They say life isn’t always like the movies, and they’re right. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t learn from the silver screen, right? We’ve all had our fair share of doubts and stupidity, both in life and love. As Tere said, “Wala namang nagbibilang kung ilang beses ka nagpakatanga ‘di ba?” Tumpak.
Still, it doesn’t hurt to walk away from a movie feeling better and knowing better than you did before. Given the awareness of people on feminism, there is no shortage of films that have all made us feel so happy and strong as women, and here’s what they’ve taught us:
1. Never ever change yourself for a man. –Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Now Bridget Jones is the epitome of every woman in the world. She is true to herself. Moreover, even though it took her quite a long time to realize her worth, she knew that the man she deserved was not going to be someone who was a douchebag unsure of what he wanted and what he was doing about it.
2. Fight for the one you love. – Something Borrowed (2011)
While most people might choose to hold their peace, Rachel took a risk. She went out on a limb in the name of love, and it did not go well, at least not at first, but things fell into place, and she got what she deserved—the man she fought for, Dex.
3. Don’t hate your haters; prove them wrong. – Erin Brockovich (2000)
Don’t you just hate it when people talk smack behind you just because of your circumstances? Take it from Erin Brockovich and show them what you’re made of. What’s even more perfect is that this was from a true story. This single mom didn’t let her lack credentials stop her from doing what she was passionate about, and she proved herself to be a force to be reckoned with.
4. Accept yourself—the good the bad and the crazy— and forgive yourself for your mistakes. – The Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
This might just be the hardest thing to do. Just admitting your flaws is difficult, but know that your mistakes don’t make you who you are and that your past doesn’t define your future. Only when you’ve come to accept yourself will you be happy, because only then can other people accept you for who you really are.
5. Just because you’re a girly girl, it doesn’t mean you cant’ kick ass. – Legally Blonde (2001)
Remember Elle Woods’ video resume? Yep, that took the cake. But not only did she prove that blondes aren’t to be taken lightly, but she went above and beyond what could be expected of anyone. At first, her motivations seemed shallow, but she found a deeper purpose in what she was doing. She saw the discrimination women (not only blondes) face and took it upon herself to prove to the world that she could be both a girl’s girl and an awesome lawyer.
[crp]6. Women should support each other, not tear each other down. – The Other Woman (2014)
Having a common denominator may both be a good thing and a bad thing—you’ll have to make the choice to bring negativity or positivity into your life. Women have had a bad history of hating on each other, so it’s about time we changed that and let ourselves be better people. How? By working together and playing for the same team, the awesome team of women.
7. Unity in diversity is possible. – Pitch Perfect (2012)
There are different kinds of women in the world, but very rarely do you find souls that play well with you despite your quirks and flaws. In this case, Beca has. Why is it important to have girl friends who are there for you? Because they complement you. You learn from them, and they learn from you. Your friends will always be there for you and you for them, regardless of your differences.
8. Boldness is beautiful. – Charlie’s Angels (2000)
Gone are the days when women were expected to sit pretty and wait to be rescued. Thanks to characters like Alex, Natalie, and Dylan, the idea of women who know how to fight, who take traditionally male roles in things like espionage, law enforcement, and the military is nothing out of the ordinary. Women can be as tough as they like, and that doesn’t make them any less feminine.
9. Anything men can do, women can do just as well, if not better. – She’s the Man (2006)
Except maybe pee standing up. We’re kidding! In this movie, Viola Hastings had something to prove. She knew she was good enough and she worked hard to be good enough. Yes, she had to pretend to be a boy to prove her point, but it only goes to show that her skills were no joke. It’s proof positive that your gender should not define your skill level.
10. You do you. — Miss Congeniality (2000)
So you’ve decided you’re not going to bow down to pressure or expectations. You’re going to do and be what you want to do and be, and that’s perfectly fine, girlfriend. There’s no harm in trying new things, but never forget to do what makes you happy, never lose your mojo. You can be whatever you want to be, be it a police officer or a beauty queen, even both! You do you.