes completely useless and the ending feels like a middle finger to readers as it essentially says that everything she did and sacrificed was completely pointless, and not in the tragic one speck in a vast universe sense. To put it bluntly, I've seen female leads in sexploitation movies and dumb bimbos in action schlock that have way more agency and impact on their world than Katniss does in the third book of Hunger Games. I know that sounds harsh and maybe I'm just bitter. If people want me too I can go into details, just be prepared for a long winded rant because personally I loved the series until the third book and felt utterly betrayed by the end, more so than I have by any other series and this from someone who's read the first two books of Twilight

Granted I think that has more to do with the last book being rushed rather than any actual misogyny on the part of the author, especially considering how bad-*** of a character Katniss was until then.


oh and don't even get me started on the utter schlock that was once upon a time. That show only existed for verbal cat fights and to show what an utter moron that evil witch was, "Yes, I will kill my father, who is the only one who loves me, so that I can cast a curse that I know can be broken, sentencing snow white to a life of mediocrity as a school teacher rather than actually making her suffer by doing something that can't be undone like killing her baby and husband or something. Brilliant"

 

[MoonWater]

On a more positive note, Legend of Korra is great and I uphold Brave and Frozen as the quintessential anti-misogyny pro-feminism movies of current Disney

 

[Drolefille]

Are you refering to the misogyny displayed within the context and cultures of the story or do you mean that the series itself is misogynistic overall? Cause if it's the latter I can say that I've been reading the series myself and really don't get that sense. The show could definitely be argued considering all the nudity I've heard about but I think that would depend on the context and I've only seen the first episode and am still on the fence about watching it for other reasons.

I think primarily the former is the concern. The show does have more problems than the book, and it COULD be argued that Martin's writing is itself misogynistic, but I think it's more balanced than that.

Unfortunately if you read the books, Hunger Games does a lot of back pedaling when you reach the third book especially. I'll avoid spoilery details but suffice to say Katniss becomes completely useless and the ending feels like a middle finger to readers as it essentially says that everything she did and sacrificed was completely pointless, and not in the tragic one speck in a vast universe sense. To put it bluntly, I've seen female leads in sexploitation movies and dumb bimbos in action schlock that have way more agency and impact on their world than Katniss does in the third book of Hunger Games. I know that sounds harsh and maybe I'm just bitter. If people want me too I can go into details, just be prepared for a long winded rant because personally I loved the series until the third book and felt utterly betrayed by the end, more so than I have by any other series and this from someone who's read the first two books of Twilight

Here's my thing - I think that this was actually an excellent portrayal of PTSD. It doesn't fit with the previous books but it's far more real to me in that way - she loses so much, she's been through so much, and people just want to continue to use her - new boss same as the old boss. Trying to avoid spoilers too much here too, but that's why Mockingjay worked to me.

oh and don't even get me started on the utter schlock that was once upon a time. That show only existed for verbal cat fights and to show what an utter moron that evil witch was, "Yes, I will kill my father, who is the only one who loves me, so that I can cast a curse that I know can be broken, sentencing snow white to a life of mediocrity as a school teacher rather than actually making her suffer by doing something that can't be undone like killing her baby and husband or something. Brilliant"

I haven't watched more than a handful of episodes, but I DID enjoy it... and fairy tale logic is always... well.. weird. So I'll have to see how it pans out.

 

[MoonWater]

I think primarily the former is the concern. The show does have more problems than the book, and it COULD be argued that Martin's writing is itself misogynistic, but I think it's more balanced than that.

I've had my own problems with game of thrones but the idea of Martin's writing potentially being misogynistic is not one of them and I'm on the fourth book so I have a pretty good grasp of his writing style. He has very strong female characters and the misogyny portrayed is part of the culture within the book, a culture that was very prevalent in the time period it's based on. So I would argue against the idea of his writing being misogynistic.

Here's my thing - I think that this was actually an excellent portrayal of PTSD. It doesn't fit with the previous books but it's far more real to me in that way - she loses so much, she's been through so much, and people just want to continue to use her - new boss same as the old boss. Trying to avoid spoilers too much here too, but that's why Mockingjay worked to me.

I can see that and was even willing to somewhat go along with it until the big climactic battle at the end. I feel it just pushed it too far with me. I got the PTSD more with the second book. In the third though, it wasn't that she was being used that I had a problem with, it was the fact that in the third book she felt completely ancilliary, like the new boss didn't really need her ultimately. I don't know, a lot of this is "in hindsight for me" and while I wasn't really liking the third book it was really what happened at the end of that final battle that made me cry betrayal and feel like all my emotional investment in the series had been wasted. I can see your point, it just didn't work that way for me.

I haven't watched more than a handful of episodes, but I DID enjoy it... and fairy tale logic is always... well.. weird. So I'll have to see how it pans out.

sure it's weird but in this case it's practically non-existent. But explaining that would require me to write a book about the damn thing

 

[technomage]

Are you refering to the misogyny displayed within the context and cultures of the story or do you mean that the series itself is misogynistic overall?

