MovieChat Forums > Fatal Attraction (1987) Discussion > If feminists were actually all about equ...

If feminists were actually all about equality, they'd love this film.

posted 10 years ago by jamesharding
9 replies | jump to latest

How many films before this one showed men as dangerous, mentally disturbed stalkers?

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Four Flies on Grey Velvet, Schizo, When a Stranger Calls and pretty much every single male slasher character from Norman Bates to Michael Myers.

Now think about all the feminist complaints on this board about Alex. That there aren't any reasons for what she does, other than she's a psychotic monster. That she is largely defined by her relationship to the opposite sex. That she is manipulative etc. etc. I really can't think of anything that's wrong with her that isn't wrong with literally dozens of her male counterparts.

Part of treating women like men is acknowledging that they can be every bit as dangerous, violent, evil, perverted, abusive and exploitative as men, and acknowledging that women like Alex exist in real life, (like Neelam Darr) just like men like Norman Bates exist in real life, (like Ed Gein).

The way feminists go on and on about this film, I expected every other line to be about how all women were crazy, dangerous bitches who couldn't be trusted. But this film has NOTHING like that. Beth is strong throughout the film, Dan has plenty of female colleagues who are perfectly level-headed. Alex is the only one who is not.

Frankly, I cannot see any reason to complain about this film's portrayal of women other than objecting to any woman being portrayed in a negative light, in order to further an agenda of treating women better than men.

[–] slesleylawson 10 years ago

You know what, I could be reading an article about the weather, and the comment section would have at least one man going on about feminism.
Is it all about men not being able to handle telling women what they can be?
I never have a clue what they're going on about, as I always thought feminists were the ones who fought for women to vote, have equal pay so they're not slaves. In Britain a woman didn't have the right to not be raped by her husband until recently. In some parts of the world they can't drive.
In my mind, if they complain about that, then they really just see women as slaves.

Although I don't think what you're saying is about feminism, but then feminism seems to get banded about with anything to do with women or what some say, where one extreme nut cases saying anything is classed as all women thinking the same.

Maybe you don't agree with how some women or even some men see Alex as portrayed, but that's just a difference of opinion, and probably nothing to do with feminism. It is about how a woman acts towards a man, so why wouldn't people raise questions about that without it having to be about them belonging to a label?

If you look at the whole picture, women generally aren't as dangerous as men. OK of course there are some cases of women who murder men, but women have to be careful about even walking outside at night time, for fear of being raped or abducted by a man. That's due to the effects of testosterone. If you look at other male creatures, if keeping for any other purposes than breeding, they're generally castrated to stop aggression and unwanted sexual behaviour. Male humans tend to be more aggressive and sexual than many women. I say generally, because I'm not saying there aren't some cases of women doing the same.

[–] cookiela2001 9 years ago

You know what, I could be reading an article about the weather, and the comment section would have at least one man going on about feminism.

Whenever some man's going on like this, I think, "Who did this to you??"

I just see them curled up in a fetal position in a damp cave somewhere...

.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] InherentlyYours 9 years ago

'You know what, I could be reading an article about the weather, and the comment section would have at least one man going on about feminism. '
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Because men got it from women who always bring up misogyny as a comment. If a film shows the man being the stalker/killer, it's misogynistic--if the film shows a woman being the slacker/killer , it's misogynistic.

[–] Lolawoo 9 years ago

Your understanding of feminism is very confused and flawed.

[–] theblackestmagic 8 years ago

No, I think the poster was pretty much right on target with their personal assessment of the whole situation and/or reactions that this film provoked in many people, mostly women. Many, if not most, feminists did indeed throw a jack s**t fit when this film was initially released and went on to unjustly claim that it was meant as being some sort of backlash against women and of feminism in general. Why exactly? Because it featured a single and career-driven female character who is shown in a negative light, and thus it somehow automatically equates to the film being filled with misogynistic attitudes towards women? Sorry, but your going to have to come up with a much better and more compelling argument that that.

"A cynic is what an idealist calls a realist". H.G. Wells

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] Fefu38 8 years ago

I'm a feminist and I love this movie. There are crazy and violent women. Hell, there were women in Nazi Germany who were guards in concentration camps!

I don't understand why a feminist would have a problem with this movie.

[–] CosyCatNap 8 years ago

As a woman, I completely agree. Psychosis knows no gender. How can people watch one character on screen and think "This is supposed to be an example of the entire gender/race/whatever"? We should judge the writing, the plausibility of a character's action etc.

But I have love in my heart - Yes, as a thief has riches, a usurer money