The rise of feminist tv shows has allowed women’s depiction in tv to be as diverse and complex as men’s. Fleabag, a prime example, is a dark satirical comedy show following a woman’s experience of life, love, and death. Traditional representations of women have typically been through the guise of men. Consequently reducing them to restricting and one-dimensional portrayals of a woman in traditionally feminine roles. Phoebe Waller-Bridge has subverted these traditional depictions. In this essay, I will be using theories from Judith Butler, Rosalind Gil, and Hilmes to gain a deeper understanding of women in film. As we explore how Fleabag represents:
- liberation for women in terms of having agency over their own bodies
- women in tv being active participants in their own sexuality
- having control over the narrative
- real women who are flawed and complicated
- the limitations of feminism in media in terms of intersectionality
To what extent does the tv show ‘Fleabag’ represent what it means to be a feminist today? Well through the exploration of female gender identity, sexuality, and class portrayed in Fleabag we will begin to answer that question.