5 Feminist Movies & TV Shows To Watch If You Loved Barbie

Get the girl power flowing

Controversial statement: Barbie was not revolutionary.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved the movie. It managed to be hilarious and light-hearted while making a strong statement about feminism and the patriarchy.

America Ferrera’s monologue perfectly captured the struggles of being a modern woman. I can see why it evoked tears, but it wasn’t the only one of its kind.

I’m not here to critique Barbie. I’m really not. I’ve been quoting it for the past week and I can see myself watching it again (and again) in the future. But I find it surprising, and a bit sad, that in 2023 women don’t seem to know about other movies and TV shows that make them feel seen and supported.

Here are 5 other feminist movies and TV shows you can watch when you’re craving a bit of empowerment. Whether you watch them on your own, with other women, or with men, they’ll get you in the feels just as much as Barbie did. At least, they did for me.

1. Je Ne Suis Pas Un Homme Facile (I Am Not An Easy Man)

Despite being deeply rooted in the real world, I Am Not An Easy Man has the most parallels with Barbie in terms of role reversals and alternate universes.

The story’s protagnoist is Damien, your typical misogynistic f*ckboy. He’s at the top of his game in our patriarchal society, but one day he wakes up in a matriarchal world where all the roles are reversed.

Women are the executives, the breadwinners, and they have no qualms with objectifying men. All of a sudden, Damien is getting catcalled, he isn’t taken seriously at work, and his parents are judging him for being single and childfree well into his adulthood.

Living in this world makes him aware of the rampant double standards in our society, and he realizes that he’s been treating women horribly this whole time.

I Am Not An Easy Man offers an amazing depiction of the sexism that women have to encounter on a daily basis, and it still does it in a comical way. I originally watched this movie with a man, and it’s safe to say his eyes were extremely opened by the end of it.

2. Moxie

Your quintessential coming-of-age movie with a twist, Moxie serves up all the high school nostalgia with a serious dose of girl power.

Set in a sleepy small town, protagonist Vivian grew up turning a blind eye towards gender discrimination and internal misogyny. But all that changes when the former shy girl meets a bold new classmate and learns about her mother’s rebellious past.

She starts a secret feminist magazine when she realizes that her school’s principal won’t actually do anything to counter the male students’ sexist actions and remarks.

The small magazine quickly turns into a schoolwide movement that makes the changes the faculty won’t. From defying misogynistic uniform rules to creating new opportunities for female students that were previously only available to males, the Moxie girls start a mini revolution in the school.

What I liked about Moxie is that it painted a full spectrum of characters. The women weren’t all saints, and the men weren’t all monsters. In fact, it showed that there are good men out there who get it. It also showed the various forms of feminism by acknowledging how different cultures interpret it. Not bad for a teen movie!

3. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

Set in 1960s New York, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel documents a female comedian’s challenging rise to fame in a male-dominated industry.

Only a handful of people accept Midge’s strange career choice, despite her being insanely talented, in a world where most women simply aspire to be housewives.

Midge continually challenges the status quo and makes poignant statements about gender norms in her comedy routines, all while receiving just as many, if not more, laughs than her male competitors. Her monologues turn into introspections on the female experience that, dare I say, rival that of America Ferrera’s.

While overcoming rejection after rejection and not being taken seriously by her peers, family, and industry hot shots, Midge grows into a fiercely strong and independent woman. She realizes that she can make her dreams come true on her own, and look fabulous while doing it.

It’s a funny, feel-good show that will make you think about what has and hasn’t changed in society since the 60s.

4. Minx

Can pornography be a feminist act? Minx explores this facet of second wave feminism in a highly entertaining and thoughtful way.

Intellectual and prude Joyce Prigger is the last person you’d expect to be linked to pornography. But the aspiring feminist magazine editor is left with no choice when the only publisher willing to work with her is the owner of an adult entertainment company (may I add that Jake Johnson plays the role of sleazy porn producer flawlessly?).

Joyce is forced to reconsider her morals in order to make her dreams come true. She decides that, by publishing the first erotic magazine made from the female gaze, she can change the narrative of pornography and make it empowering and liberating for women. Her feminist articles and narratives are interwoven between photoshoots of nude male models, and it turns out to be a hit!

Minx offers a fascinating take on the feminist narrative. It’ll make you question your feelings about sexuality while still showing that women can do anything they put their minds to.

5. Glow

Like Minx and Mrs. Maisel, Glow is a show about women forging their own path when no one else will.

Protagonist Ruth is a struggling actor in LA during the 80s. Tired of playing the same old unimportant roles of ‘secretary’ or ‘mom’, she tries a different approach by going to an open audition for a female wrestling show.

The show is initially steeped in oversexualized stereotypes, but Ruth and her crew find a way to make it their own. They’re not afraid to challenge the male director and producer, and some of them even go on to join the executive ranks.

Glow provides a diverse portrayal of feminism by showing characters at their most vulnerable. Can a woman still be part of the sisterhood if she’s a cheater? Can she be a good mother if she prioritizes her career? Is she truly an ally if she doesn’t shout about it from the rooftops?

Ludicrous wrestling storylines aside, Glow portrays feminism and female relationships in a very real way. It’s not always about perfection — it’s about progress.

It’ll be a minute until Barbie is available on Netflix or any other streaming services, so these 5 are just some of the feel-good feminist movies and TV shows you can watch now if you don’t want to keep shelling out for movie theatre tickets!