There has been much conversation about Juno and the reality (or lack of reality) it shows about teenage pregnancy. Many experts on the issue have criticized the ending of the film where Juno is playing guitar and hanging out with her boyfriend as if nothing happened. The reality is that an unwanted teenage pregnancy is most often a devastating experience for a young woman and that the film really glosses that over.
I am still impressed that Diablo Cody still speaks out about women's roles in Hollywood. Here is a short interview from January 2008's Glamour.
Q: You write great female roles. Do you feel like a spokesperson for actresses?
A: I feel like I am one of them. There are women who've played girlfriends for years, and it's unjust.
Q: Yeah, they either play the girlfriend or the bitch. Which is most annoying?
A: The girlfriend! It says women are secondary. At least the bitch gets to be an attorney or in the CIA.
Q: Unlike other teen girls in film, Juno's smart.
A: I've met so many girls who are articulate. It's infuriating when they are portrayed as airhears.
Q: Who got it right?
A: My So-Called Life, and Clueless's Cher is saavy. I'm doing what I can to unravel the dumb-girl stereotype.
Amen, Diablo.
