A pop culture autopsy on how women are killed for male character development, Oscar bait, and emotional depth that could’ve just been solved in therapy.
It forced me as a man to consider the fact that my emotions have only ever been validated in situations surrounding personal loss.
I mention that, not to centre myself in a conversation I can’t add much to apart from a big ol thumbs up, But just to point out how much I appreciate your writing and the thoughts it provokes beyond your actual main intentions ☺️
I always love it when I get a reflection comment - reflect away! I like to write to make people feel seen and to grow their understanding on these types of matters - no matter the gender😁
After reading this piece, I tried thinking of movies that didn't follow this trope. I was having a pretty difficult time. The damsel in distress and women being emotional catalyst story lines all feel like the same stories just wrapped in different packaging. I liked all your examples. The Dark Knight is one of my favorite movies (mainly because of Heath Ledger's Joker), and I totally forgot that Rachel Dawes blew up. After thinking about it, her death in that movie was basically to be the reason Harvey Dent hated Batman. And if I remember correctly, she didn't really have a character arc. I do wonder if you have any examples of where the women are not just there for male character development?
As a fellow lover of the Christopher Nolan Batman films, this is the films that prompted me to write the article🤣I was watching them about a month ago and thought she had a major lack of character development, personality, etc. She was just used an an emotional catalyst for other characters😶🌫️
Regarding your question, there are some “progressive” films/series that try to subvert the “dead girl” trope, but they are usually still seen through a sexist lens. Off the top of my head, there’s:
1. The “strong” female lead trope who always exists in a male-coded world. Her femininity is often flattened to make her more palatable. She’s like a man but with a ponytail. Think early days Black Widow, etc.)
2. “Complex” women storylines who are still HEAVILY centred around a man/male gaze. Like Gone Girl - she’s been built to haunt male fantasies and fears.
3. And then you have the female redemption arc (but in a very self-destructive manner). When they aren’t killed off, but are emotionally punished for being mess. Think: Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, etc.
^^Each of those 3 things l, if you delve deeper, are all built from a misogynist foundation. You never really see women growing from male suffering? It’s always the other way around, which makes the narrative imbalanced. Women’s trauma seems to always be aestheticised and disrespected.
I think we’re having two different conversations. I’m not critiquing women using darkness as a form of therapy. That’s valid and necessary. What I’m pointing to is the broader pattern where female suffering is repeatedly written as a narrative tool to serve male development, especially in mainstream film. It’s not personal catharsis I’m questioning, it’s structural repetition. When a woman’s death is used to unlock a man’s emotions, it sends a message — that her pain is meaningful only through its impact on him. That’s not just lazy storytelling, it’s a form of narrative sexism. And the more it’s repeated, the more it culturally reuploads the idea that women are most powerful when they’re tragic, beautiful, and gone.
Gail Simone compiled a list that's on a site called Women in Refrigerators (https://www.lby3.com/wir/) about this trope in comics.
Thanks for sharing! I will have a look at this today😯
Fascinating piece.. couldn’t agree more really.
It forced me as a man to consider the fact that my emotions have only ever been validated in situations surrounding personal loss.
I mention that, not to centre myself in a conversation I can’t add much to apart from a big ol thumbs up, But just to point out how much I appreciate your writing and the thoughts it provokes beyond your actual main intentions ☺️
Thanks Jessica!
I always love it when I get a reflection comment - reflect away! I like to write to make people feel seen and to grow their understanding on these types of matters - no matter the gender😁
as an aspiring screenwriter, obsessed with this piece. obsessed.
After reading this piece, I tried thinking of movies that didn't follow this trope. I was having a pretty difficult time. The damsel in distress and women being emotional catalyst story lines all feel like the same stories just wrapped in different packaging. I liked all your examples. The Dark Knight is one of my favorite movies (mainly because of Heath Ledger's Joker), and I totally forgot that Rachel Dawes blew up. After thinking about it, her death in that movie was basically to be the reason Harvey Dent hated Batman. And if I remember correctly, she didn't really have a character arc. I do wonder if you have any examples of where the women are not just there for male character development?
As a fellow lover of the Christopher Nolan Batman films, this is the films that prompted me to write the article🤣I was watching them about a month ago and thought she had a major lack of character development, personality, etc. She was just used an an emotional catalyst for other characters😶🌫️
Regarding your question, there are some “progressive” films/series that try to subvert the “dead girl” trope, but they are usually still seen through a sexist lens. Off the top of my head, there’s:
1. The “strong” female lead trope who always exists in a male-coded world. Her femininity is often flattened to make her more palatable. She’s like a man but with a ponytail. Think early days Black Widow, etc.)
2. “Complex” women storylines who are still HEAVILY centred around a man/male gaze. Like Gone Girl - she’s been built to haunt male fantasies and fears.
3. And then you have the female redemption arc (but in a very self-destructive manner). When they aren’t killed off, but are emotionally punished for being mess. Think: Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, etc.
^^Each of those 3 things l, if you delve deeper, are all built from a misogynist foundation. You never really see women growing from male suffering? It’s always the other way around, which makes the narrative imbalanced. Women’s trauma seems to always be aestheticised and disrespected.
Damn, I love your work. Thanks for posting.
Thank you so much, Jeff! Highest compliment😁🫶🏼
I think we’re having two different conversations. I’m not critiquing women using darkness as a form of therapy. That’s valid and necessary. What I’m pointing to is the broader pattern where female suffering is repeatedly written as a narrative tool to serve male development, especially in mainstream film. It’s not personal catharsis I’m questioning, it’s structural repetition. When a woman’s death is used to unlock a man’s emotions, it sends a message — that her pain is meaningful only through its impact on him. That’s not just lazy storytelling, it’s a form of narrative sexism. And the more it’s repeated, the more it culturally reuploads the idea that women are most powerful when they’re tragic, beautiful, and gone.