Say it out Loud: feminism part two
January 29, 2026
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk at Pexels with neon frame image from Freepik
Grace Trent and Sibylla St. Germain challenge patriarchy in media
We reflect on how everyday patriarchy shows up on screen and how these portrayals have influenced the way we, and many of our peers, understand relationships, gender, and behaviour.
Feminism is about equality, but the word itself still makes some people uncomfortable. It’s often misunderstood and wrongly linked to man-hating, which shuts down the conversation before it even begins. Check out our Feminism: Say it out Loud part one.
One of the many ways patriarchy seeps into daily life is through the media, particularly films and TV Shows. From the sexist language to the casual objectification of women, these representations affect what we normalise and accept from our male counterparts in everyday life. Too often, shows and movies present the trope of getting a girl drunk so she’ll be more likely to ‘hook up’ with a guy. Examples range from classic 80s films like Sixteen Candles, teen comedies like Superbad and beloved sitcoms like Friends.
For decades the media has promoted the idea of men intoxicating women in order to win them over, normalising it through humour instead of confronting its sinister implications. Moreover, time and time again women are repeatedly reduced to their looks or sexual appeal.
Even when a women is the leading character, she is often portrayed as unintelligent, ditsy or irrational
In James Bond women are often introduced through slow, sexualised camera shots and shown in revealing clothing like bikinis. They are rarely treated as independent characters; their purpose is often solely to be saved, seduced or to act as a femme fetale, betraying Bond.
Even when the women is the leading character, she is portrayed as unintelligent, ditsy or irrational. In Clueless for example, Cher is shown as rich, pretty and shallow. While her character does develop, much of the humour relies on mocking her lack of awareness.
These tropes aren’t confined to the screen but can also be found all over social media within TikTok trends, memes and even slang. Growing up, many young people internalise these messages. Boys often mimic these actions without thinking, while girls learn to police their bodies and behaviour in to avoid judgement or harassment, reinforcing ideas of masculinity and femininity in everyday life.
In the UK, new polling by Amnesty International UK reveals 73% of Gen Z social media users have witnessed misogynistic content online and 55% say it affects their sense of safety. These findings show it’s not just old films anymore; online platforms, filters, and trends shape how young women and men see themselves and each other every day.
Recognising these patterns matters because they shape how we interact with each other and what we consider acceptable in relationships and society. Feminism isn’t just a word; it’s a lens for understanding and changing the world around us. By questioning these assumptions and challenging media tropes, we can create a culture that values equality and respect and say feminism out loud, without fear, without apology!
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