The ongoing saga of the domineering Hollywood feminist character

For the past couple of weeks I have been watching the TV series Outlander that first started airing in 2014. The series started off with a decent plot line that kept me interested. Gradually the mystery and wonder has faded away, though, and now I feel that I’ve about had it with the main character – a woman who encompasses typical domineering modern feminist traits that have become far too common in Hollywood films.

The main character irked me from the beginning. Despite being witty and well spoken, her stubbornness and “know all” attitude outshines her qualities. She constantly speaks to men with an attitude and acts like she is above them. She makes it a point to rebel against anyone who tells her what to do, is quick to judge people and makes decisions without assessing the situation.

Time and time again she has found herself in trouble because she did not listen to men around her. And who ends up saving her? The men she didn’t listen to. It’s to the point now where I don’t question if she is going to make another dumb decision, it’s when is she going to make another dumb decision. While there are multiple occasions where she is quick to halt what she considers to be wrong doing, she usually ends up creating more problems for herself and others around her, and sometimes even further endangers the victim she tried to help.

I wonder if the writers of the series intended her to be an admirable woman who showcases the strengths of women? From my perspective, I feel she amplifies weaknesses of women, to the point that I pity the men who have to deal with her. She has become the primary error in the series.

This domineering feminist character has become far too common in Hollywood to the point that it has become a total bore and a disservice to women. From Wonder Woman (2017) to Tomb Raider (2018) to Disney films like Brave (2012), Moana (2016) and Frozen (2013), this character keeps coming back from the grave. On top of that, many of these movies often entail young girls disobeying parents and later needing assistance because of their poor decisions. I’m sure there are plenty more note worthy examples outside of what I’ve listed, but quite frankly I’ve lost interest in Hollywood since seeing this trend nearly a decade ago.

I appreciate a female character who can be smart, kind and respectful of others. Rather than acting like she knows everything, she approaches people with an understanding that they can possibly help her. Instead of constantly going against the grain, she goes with the flow so she can find a path to achieve her goals. When I think back on it, Elle Woods of Legally Blonde (2001) was a character I appreciated. While she did not meet the status quo of “smart,” she was a driven woman who accomplished her goals by making friends along the way, and ultimately showed she was smart in her own unique way.

Lauren Ell is an American blogger born and raised in Southern California and is currently based in Sweden. She discusses Epilepsy, Politics and Fun. Professionally Ell is an Online Marketing Consultant and Virtual Assistant. She is also founder and president of Republican Atheists and GunSafetySociety.org. Connect with Lauren on Facebook and Twitter.