Think about these three films: “Superbad,” “American Pie,” and “Project X.” What genre would you classify them as? Teenage boy films, guy movies? Although we all acknowledge that these three films have a targeted audience, isn’t it strange that they aren’t given a clear name? The term “chick flick” usually garners two possible reactions. Either an “I LOVE a good chick flick” or an “I don’t watch girly movies.” If both genders have specially marketed films, why does society minimize the value of films advertised to teenage girls?
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The concept of cultural capital refers to a certain group or individual’s social assets and importance in a community. In our society today, teenage girls hold little to no cultural capital. It’s pretty difficult to think of even one thing that teenage girls stereotypically enjoy and aren’t mocked for. From Harry Styles to Taylor Swift, fashion and makeup, and even the types of pictures they post on social media, teenage girls are constantly put down for the things that they enjoy. Society equates the activities and people that teenage girls enjoy with frivolity and unimportance. Unfortunately, chick flicks fall into that category.
When male critics review movies marketed toward teenage girls in an overly negative way, the critics often drag down the public’s general opinion of chick flicks as a whole. Nico Lang writes, “When the mass of male critics rate movies for women lower than women do, it has a powerful overall effect on how these films are received by the public, bringing down the average Tomatometer (ranking) of movies aimed at women by nearly six percent.” A large contrast between society’s perception of stereotypically feminine and masculine things often leads people to judge feminine pop culture artists, makeup, fashion, and chick flicks as superficial, mindless, and basic.
The problem with this, however, is that chick flicks have a lot to offer our society. Chick flicks usually revolve around a single or group of women to promote empowerment and sisterhood. More often than not, the female leads are flawed, personable, and have realistic character traits and story arcs. Rather than rejecting femininity and stereotypically feminine things, these films embrace and take femininity in stride, playing into pinkness, romance, and the camaraderie of it all.
“Legally Blonde’s” Elle Woods uses her femininity and kindness to her advantage when pursuing her degree at Harvard Law. “The Devil Wears Prada’s” Andy learns the value of hard work while adopting the fashion industry and understanding that success and ruthlessness do not have to be synonymous, and “Mamma Mia” emphasizes the strength of female friendship and fun over decades. The light-hearted nature of these films is refreshing, and the stories praise women for their imperfections and femininity, rather than tear them down.
To understand the value of these films in our society and on our campus, I talked to some Northwestern women, asking them their favorite chick flick and why.
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ALYSSA RUBIN: Hi, can you tell us your name, your favorite Chick Flick, and why you like it?
LOUISE: Hi, I’m Louise. I don’t know if Bridesmaids counts as a chick flick, but that’s my favorite chick flick. I think that they’re all such good friends and it’s so sweet.
SOPHIE PUNG: My name is Sophie Pung and my favorite Chick Flick is Legally Blonde because it’s just a good movie.
ELIZA FISHER: Hi, my name is Eliza Fisher. And my favorite chick flick I feel like is probably Booksmart because as someone who just graduated high school, it’s super apt and it’s a lot of fun.
ANAYA: Hi my name is Anaya. My favorite is Clueless because I find something new every time that makes me laugh.
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While chick flicks are well-loved by many, they do have room for improvement. The most noticeable shortcoming of many of these films, specifically those from the ’90s or early 2000s, is their lack of racial, sexual, and gender diversity. Additionally, romantic plotlines can fall prey to stereotypical gender roles like the “damsel in distress” trope or the “two women cattily fighting over one man” trope. Although these issues can be improved in future chick flicks, people do not need to abandon these films from the past. Instead, everyone should watch them through a more socially and culturally aware lens.
Next time you hear someone groaning over the idea of watching a chick flick, suggest your favorite “girly” film. They may be surprised to find just how fun and valuable this genre really is.
From WNUR News, this is Alyssa Rubin.
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