Female Pleasure in Film and TV
Throughout history, women have been told to sit down, be quiet and keep to yourself. Growing up, we are constantly told that sex is purely an act of procreation, that it’s something females should endure not enjoy. It is normalised to a point that we start looking at female pleasure as something wrong, especially self-pleasure. I mean women like sex – I sure do anyway!
It’s not just for reproduction but it’s a moment of liberation, a moment for you to feel close to your partner or just simply a moment to feel good. However, like everything else the traditional idea of sex is aimed toward the man's need, that male pleasure is fine – it’s just ‘boys being boys’. On the other hand, female pleasure has traditionally been criticised or seen as something scandalous! I think that it’s time to change that, and here are some Film and TV shows that agree.
Here are my top Films and TV Shows that celebrate female sexual pleasure:
This show is great for more than one reason! It not only expresses female pleasure but exposes all the common awkwardness of sex in general and why we shouldn’t be phased by it. In particular, it shows female pleasure and female sexual liberation in a great light. For example, Aimee comes to Otis thinking something is wrong with her sexually. Instead of shaming her or telling her sex isn’t meant to be pleasurable, she is told to MASTURBATE! Aimee takes her time, but then goes on and does exactly that - which we are shown in a montage that screams pleasure.
This is personally one of my favourite shows ever! It’s not just fun-loving and full of drama but it has great moments that promote female pleasure and the concept of ‘your body your choice’. The main protagonist chooses to wait until marriage to have sex but does not shy away from her sexual desire through masturbation and oral sex. There is also a great focus on sexual pleasure for ageing women. Xo, the main protagonist's mum prides herself on being a sexual being and doesn’t shy away from speaking about sex. And I think the most refreshing retelling of sexual desire is from Alba, the main protagonist's Grandmother. Alba thinks about getting into a relationship but is scared of the physical aspect. We actually witness a solution - a vibrator. This is an important representation of female pleasure because pleasure is never associated with ageing - specifically when you're a woman.
This is not a film or TV show but a documentary. A documentary that focuses on five courageous, smart, and self-determined women breaking the silence imposed by their archaic, patriarchal societies and religious communities. However, their victory comes at a risk: they all have experienced public defamation, threats, and prosecutions, have been removed by the society they grew up in and even received death threats from religious leaders and fanatics.
Throughout the documentary, you see these females face the same issue: that the female body is subjected to male lust and is only really meant for procreation, without any regard for female sexual pleasure. These women decide to speak up and are the ultimate example of how courage, strength and zest for life can indeed alter societal structures.
This is a great and refreshing watch. It gives a new look into female pleasure; instead of something that is purely personal, the documentary focuses on the external and political pressures that coincide.
So many people know of the most recent phenomenon that is Bridgerton, the show that brings Gossip Girl into the regency era. Unlike other regency period dramas, this show not only shows the soft and quiet moments of lustful looks and hand touching, but also intense moments of sexual pleasure. One moment to mention is the montage of sex scenes between Daphne and the Duke, which shows multiple moments where Daphne’s sexual pleasure is the focus. The second moment is where Daphne takes a moment to focus on her and her own sexual pleasure – she takes her time to masturbate. This gives the show a great and refreshing edge, this is emphasised by Daphne’s great character arc, which shows her sexual awakening, and not just her need to marry a man for the sake of it.
The Bold Type is a great show about women and female friendships in the twentieth century. Even though the main premise focuses on three female employee workers at a fabulous magazine there is great focus on women and sexuality. This is established very early on when in one of the first episodes it is revealed that Jane (one of the main protagonists), has never had an orgasm before, which is becoming a barrier in her writing. One of the great parts of the show is the women's friendship; instead of shaming her for telling the truth, they help her get in touch with herself.
The To-Do List is a funny and fresh coming-of-age romantic comedy. Our main protagonist, Brandy, is preparing for college. Her friends help her realise that even though she is an excellent student she is sexually inexperienced. Brandy creates an explicit to-do list and is determined to lose her virginity before she goes to college. As she goes through the list, Brandy learns what’s really important and how to be fully in charge of her body and sexuality.
The film explores the relationship teens have with sex, the pressure to lose one’s virginity and the old-fashioned stigma around both having and not having sexual experiences. What’s refreshing is that Brandy makes the decisions herself and takes control of her own sexual pleasure.
Megan, a high school cheerleader, is forced by her family into a reparative therapy camp to “cure” herself of her homosexuality. Instead, she falls in love with another girl camper named Graham and comes to terms with her sexual identity.
In this colourful rom-com, gender is presented as a social construct, whilst satirising society’s views on the LGBTQ community and simultaneously commenting on the issues that exist inside it. The film comments on the idea of sexuality and femininity and gives viewers the opportunity to see a girl choose her own sexuality and sexual desire, despite the ongoing opposing forces.
A great added value is the choice to portray Megan as a cheerleader, which is not random. An American Cheerleader can be argued to be the stereotype of heterosexual femininity. This film is the story to oppose the stereotypes and is a great way to question what is “normal” and what is “queer”.
Here is another period piece that focuses on both the loving tenderness of a relationship and the steamy things that happen behind closed doors. The film features almost no male characters, and the story is purely motivated by the sexual desires of women, which entails a tender depiction of homosexuality in a time where it was forbidden.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire takes place in 1770 and follows a female painter who is hired to paint another woman’s portrait as a gift for her husband-to-be. In other depictions of lesbianism in film there seems to be a trend where it has been hypersexualised by straight men. However, this is not the case for Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Instead, it shows two women loving freely and does not shy away from the intricacies of the two women’s affair.
Written by Megan Binning
Hi, my name is Megan, I'm 22 years old and an MA Screenwriting student. I'm an aspiring screenwriter and love all things creative. I love everything writing including short stories, poetry, journalism, and script. I am particularly interested in writing about film/television and how it has impacted our lives, both the good and bad!
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