Feminist TV to Watch this Summer
Feminist-focused media is (thankfully!) all around us this summer. Here’s a list of some of our favorite women-centered TV we think is worth bringing out the popcorn.
Pictured: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, from Page Six
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
PHOTOGRAPH BY GEORGE KRAYCHYK / HULU
We have waited long enough for the conclusion of June’s harrowing fight against Gilead! Based on Margaret Atwood’s renowned dystopian novel, the titular show has rightly gained even more traction after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. With many American women currently fighting for reproductive rights in their cities, this show encapsulates the fears and frustrations many women carry when considering the potential extremes of reproductive abuse in our own country. The last season is now available to watch on Hulu.
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
The last season of this Emmy-nominated show came out in 2023, which can mean only one thing: enough time has passed to justify a re-watch! Plan a night in with your besties and enjoy the gender-upheaving journey of Midge Maisel, a woman who breaks into the male-dominated world of stand-up comedy in the 1950s and 60s.
AMERICA’S SWEETHEARTS: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Photo from IMDb
Many critics are calling this show stopping documentary “accidentally feminist,” and we have to agree! Season 2 of the docuseries is now here to grace our Netflix accounts with themes of female power, sisterhood, athleticism, and the objectification of women in male-dominated arenas. We loved watching this series for it’s subtle humanizing of the top-tier female athletes who are often sexualized by the male gaze as opposed to being lauded for their athletic power as America’s foremost dancers. A fun fact about Season 2—this documentary paved the way for the Cheerleaders’ paychecks to increase by 400%!
THE MORNING SHOW
Another “oldie but a goodie,” season three of The Morning Show premiered in 2023 and has continued to gain a devoted following since its last release. Set in the high-stakes world of network television, the show focuses on the experiences of women navigating careers in male-dominated environments, where their talent, appearance, and behavior are constantly scrutinized and politicized. While not the lightest watch, the show does give voice to the experience of workplace harassment and power dynamics in misogynist workplaces.
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
Erin Simkin / Hulu
Little Fires Everywhere is a popular miniseries based on Celeste Ng’s bestselling novel. The story follows Elena Richardson, a meticulous and privileged journalist, and Mia Warren, a mysterious artist and single mother, whose lives become deeply intertwined when Mia rents a house from Elena. As their families grow closer, tensions arise over class, race, motherhood, and secrets from the past, ultimately culminating in a devastating fire that metaphorically and literally upends their world. At its core, the show examines the expectations and limitations placed on women—particularly around motherhood, career, and identity.