I really want to juxtapose this conversation of feral girls with a conversation about feral women. The shows mentioned are all about teenage/young adult women, right? Are we more likely to be charmed by/forgiving of feral behavior by underage women than we are middle aged women? Especially if those women are mothers?
I think about how appalled I was by the protagonist in “All Fours”, but how compelled I was by teenage Misty in “Yellowjackets”. Also, how I noticed myself granting much more leniency towards the teenage “Yellowjackets” characters versus their adult versions. Certainly I had way more grace for teenage Natalie than the messy, hardened adult Natalie.
I’m trying to think of other feral women who’ve earned our disgust versus the feral girls who’ve earned our admiration. Or maybe I’m totally off base and there’s many other examples of feral full grown women we root for! I just can’t think of them!
Wow, this is such a great point and honestly, not something I'd considered before. Thinking about it now, all of the women I can think of who have been labeled as "feral" are women society has typically shamed rather than celebrated. Women like Megan Fox (who was slut-shamed and branded as "difficult"), Miley Cyrus (whose provocative image and performances sparked constant public outrage), Britney Spears (whose mental health struggles and motherhood were relentlessly scrutinized), and Angelina Jolie (who was forever cast as "the other woman" blamed for breaking up Brad and Jen).
The only examples I can think of where women are actually celebrated for being messy are in fictional books, movies, and TV shows.
I can’t even think of fictional versions of celebrated messy women! Only teenage or college-aged girls! And yeah, we don’t like girls OR women feral IRL. Except to watch like circus sideshow freaks.
I really want to juxtapose this conversation of feral girls with a conversation about feral women. The shows mentioned are all about teenage/young adult women, right? Are we more likely to be charmed by/forgiving of feral behavior by underage women than we are middle aged women? Especially if those women are mothers?
I think about how appalled I was by the protagonist in “All Fours”, but how compelled I was by teenage Misty in “Yellowjackets”. Also, how I noticed myself granting much more leniency towards the teenage “Yellowjackets” characters versus their adult versions. Certainly I had way more grace for teenage Natalie than the messy, hardened adult Natalie.
I’m trying to think of other feral women who’ve earned our disgust versus the feral girls who’ve earned our admiration. Or maybe I’m totally off base and there’s many other examples of feral full grown women we root for! I just can’t think of them!
Wow, this is such a great point and honestly, not something I'd considered before. Thinking about it now, all of the women I can think of who have been labeled as "feral" are women society has typically shamed rather than celebrated. Women like Megan Fox (who was slut-shamed and branded as "difficult"), Miley Cyrus (whose provocative image and performances sparked constant public outrage), Britney Spears (whose mental health struggles and motherhood were relentlessly scrutinized), and Angelina Jolie (who was forever cast as "the other woman" blamed for breaking up Brad and Jen).
The only examples I can think of where women are actually celebrated for being messy are in fictional books, movies, and TV shows.
I can’t even think of fictional versions of celebrated messy women! Only teenage or college-aged girls! And yeah, we don’t like girls OR women feral IRL. Except to watch like circus sideshow freaks.
Love this