Within the cultures. Heck, from what I understand, Martin's as pro-feminist as one can be. But part of what makes his plot go is women who are oppressed fighting against that oppression (either overtly or covertly)--some succeed, some fail. It's not only important to his plot, it's good that he writes strong female characters ... I understand it.

I still can't read it. It breaks my suspenders of disbelief, and I lose any enjoyment of the tale.

 

[Penumbra]

Unfortunately if you read the books, Hunger Games does a lot of back pedaling when you reach the third book especially. I'll avoid spoilery details but suffice to say Katniss becomes completely useless and the ending feels like a middle finger to readers as it essentially says that everything she did and sacrificed was completely pointless, and not in the tragic one speck in a vast universe sense. To put it bluntly, I've seen female leads in sexploitation movies and dumb bimbos in action schlock that have way more agency and impact on their world than Katniss does in the third book of Hunger Games. I know that sounds harsh and maybe I'm just bitter. If people want me too I can go into details, just be prepared for a long winded rant because personally I loved the series until the third book and felt utterly betrayed by the end, more so than I have by any other series and this from someone who's read the first two books of Twilight

Granted I think that has more to do with the last book being rushed rather than any actual misogyny on the part of the author, especially considering how bad-*** of a character Katniss was until then.

Well then one of top female-led action/adventure movie series will turn bad. =/

oh and don't even get me started on the utter schlock that was once upon a time. That show only existed for verbal cat fights and to show what an utter moron that evil witch was, "Yes, I will kill my father, who is the only one who loves me, so that I can cast a curse that I know can be broken, sentencing snow white to a life of mediocrity as a school teacher rather than actually making her suffer by doing something that can't be undone like killing her baby and husband or something. Brilliant"

Oh yeah it's a bad show. Amusing at times, but certainly not well-written.

I just listed it because it's one of the media I've watched where there was a female lead, in a post that was talking about the general absence of female leads and female presence in media that I watch.

And I love the moronic over-the-top evil queen.

(Her character's writing sucks but the actress is awesome.)

On a more positive note, Legend of Korra is great and I uphold Brave and Frozen as the quintessential anti-misogyny pro-feminism movies of current Disney

Yep!

I wasn't a huge fan of certain aspects of the ending of Korra season 2 but not for any reason related to gender. Season 1 was a masterpiece though, imo.

 

[Drolefille]

I've had my own problems with game of thrones but the idea of Martin's writing potentially being misogynistic is not one of them and I'm on the fourth book so I have a pretty good grasp of his writing style. He has very strong female characters and the misogyny portrayed is part of the culture within the book, a culture that was very prevalent in the time period it's based on. So I would argue against the idea of his writing being misogynistic.

Overall, I'd agree, but then I'm behind a book anyway, because I've officially gone Wheel of Time on this series until it's done, or the last book is almost out or something. Then again, I'm a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson who finished WoT (and got rid of the annoying stuff - like sniffing and tugging braids) and so maybe I should go finish that, if I can slog through 9 books to get there again.

I can see that and was even willing to somewhat go along with it until the big climactic battle at the end. I feel it just pushed it too far with me. I got the PTSD more with the second book. In the third though, it wasn't that she was being used that I had a problem with, it was the fact that in the third book she felt completely ancilliary, like the new boss didn't really need her ultimately. I don't know, a lot of this is "in hindsight for me" and while I wasn't really liking the third book it was really what happened at the end of that final battle that made me cry betrayal and feel like all my emotional investment in the series had been wasted. I can see your point, it just didn't work that way for me.

Fair enough. I'm a psych person so this sort of thing usually interests me more than other people, and then I miss the complaints that other people have because I'm more focused on the psychology of the thing.

sure it's weird but in this case it's practically non-existent. But explaining that would require me to write a book about the damn thing

Don't take away my Disney Fairy Tales! (That said, I'm only a few episodes in, and who knows when I'll get further... I just kinda wanna see Mulan..)

I know Marvel has been discussed and the marketing for Avengers fell into the "boobs and butt" category for Black Widow, but I do have to say that Joss did an excellent job with BW, IMO. She wasn't really a captive - but was using it to her advantage, she wasn't really breaking down in front of Loki - but was using the expectation to her advantage... and the one time she was really NOT in control was with the Hulk, which was kind of the point of his character. I may just be a fangirl though so, take with a grain of salt.

 

[Penumbra]

Don't take away my Disney Fairy Tales! (That said, I'm only a few episodes in, and who knows when I'll get further... I just kinda wanna see Mulan..)

It gets really bad. And fighting choreography is terrible, including for Mulan when she takes on one of the most powerful villains in the show in a fight during a mid-season climax. That was a huge wasted opportunity for a really awesome scene. Rather than hiring decent stunt doubles that know how to fight at an elite level, I'm pretty sure they just give the actors and actresses some swords and give them a few tips.

