Katherine Turner
Olivia Wilde cannot be called the most prestigious female director. However, she is currently perhaps the most talked about female director. Twitter has been awash with speculation following the premiere of her latest work, ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ – whether that’s a result of her supposed seduction of castmate Harry Styles or her ongoing feud with lead actress Florence Pugh. But what does this mean for other women behind the lens?
Representation
It is naïve to think Wilde’s recent work, and the surrounding fallout, won’t affect other filmmakers. Like most marginalised groups, Wilde’s work and actions are not seen as hers alone. She represents all female directors, especially people unlikely to have been heard of, like Jane Campion or Chloé Zhao.
“she is top of the list when thinking about women directors”
Her name appearing in so many headlines means she is top of the list when thinking about women directors. That is why the ongoing drama surrounding the film. herself and its cast, is troubling for women in film.
Misogyny
“some age-old misogyny in the allegations”
Regardless of whether what is being said is true, there is at least some age-old misogyny in the allegations. At best, Wilde is abandoning her work to sleep with her fellow actor. At worst, she is a cougar abandoning her husband and children for a new man. It draws on the idea of the promiscuous woman – an often-used excuse for barring women from traditional male spaces.
Equally troubling are the battle lines being drawn by the press between Wilde and Pugh. Wilde may have acted unprofessionally, but much of the discourse focuses on her relationship with Styles rather than on changing dynamics on set. Perhaps this would allow women to feel more supported and encourage them to bring forward valid professional concerns.
Playing Women Against Women
“they would always end up being pitched as rivals”
There is also something worth noting about having two successful women in the same place. Pugh and Wilde occupy a similar place. Pugh’s role could have been played by Wilde. Unless they were gushingly supportive of one another, they would always end up being pitched as rivals by the media. Again this is part of a long tradition of misogyny and pitting women against one another.
Wilde isn’t the only female director out there, but she is one who, prior to all the alleged controversy, could still drum up anticipation for her projects. Viewers were excited to see Styles act, and Pugh has yet to make any wrong steps in her career. It’s sad to see the way Wilde is being treated by the court of public opinion. It only validates the kind of misogyny that blocks women from positions of power.
Featured image courtesy of Avel Chuklanov on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
