Why female rage is pop culture’s new obsession

“PLEASE. I’M A STARRRR.”

Every girl to ever exist has felt this level of cataclysmic, simultaneous rage and heartbreak.

All of us. Every single one.

But it’s not often that it’s been so perfectly portrayed in cinema as it was by Mia Goth's iconic character, Pearl.

However, she’s not the only one to have graced our screens as of late, tears and blood clad, oozing pure, undiluted anger.

It’s not pretty. And it shouldn’t be.

But we’ve officially entered the era of the enraged woman.

Pop culture has a new(ish) trope: the resurgence of female rage. And it’s hitting. Hard.

For decades, anger was never a good look on women—at least, that’s what mainstream media said. Women in pop culture were either composed, quietly suffering, or framed as "hysterical" when they dared to express rage (we’re sorry, 2007 Britney.)

But in 2024, that rage was front and centre. Unapologetic, and more cathartic than ever.

It seems we are all holding hands and whispering in unison: it’s okay to be mad.

We’re witnessing a cultural shift where female rage is no longer something to be dismissed or ridiculed—it’s being celebrated.

From Pearl’s insanity to Saltburn’s Maddie Ziegler screaming in the bathtub, from Olivia Rodrigo’s entire brand to Beyoncé and her baseball bat - this isn’t just a moment, it’s a full-blown movement.

It’s also, not just in film and music.

The rise of the "feral girl" aesthetic in fashion and beauty—think smudged eyeliner, ripped tights, and an undone air of chaos, speaks to the same emotional undercurrent.

Women are leaning into messiness and destruction as a form of self-expression, rejecting the need to be palatable at all times.

Why now?

In the past, you would have to justify a woman’s anger in media. Whether through a great injustice she’s experienced, a betrayal, a bad husband, a bad boyfriend, a heartbreak.

Probably because it was too glaringly real to accept there’s a lot of things so deeply and constitutionally wrong about the way we’ve been, and continue to be, treated.

Movies now channel a kind of collective rage and address real-life issues – from careerwomen trapped in tradwife-esque nightmares like Don’t Worry Darling, to revenge plots like Blink Twice.

This explosion of female rage isn’t random; it’s a direct response to cultural and societal shifts.

Years of political regression on women’s rights, increasing frustration with systemic inequality, and the exhaustion of performing politeness in a world that doesn’t reciprocate have all contributed to this collective emotional release.

We’ve also reached a point where audiences want stories that reflect their lived experiences. After decades of male-centric narratives, women are finally seeing their anger mirrored back at them in media. And it’s resonating—because it’s real.

The question is, should brands tap into this?

Here’s where things get tricky. Female rage is authentic. If brands attempt to co-opt it in a way that feels performative or pandering (see: every failed "feminist" ad campaign ever), they risk backlash. But that doesn’t mean brands should ignore this shift entirely.

The key is understanding the difference between capitalising on female rage and acknowledging it.

Brands that can authentically align with this energy—whether through raw, honest storytelling or supporting initiatives that actually empower women—have an opportunity to connect in a way that feels genuine.

The brands that try to sell empowerment through a pink-washed, commercialised lens? They’re about to get screamed at.

Female rage in pop culture isn’t just a fleeting trend. It’s a reflection of real-world frustrations that have been simmering for years.

From the #Metoo Movement to Epstein Island and now the inauguration of You Know Who, I expect this pop culture phenomenon won’t be slowing down any time soon.

Whether it’s on our screens, in our music, or even in the way we dress, it’s clear that there's no stopping the world we live in from seeping into the media we consume. What do they say? Art imitates life imitates art.

The question isn’t whether this movement will last, it’s how we'll respond.

-Sophie, Writer