Empowerment Through Rejecting Patriarchy

In the show "Why Women Kill," we get to explore societal norms and expectations across three different time periods. The series follows the stories of three women in the 1960s, the 1980s, and the early 2000s. These women are connected by the common themes of infidelity and murder. Through the stories of three women, the series displays how they resist patriarchal structures to take control of their own lives.

My favorite story of the series is the character of Beth Ann, played by Ginnifer Goodwin. She is a stereotypical housewife in the 1960s. When she discovers her husband's infidelity, Beth Ann blames herself for the infidelity and seeks to be a "better wife". As she navigates this experience, she begins to challenge her traditional gender role of a wife and takes charge of her destiny.

Over the season, Beth Ann realizes that being a wife is all she is, and without that, she loses her sense of identity. She has a crisis of identity and goes to confront April, her husband's mistress, played by Sadie Calvano. Instead of confronting her, Beth Ann befriends April, and they form an unconventional bond. They share an empowering relationship, and she unexpectedly becomes attached to April, much like a mother or mentor figure for April. April's character subverts the patriarchy by rejecting the role of the housewife and choosing to chase a career focused on her development and future.

Beth Ann ironically finds the strength and willpower she needs to escape her oppressive marriage from April. As her confidence grows, she realizes that the traditional notion that a woman's worth is tied solely to her role as a wife and homemaker is a false narrative. She is worth more than cooking, cleaning, and looking beautiful. She begins making plans to end her marriage and save her relationship with April, as that relationship has become much more important to her.

In the end, Beth Ann discovers that she is independent, her desires matter, and rejecting patriarchy makes her life more fulfilling.

Do you agree that women can experience personal growth and greater self-discovery through the rejection of patriarchal norms?

How do women redefine success and femininity while distancing from patriarchal ideals?