VOLUME II / ISSUE VII / JULY 2018
SHONDA RHIMES How often do you hear the phrase “strong male characters”? Probably not very much, but the entertainment industry is quick to point out whenever a “strong female woman” makes it onscreen. And Shonda Rhimes is sick of it.
Earlier this year, the producer and creator of some of the most beloved female-driven shows, such as "Grey’s Anatomy," "Scandal," and "How to Get Away With Murder," made the case that although using phrases like “strong female character” or “smart female lead” might be well-intentioned, these qualifiers are not just redundant and condescending. “OK,” she tweeted. “Entertainment industry, time to stop using the phrases ‘Smart Strong Women’ and ‘Strong Female Leads.’ There are no Dumb Weak Women. A smart strong woman is just a WOMAN. Also? ‘Women’ are not a TV trend—we’re half the planet.”
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The New Dialogue