Why is Quantico’s Priyanka Chopra so Afraid of the F-word?

Quantico’s lead star Priyanka Chopra says the show is not feminist but claims it is progressive for women.

In a recent interview with Refinery29 to promote Quantico, Priyanka Chopra denied the show was feminist. Her exact words were:

I don’t think it’s feminist but it’s empowering. It’s got very strong female characters, and I don’t think it’s a bra-burning feminist show where you’re like, we hate men. We have really strong male characters, too.

This is usually the point at which – as a card-carrying feminist – I let out a long-suffering sigh and proceed to harangue everyone with a detailed history of feminism, its aims and achievements, victories and losses. I could tell you that feminism, in its foundational manifesto and fundamental essence, has always been about granting women equal political, economic and social rights. That bra-burning is a reductionist myth. That far from being ‘man-hating’, feminism seeks to liberate men from the brutal constraints of patriarchy too.

Or I could show you these three moments from the Quantico trailer which wouldn’t be possible without feminism.

Joining the FBI

This cool shot of PC striding into one of the most elite law-enforcement academies in the world would not have been possible without decades of lobbying by feminists to enable women’s entry into spaces historically restricted to them.

The Famously Diverse Cast

A hijab-wearing Muslim woman and an African-American female boss share space in a show that stars an Indian actress as its protagonist. This sentence exists in 2015 for a reason and the reason is third-wave feminism’s relentless campaign for greater, more nuanced representation of women of colour in media.

“We Had Sex in Your Car Six Hours Ago”

This moment right here has been represented, and received, as badass, sassy, sexy. Alex Parrish is supposed to be desirable and edgy, not ‘loose’ or morally reprehensible. Once again, thank the feminists. One of the major areas of emphasis in the feminist movement is a woman’s sexual independence, the right to use her body the way she wants without being stigmatised or punished for it.

In conclusion, feminism has generally made the world a much better place for everyone involved, fringe radical elements notwithstanding. And it is important that major public figures like Priyanka Chopra, who millions of young kids look up to, not make it a shameful or, worse, uncool thing to believe in. So sing it with me, loud and clear – feminism is our friend.