This may come as a shock to some, but we live in a pretty progressive world.
And I’m not just talking about the eating breakfast for dinner kind of progressive (although that is the kind of positivity I need in my life). I’m talking about the grittier stuff: same-sex marriage, gender fluidity, women getting treated as equals (shocker).
All of these things are commonplace in today’s world and, rightfully so. Love is love and all that jazz. I’m here for it all.
But society’s way of thinking is still so gendered. It’s also still very normal which is why we often don’t think twice about it and we definitely don’t notice it.
Think of the phrase ‘chick flick’, for example. What does that even mean????
Movies aren’t made exclusively for women so why the hell do we treat them like they are?
And deny it is you might, there is a certain embarrassment attached to watching a chick flick if you’re not:
a) Female
b) Homosexual
c) Going through a break up
d) All of the above.
Never in my life have I heard a dude openly admit he likes The Notebook. And that’s a damn good movie.
Well, Netflix is here to tell you that kind of thinking is total B.S.
Quick PSA: Can we stop calling films “chick flicks” unless the films are literally about small baby chickens? Here’s why this phrase should absolutely be retired (thread):
— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) April 15, 2019
Pretty straight forward. No chickens = don’t do it.
If there are no chickens, it’s not a chick flick.
If that isn’t a good enough reason for you, then hold onto your ego ‘cause Netflix went hard on the explanation.
Firstly, everyone loves love. And comedy.
For starters, “chick flicks” are traditionally synonymous with romantic comedies. This suggests that women are the only people interested in 1. Romance 2. Comedy. Which I can promise from the men I’ve come across in my life – simply isn’t true.
— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) April 15, 2019
Secondly, women shouldn’t get ‘special’ treatment. We want equal film viewing opportunity, thank you very much.
There aren’t sweeping categories specific to men. You don’t hear people asking to watch “man movies” – instead, pretty much every intersection of genre is on the table and seen as for men, except of course, the aforementioned rom-coms.
— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) April 15, 2019
Then there’s just the fact that using the term ‘chick flick’ is tacky and straight-up insulting to anyone involved in the film’s production.
The term also cheapens the work that goes into making these types of films. Romantic comedies and/or films centered around female leads go through just as much editing, consideration, and rewriting as any other film.
— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) April 15, 2019
Watching something you ENJOY is not a joke.
And nicknaming films “chick flicks” drives home that there’s something trivial about watching them. But what’s trivial about watching a film that makes you feel 1,000 emotions in ~90 minutes?
— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) April 15, 2019
Basically, gender norms suck.
Overall, there’s nothing inherently gendered about liking a light-hearted film with a strong female lead and emotional arc. So next time you call something a "chick flick," you better be referring to Chicken Run.
— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) April 15, 2019
Making assumptions about another human being based off of their movie watching habits just means you’re small-minded, if you ask me. A human is so much more than the media they consume, just like a movie is so much more than its title and plot.
Stop saying you’re “too cool” to watch a romance movie.
Stop saying you “don’t like” movies with female leads because your masculinity secretly feels threatened.
Stop thinking and just bloody enjoy the movie. That’s what they’re there for after all- to be enjoyed.
Oh, and stop adding labels to things. It’s toxic and, honestly, just plain boring.
Don’t limit the movies you watch.