I still watch it, because it's 1 hour per week, and I go into work the next day and my co-worker and I make fun of the recent episode and how bad it was together while debating about the current love triangle or something.

I just like the characters Regina and Hook, in a dumb sort of way.

I know Marvel has been discussed and the marketing for Avengers fell into the "boobs and butt" category for Black Widow, but I do have to say that Joss did an excellent job with BW, IMO. She wasn't really a captive - but was using it to her advantage, she wasn't really breaking down in front of Loki - but was using the expectation to her advantage... and the one time she was really NOT in control was with the Hulk, which was kind of the point of his character. I may just be a fangirl though so, take with a grain of salt.

I thought Black Widow was okay. She's one of the two totally underpowered Avengers which is lame, but I didn't mind her overall characterization and Josh Whedon has a history of being pretty fair about gender, imo.

He wanted to do Wonder Woman and wrote a script but DC didn't give it a go, so he went and made Avengers and a billion dollars for Marvel instead.

 

[Drolefille]

It gets really bad. And fighting choreography is terrible, including for Mulan when she takes on one of the most powerful villains in the show in a fight during a mid-season climax. That was a huge wasted opportunity for a really awesome scene. Rather than hiring decent stunt doubles that know how to fight at an elite level, I'm pretty sure they just give the actors and actresses some swords and give them a few tips.

I still watch it, because it's 1 hour per week, and I go into work the next day and my co-worker and I make fun of the recent episode and how bad it was together while debating about the current love triangle or something.

I just like the characters Regina and Hook, in a dumb sort of way.

Ugh.. ok FINE. I'll still probably watch eventually but I'll also probably hate it. *grump*

I thought Black Widow was okay. She's one of the two totally underpowered Avengers which is lame, but I didn't mind her overall characterization and Josh Whedon has a history of being pretty fair about gender, imo.

He wanted to do Wonder Woman and wrote a script but DC didn't give it a go, so he went and made Avengers and a billion dollars for Marvel instead.

Did you see how horrid the WW TV show was going to be? All boobs and no bada**

 

[Penumbra]

Ugh.. ok FINE. I'll still probably watch eventually but I'll also probably hate it. *grump*

Did you see how horrid the WW TV show was going to be? All boobs and no bada**

Yeah, that wasn't Whedon though.

I think it's unbelievable how they can't get Wonder Woman right in live action. Whedon could have done it, I think.

They did an awful 2011 pilot for NBC, and the channel wisely said, "uh, no". So that was dropped. Then others were developing a show called Amazons on CW, which is about Wonder Woman back on her island before she was a superhero. That fell through too, and then instead they made a successful and pretty decent show about the lesser-known Green Arrow on that same channel, CW, with Black Canary as a supporting character in season 2.

 

[Drolefille]

Yeah, that wasn't Whedon though.

I think it's unbelievable how they can't get Wonder Woman right in live action. Whedon could have done it, I think.

They did an awful 2011 pilot for NBC, and the channel wisely said, "uh, no". So that was dropped. Then others were developing a show called Amazons on CW, which is about Wonder Woman back on her island before she was a superhero. That fell through too, and then instead they made a successful and pretty decent show about the lesser-known Green Arrow on that same channel, CW, with Black Canary as a supporting character in season 2.

Oh I know it wasn't Whedon. I still need to watch Arrow though.

 

[Penumbra]

Oh I know it wasn't Whedon. I still need to watch Arrow though.

Now that show I can actually recommend. Not related to feminism or misogyny though.

And it actually gets better as it goes- the earlier episodes have novice actors but they develop better into their roles as the show goes. And throughout the series, some individual villains are lame, but the main villains are well done. The show doesn't have the biggest budget, because the CW doesn't have a large viewership (although Arrow is quite successful by CW standards), but they work well with their budget.

The fighting choreography is great, imo. The guy that plays Arrow is cool, and for Black Canary who comes in during the season 2 premier, the actress has experience as a professional dancer, martial artist, and stunt double. But even for her, during really intense staff-fighting scenes or acrobatic scenes, they replace her with an elite staff-fighter or a professional acrobat, respectively, to make it about as good as it can get for choreography.

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[CynthiaCypher]

What are some of the most misogynistic TV shows, movies, video games, etc., that you have seen or played? And what tangible harmful effects, if any, do you think they cause or may have caused as a result of their content?

This question overwhelms me. I truly do not know where to start. Misogyny permeates our culture, even the shows geared towards women can promote misogyny.

As for the harm it does? I don't know where to begin there either. What is happening is the marginalization of an entire gender, our voices are distorted, we are force feed this unreality about what it means to be a woman and told to merrily and happily accept it.

Check out Anita Sarkeesian's Blog

Feminist Frequency

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Other than the male-bias that Penumbra mentioned, the things I read or watch generally aren't very misogynist. And what I have that does tends to be older and reflecting the culture of that particular time (anywhere from a few decades to several centuries ago).