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What Women Want
Movie

What Women Want

2000 • Unknown

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

Advertising executive Nick Marshall is as cocky as they come, but what happens to a chauvinistic guy when he can suddenly hear what women are thinking? Nick gets passed over for a promotion, but after an accident enables him to hear women's thoughts, he puts his newfound talent to work against Darcy, his new boss, who seems to be infatuated with him.

Overall Series Review

The movie "What Women Want" (2000) centers on Nick Marshall, a chauvinistic advertising executive who gains the ability to hear every woman's thoughts after a domestic accident. The narrative is driven by Nick's initial abuse of this power to steal ideas from his new female boss, Darcy, and his eventual transformation into a more empathetic man and a better father. The film is a romantic comedy focused entirely on gender and the dynamics of the early 2000s corporate world. Its core conflict is the contrast between the traditional male perspective, embodied by Nick, and the emotional and professional challenges faced by women. The final message advocates for the value of listening, honesty, and emotional connection, suggesting that what women ultimately want includes professional respect, a caring partner, and a present father, which are framed as universal emotional issues. The movie's "wokeness" is mitigated by its focus on a male protagonist's redemption and its generally sentimental resolution.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics3/10

The narrative's central conflict is based on gender inequality in the workplace, not on race or intersectional hierarchy. The protagonist is a white male, but the plot forces him to confront his personal chauvinism and change his character, rather than vilifying him as a representative of 'whiteness.' His redemption through empathy aligns with judging character by the content of their soul, but his initial depiction as a sexist cad moves the score slightly higher.

Oikophobia1/10

The movie is a romantic comedy set in the contemporary American corporate world of advertising. There is no theme or message that promotes hostility toward Western civilization, one's home culture, or ancestors. The focus is on a modern, secular professional environment and the personal redemption of a man who learns to appreciate his relationships, including his family.

Feminism6/10

The movie has a moderate score because it directly engages with feminist themes of workplace inequality and the objectification of women. The plot introduces a 'Girl Boss' figure in Darcy, who is explicitly hired to overcome the male-dominated advertising culture. Nick, the male lead, is initially depicted as a toxic, emasculated-by-choice male archetype (a chauvinist who must learn empathy). However, the narrative ultimately resolves by affirming a complementary view: the female lead is shown to have vulnerabilities, and the key 'want' for women is not just a career but also a caring partner and a present father, mitigating a high anti-natalist or 'perfect female lead' score.

LGBTQ+2/10

The movie operates within a normative structure, centering on a traditional male-female romantic pairing and the nuclear family (Nick, his ex-wife, and daughter). The gender dynamic is strictly binary—male protagonist learns about women. One scene involves the male lead cross-dressing to better understand his female-targeted products, which is used solely for comedic effect, not as a vehicle for gender ideology or a focus on transitioning. Sexuality remains private and a secondary element to emotional growth.

Anti-Theism1/10

There is no overt theme of anti-theism. Religion is not a factor in the plot, and the magic power is gained through a purely physical accident (electrocution), not a spiritual or religious event. The morality is entirely secular, focusing on personal ethics, honesty, and empathy, neither advocating for nor showing hostility toward traditional faith.