In Defense of the "Chick Flick"

From Pretty Woman to Mamma Mia to Legally Blonde, the “chick flick” genre was everywhere in the 1990s and 2000s. There was a booming market for female-centered stories, and Hollywood, as always, jumped at the chance to get in on some of the money. Although the genre’s popularity has died down substantially in recent years, the films from this period remain in the minds of many. That said, the chick flick is not without its detractors. For years, these movies have been criticized as being vapid, male-centered, or “too optimistic,” according to an article from the Michigan Daily. Yet there are others who assert that chick flicks, despite their emphasis on girliness and feel-good plotlines, have significant value in media. The chick flick is, to many, a representation that being successful as a woman doesn’t have to mean sacrificing their femininity.

Criticisms of Chick Flicks

Many critics of chick flicks see them as antifeminist, due to their reliance on female stereotypes and male-centered narratives. In an Australian survey conducted on women’s experiences with chick flicks, many respondents cited these films’ protagonists’ reliance on men as one reason they believe the genre to be antifeminist. One respondent said, “I don't like the portrayal of women as damsels in distress, or needing to have a man to be happy.” Other respondents echoed this sentiment, criticizing the often-present narrative in these films that women are reliant on men. Another survey participant said she had mixed feelings about the genre because “I believe myself to be a feminist.” This survey shows that distaste for “chick” media is somewhat prevalent among women, particularly feminist women. Even the women from the survey who do enjoy chick flicks consider them to be a guilty pleasure, a lighthearted form of escapism rather than a serious form of entertainment.

Additionally, the archetype of the “strong female character” has been increasingly prevalent in recent years. This archetype portrays a very specific version of strength; think of characters like Katniss Everdeen or Black Widow. These women are physically tough, and they are heroes of action films rather than romantic comedies. Action films have, in turn, become much more popular among women than chick flicks. According to a Forbes article by Adrienne Gibbs, women purchase tickets to action and sci-fi movies much more often than they do for films labeled as “chick flicks.” Gibbs wrote, “Fandango confirms what we already know to be true about femme kind: when given the choice, women really do prefer to kick ass.” Statements like this push that the only way for a woman to be strong is in a physical sense; many rom-com and chick flick heroes (such as Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods and But I’m a Cheerleader’s Megan Bloomfield) possess great mental strength, but they’re viewed as weaker than action heroes regardless.

Another common criticism of the chick flick genre is that the films do not realistically depict everyday life for many women. Within the survey mentioned earlier, several respondents mentioned this as a reason they harbor mixed feelings or outright dislike for “chick” media (including films and books). One woman said, “I sometimes don’t understand how I can enjoy reading such predictable, tacky and utterly unrealistic nonsense!” This criticism is echoed in reviews of chick flicks on news websites. In his 2008 review of Mamma Mia for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw wrote, “It…has a feelgood wedding motif — but there is no irony, no heartache, certainly no paralysing illness, no dramatic plausibility, and weirdly, no hint that the characters know whose songs they are singing.” Bradshaw portrays this as a reason to dislike the film; he rated Mamma Mia one star out of five. This type of criticism posits that media must contain a level of darkness and realism to be enjoyable. To Bradshaw, Mamma Mia is a poor movie because of its goofiness, optimism, and ABBA songs injected into the plot. A lack of realism, for many viewers of Mamma Mia and similar films, is a shortcoming of the chick flick genre.

Why Chick FLicks Matter

Despite its many detractors, however, the genre has just as many defenders and supporters. One reason these supporters love chick flicks is precisely why others criticize it: they’re optimistic. In the same Australian survey mentioned earlier, one woman said, “I enjoy their light heartedness. I think there are too many ‘dark’ movies about human relationships. We need a break from it.” These films provide an optimistic, feel-good perspective on all relationships, whether they be romantic, platonic, or familial.

The emphasis on non-romantic relationships is another reason to love the chick flick genre. In Mamma Mia, for example, the main character’s story involves her engagement to a man, but it places much more emphasis on her growing relationships with her mother and potential fathers. In Legally Blonde, while Elle’s failed romantic relationship is the catalyst for the plot, the overall story gives just as much importance to her budding friendships with other women as it does to her relationships with men. Standout chick flicks prioritize female friendship and connection with family and with other women.

Chick flicks are also some of the only media in which female characters are allowed to be strong and accomplish difficult tasks while maintaining their femininity and girliness. As mentioned in the Forbes article above, there is a sharp contrast in the way we talk about women in action movies versus in movies directed at a female audience: only in action films are women allowed to “kick ass,” or be strong. These action heroes are often presented as more masculine in aesthetic and personality. In chick flicks, however, the female protagonists are often girly, but this does not detract from the importance of their stories. In But I’m A Cheerleader, for example, the film ends with Megan, the main character, convincing her girlfriend to leave the toxic environment of gay conversion therapy. She does so by reciting a cheer. Despite the troubles she endures throughout the movie, Megan maintains her girly personality, and she uses it as a strength and as something to help her achieve her goal. Similarly, in Legally Blonde, Elle Woods wins her legal case by using her knowledge of hair care — a traditionally feminine thing. And in a more recent example, 2023’s Barbie maintains her girliness and femininity even as she learns firsthand about how difficult it is to be a woman today. Due to these depictions, chick flicks are some of the only media in which women can see femininity portrayed as a strength rather than a weakness. According to a study from Pew Research, “Society places a higher premium on masculinity than it does on femininity.” In that study, it was found only 32% of people look up to feminine women, as opposed to more than half of people who look up to masculine men. Girls and women often feel that they must suppress their “girly” sides, often adopting more masculine personalities that are “not like other girls” to differentiate themselves from feminine women. On this topic, researcher Jude San Agustin wrote, “Our gender is forced into this category: women are to like pink, wear dresses, play with dolls…and are expected to be feminine. Femininity is portrayed by patriarchy as degrading.” The chick flick provides women with characters that embrace femininity without degradation. Films like Legally Blonde are some of the only ones that give women and girls strong role models to look up to that aren’t afraid to embrace their girly sides.

With all that in mind, it’s high time for a resurgence of the chick flick. When done right, the genre promotes optimism, healthy relationships, and positive depictions of femininity to its mostly female audience. Critics may argue that chick flicks are antifeminist, but by insinuating that the only “feminist” movies are ones in which a “strong female character” portrays masculine characteristics, these critics provide a narrow and damaging view of feminism. Masculine women should, of course, be represented in media, but there’s a gaping hole in representation for women who are strong and feminine. The chick flick matters in modern cinema. So many young girls are afraid to embrace their girly side for fear of ridicule. By being exposed to role models such as the protagonists of these chick flicks, more of these girls can feel comfortable with being who they are, whoever that may be. When done right, the chick flick tackles hard-hitting issues through a fun, girly, hot-pink lens. These films may not be cinematic masterpieces, but they’re important parts of culture, and they deserve to be celebrated as such.