5 Movies and Shows That Radiate "Madam Vice President" Energy
If you were at all connected to the Internet in the past week, you might have been like the rest of America and the world –holding your breath throughout the first week of November. This past week, 2020 election week, has made history for a number of reasons, aside from giving us a historic number of Nevada related memes. Despite all odds and challenges presented by the pandemic, people around the country were still able to vote, and voter turnout was greater than ever before in US history. This election cycle gave us our nation’s first openly transgender state senator, the first openly gay Black men elected to congress, and the youngest member of Congress in modern history. And, as of Saturday, this election cycle gave us the 46th president of the United States, and the first ever vice president elect who is Black, of Indian descent, and a woman.
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As a little girl, I was always told that women can do anything—BE anything. But, as I got older I thought, if women can do anything, why haven’t I seen it? Why haven’t I read about it or heard about it? The names of famous men I knew at that age were the founders of great inventions like the telephone or the lightbulb, former presidents, CEOs, and businessmen. The names of famous women I knew at that age were Disney princesses or wives of presidents. And even to this day, women are underrepresented in a number of fields. Women currently make up around 20% of Congress members and 7.5% of all Fortune 500 CEOs. And though roughly 90% of nurses are women, only 20% are surgeons. Seeing a fellow woman elected to one of the highest offices of the country is one of the most empowering feelings, and I just had to point out five movies and tv shows that gave me similar “Madam Vice President” boss woman energy.
Charlie’s Angels
When I think badass women energy, Charlie’s Angels is the first movie that comes to mind. What could be more empowering than seeing a group of women fighters working together to take on the patriarchy?
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Grey’s Anatomy
Though Grey’s may be a medical show, it boasts a number of female characters with “Madam Vice President” energy: the iron-willed surgeon Miranda Bailey, the strong and independent double board certified neonatal surgeon Addison Shephard and the super smart and quick witted intern Christina Yang. And, throughout the sixteen seasons in which we’ve followed her story, Meredith Grey grew into a highly respected and accomplished surgeon and mother, showing us that strong powerful women are sometimes born, and sometimes made.
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Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde is another movie where we see our female protagonist grow into a strong, independent woman. Although fictional, Elle Woods’ journey from being a heartbroken ex girl friend to working her way through law school and graduating top of her class at Harvard serves as a reminder that we women can do anything we set our minds to.
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Scandal
This White House-centric drama aligns closely with the energy of a female vice president, with its number of powerful woman characters. Especially of note is Mellie Grant, who we saw grow from neglected wife and underestimated first lady to the fiercely independent and courageous president. Of course, I also have to mention the protagonist Olivia Pope, who skillfully cleans up any scandal and outmaneuvers every opponent.
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On the Basis of Sex
Last but not least, this film, portraying the late feminist icon Justice Ginsberg’s early fight for equal rights, is one that had to be included on this list. RBG spent her career fighting for women’s rights, vocalizing her support for important causes, and working to topple the patriarchy. Her life and story serve as an inspiration to women young and old around the world.
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This election, I’ve realized that the power of democracy is truly the power of the people to change the nation, and our choice in 46th VP shows us that the nation is indeed moving in a direction of social progress. Though we still have a ways to go in the improvements to be made and fights to take on, living in an America with a “Madam Vice President” is a good place to start.
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