What, like it’s hard? — Women Wins

Guest post by Nia Carnelio

Ideally, of course, we all watch & consume women-led media throughout the year instead of just during March or on Women’s Day. But days celebrating women are still opportunities to draw attention to fantastic content from around the world that you may have missed — there are many TV shows, movies, and books to consume on any given day.

In today’s guest issue, I’m excited to share three of my absolute faves when it comes to powerful women — in their own rights — who excel in what they want to do despite their limitations (or those imposed upon them by society).

Despite being an apt example and an excellent movie, Legally Blonde isn’t one of my recommendations (not today, anyway).

Also, hi! I’m Nia, and I write Not Controversial — every week, I discuss something we all think about but probably don’t say out loud. Here’s a roundup of everything useful I’ve ever written about women (and their work/life/etc.)

---

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“Never let anyone make you feel ordinary.”

I made the mistake of picking this book up on a random Thursday in 2019 when I had a lot of work to do. Long story short, I sped through this book in a few hours and remained in that “what a goddamn book” euphoria for the rest of time.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a masterpiece. It follows Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood icon, who’s finally ready to tell all — there’s glitz, glamour, and a whole lot of scandal in her life that had me hungrily turning the pages.

Let me confirm that I am one of many, many people who would happily read TJR’s grocery list. That being said, I’ve read several more of her books, and while they’re great, none have come close to touching the brilliance of this one.

Our protagonist, Evelyn Hugo, is as beautiful as she is human — which is to say, she’s flawed, makes mistakes, and is occasionally hella unlikeable. Still, she works hard, is relatable in so many ways, and you find yourself rooting for her success and happiness as the chapters go on.

To quote my review from my first read (yes, I’ve read this book thrice since then and bought a special edition),

“I loved just how unapologetically passionate and fierce this book was. Hugo as a protagonist is mindblowing, and I am in awe.”

Every single time I’ve read this novel, I’ve loved just how layered the protagonist is. She’s not a manic pixie dream girl, she’s not the beautiful but brainless love interest, and she’s not the amazingly strong and undefeatable heroine. She’s just Evelyn Hugo, trying, like us all, to find love in a very difficult industry and world.

She’s got depth, she’s got personality in spades, and she’s exactly how the book portrays her to be: an iconic movie star who’s clawed her way to the top, unapologetic about wanting her success— during a time and in a world where women (especially those with her skin colour and looks) have few choices in how they live.

Pick it up to celebrate a fierce, intensely complex, and brilliant female protagonist (who has a great story).

English Vinglish (Hindi language film, 2012)

“You speak such good English!” [Implied: for an Indian]

I can’t count the number of times people have said this to me — even when they realized I have a Master’s in English Literature. Unless you look a certain way and/or have the ‘right’ passport, people always assume that English isn’t something that comes naturally (natively) to you. And well, they’d be right, except for the 200-year colonialism.

English Vinglish is the story of Shashi, an Indian housewife who’s competent in many, many things except speaking English. Her own family members mock her ineptitude in English despite her successfully running a small business, not to mention being a top homemaker and ensuring everyone in the family is cared for at the same time.

When she goes to the US for her niece’s wedding, a few weeks ahead of the rest of her family, she seizes the chance to learn English formally — a terrifyingly bold decision for someone who’s so much outside their comfort zone and in a completely new country for the first time.

Despite the hurdles, the mockery, and the actual struggle of learning English (her third or fourth language), her bravery is beautifully depicted alongside her friendships with other immigrants learning English.

In particular, my favourite moment is this exchange, which brings to the forefront how men are celebrated for the very thing women do silently every single day (the gendered difference in jobs/hobbies) —

A wholesome, inspiring, and brilliant watch¹ . This was also on India’s 2012Academy Award (for an International Feature Film) shortlist.

P.S. Read about women’s mental loads — something Sashi takes on fully without any appreciation from her family.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (Netflix)

Being a woman in a male-dominated field is already hard. Being autistic adds another challenge for Attorney Woo, who, despite graduating top of her class from one of the most prestigious universities in South Korea, can’t find a job that easily.

When she finally gets her foot in the door (albeit with some help), there’s a lot more for her coworkers to learn and unlearn about working with her. Armed with an eidetic memory and intelligence to boot, she blows everyone out of the water when it comes to recalling laws and legal thingamajigs.

However, the best thing about following her journey is to see how she befriends and works with others who slowly learn to recognize she’s more than someone who’s awkward but super smart. Her unique approaches to cases (especially those with questionable ethical issues) are fascinating to watch.

Watch for an incredible journey, some great characters, and a whole lot of character development.

1. Would’ve preferred a slightly more risky ending where she humbles her unsupportive family a little more and chooses happiness a bit more drastically but it’s extremely realistic in the way it portrays real life and choices.