Culture How To Watch A Rom-Com In 2019 Our favourite guilty pleasure has had a progressive makeover – and the result is exactly the escapism we need right now. By Kate Leaver Culture Our favourite guilty pleasure has had a progressive makeover – and the result is exactly the escapism we need right now. By Kate Leaver Previous article ‘How To Not Be A D***head’: What Women In Sport Can Teach Men Next article ‘Being Known Helps, What You’re Known For Matters’: Uber’s Comms Directors On Reputation, Authenticity & Saying Sorry Julia Roberts tries to sabotage her best mate’s relationship, and claim the groom for herself, in My Best Friend’s Wedding. Meg Ryan hires an investigator, and hacks police records to track down Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle. Andrew Lincoln hordes footage of Keira Knightley, and then betrays his best friend, to declare his love for her in Love Actually. Sandra Bullock literally pretends to be in a relationship with a man in a coma, while she falls for his brother, in While You Were Sleeping. And John Cusack essentially stalks the woman he wants in Say Anything.It’s fair to say that the classics of the romantic comedy genre relied on some pretty problematic storylines to lure us into the cinema. The gender dynamics are troubling. The glorification of creepy behaviour, dressed up as romance, is toxic. The concept of a healthy relationship is deeply flawed. These films probably taught at least a generation of us that a grand romantic gesture, preferably one that infringes a woman’s freedom or right to privacy, is a pre-requisite for love. It’s a certified mess. culture Best Of Future Women Culture “Never an excuse”: Why Katrina still can’t stand the smell of bourbon By Sally Spicer Culture Janine never thought divorce would mean losing her family and friends By Sally Spicer Culture “Invisible victims”: Why Conor was forced to live in an unsafe home By Sally Spicer Culture Miranda*’s mothers group helped her escape abuse. Then the stalking began By Sally Spicer Culture “We can’t change this on our own” By Melanie Dimmitt Culture “Marching forward means ensuring all our voices are heard” By Melanie Dimmitt Culture Dr Ann O’Neill’s husband committed “the ultimate act of revenge” By Sally Spicer Culture The question victim-survivors like me are tired of being asked By Geraldine Bilston Your inbox just got smarter If you’re not a member, sign up to our newsletter to get the best of Future Women in your inbox.
