There were plenty of lessons to be learned from this so-hot-right-now Netflix movie that's all about gender equality and badass young women.
Netflix film, Moxie, directed by Amy Poehler and based on a YA novel by Jennifer Mathieu, was released just in time for International Women’s Day 2021. But did you know that “moxie” is an actual word? The term is defined as “confidence, courageous, and determination”, and that’s what the Netflix movie hopes to instill in today’s generation of young women. Armed with snacks and stationery, we watched Moxie and listed down the enlightening (and empowering) takeaways from the film for you and your daughter/s to easily digest.
6 simple “rules” to becoming a moxie girl
1. Keep your head up high
A moxie girl is someone who does not hide herself from the world. She holds her head up – not in a snooty way, but a cool, moxie way – and dares to raise her voice about things she feels strongly about. She lives her truth and stands tall. Lucy, the new student in the school, is a good example of how to be a cool, moxie girl. Despite being repeatedly antagonised and oppressed by a fellow student and the school system, she refuses to bow down and keep quiet. Instead, Lucy proudly declares: “I’m going to keep my head up, high.”
2. Find your tribe
It’s always daunting to have a go at things alone and nope, it’s not something that magically goes away once you reach adulthood – trust us, we know! So what can you do about it? You gotta put yourself out there (on your own terms, of course) and make connections. Vibe with different kinds of people, get to know them. You won’t get it right the first time, or many times thereafter, but slowly and eventually, you will have a core group of friends that you click and know will have your back, as you do theirs.
3. It’s okay to have different interests or opinions
Now that you have found your people, you should also be aware that everyone is inherently different and thus, they have interests and opinions that might vary from yours. And that’s okay! In the movie, Vivian and Claudia are best friends, but they didn’t see eye-to-eye when it came to protests. “I do care, okay. You just have to let me do things my way,” Claudia said.
Don’t force your ideologies onto others; rather, take the time to understand their thoughts. This teaches you to be open-minded and see things from different perspectives. That’s part of being a moxie girl.
4. Practise empathy
In the film’s denouement, head cheerleader Emma revealed something that she has kept hidden for so long. While she was speaking, everyone else listened and empathised. No interruptions, no “at least you’re…” rebuttals (you know you’ve heard those way too many times), no gaslighting. Emma was given the space to be vulnerable and it was a touching scene to watch. That is one exemplary way of practising empathy.
5. Feminism is for everyone!
Moxie has shown that being a feminist is not a “females only” thing: everyone else can (and should) participate in the movement too! During the two protests that unfolded, both girls and boys took part to show solidarity. Gender equality is everyone’s responsibility and thus, in essence, feminism is for everyone – regardless of race, age, gender, or sexual orientation.
6. Listen to your mother
Vivian was inspired to start her Moxie zine partly because of her “not a regular mom” Lisa. This is such a sweet gesture and shows how much Vivian looks up to her mother. Mothers are one of the few people who have been with us through our lives and they have so much wisdom to impart. Spend time with your mother, learn more from them, and who knows – you may be inspired to do something because of them.
Our view? As a neo-feminist empowerment movie marketed towards Generation Z, Moxie could do with a little more tweaking. But generally, it’s a good starting point for everyone to sit down and have a conversation on intersectional feminism, gender equality, being good allies, and standing up for one another. Girl power!
Have you watched Moxie on Netflix? What do you think? Let us know by sending us a DM on Instagram.