Why am I so inspired by female rage?

What better way to showcase the beauty of female rage than to live vicariously through some of women’s most iconic on-screen crash-outs.

During the weeks following Donald Trump’s inauguration, we’re publishing a series of guest essays that speak to the key issues Diem stands for. Lastly: Layla Ahmad on female rage.

But first, here’s what else people are talking about on Diem:

1. Anyone else feel like they never had good friends?

2. Can someone tell me what this whole mouth taping trend is?

3. What’s a good lubricant for post-menopause women who are sexually active?

4. What are the must-have self-care items after an abortion?

5. Have you had an anal orgasm?

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Rage. You (like me) might find yourself feeling it when you go to bed, wake up, scroll on your phone, or simply think about the current vaguely depressing state of our world right now. The one thing that acts as a salve for my hyperactive mind? You guessed it… movies! And not just any movies, but movies that speak to the particular pain of being a woman in modern society. What better way to showcase the beauty of female rage than to live vicariously through some of women’s most iconic on-screen spats, beefs, screaming matches, and crash outs. Behold, the best examples of female rage in pop culture:

• Pearl in MaXXXine, X, and Pearl: Pearl kind of wrote the book when it comes to rage. She wanted to be famous. She lowkey murdered a bunch of people… but hey, it worked, because in the end she DID become a big star—and with no man’s help to boot. While some of the bloodshed made me queasy, who can’t relate to wanting something so bad that you’ll go to any lengths to get it?

• Iris in Companion: Iris (spoilers sorry) is a woman who is deeply in love with her loser boyfriend…until she finds out that she is actually a robot designed to satisfy and obey his every whim. You can guess what happens next. It’s a really satisfying portrait of breaking free of control (yes...there is also violence) and it speaks to anyone who has ever felt less than, boxed in, or belittled.