Sexual Harassment Not Taken Seriously

6 Tropes 2 Movies
Table Of Contents

Conservative Trope Examples

  • Love Actually (2003)
    Hugh Grant, playing the Prime Minister of the UK, shows interest in his secretary Natalie, and there are many interactions with his staff about whether she is overweight that were played for laughs such as her being "the chubby girl". In a later scene, a frustrated Hugh Grant asks aloud to himself, “Who do you have to screw around here to get a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit?” His secretary Natalie happens to walk in at just that moment with tea and biscuits, and it's funny because they have been hinting at a romance between the two. He eventually decides to fire her because she was too much of a distraction to him, and -- later realizing that was a mistake -- seeks her out at her home. In their final scene together he quips, "God you weigh a lot!", and she responds coyly "Oh, shut your face" and kisses him.
    Other Tropes: Body Shaming Women
  • Bridget Joness Diary (2001)
    Bridget (Renée Zellweger) confidently wears a see through shirt and short skirt to work, making a point to slowly walk past Daniel's (Hugh Grant) office. He quickly emails her to let her know her outfit "failed parlously" at catching his attention and she teases back "how dare you sexually harass me in this impertinent manner?," but made it abundantly clear she had no problem with him commenting on her seductive attire. He feigns an apology before letting her know he likes her "t*ts in that top."
  • Bridget Joness Diary (2001)
    Daniel (Hugh Grant) grabs Bridget's (Renée Zellweger) buttocks without saying a word while they are riding in the elevator together. Once they depart the elevator he asks her out to dinner and she flirtatiously declines multiple advances, but appears to be playing hard to get based off her smile and giggling as she walks away.
  • Bridget Joness Diary (2001)
    'Uncle' Geoffrey (James Faulkner) firmly squeezes Bridget's (Renée Zellweger) buttocks and proceeds to ask her how her love life is going, which she responds with "super! Thanks, Uncle G."
  • Bridget Joness Diary (2001)
    Daniel (Hugh Grant) and his associate gawk at Bridget (Renée Zellweger) from his office as she walks by in a short black skirt. Daniel immediately sends Bridget an email telling her they have a "serious problem" because "you appear to have forgotten your skirt." Instead of reporting her boss to HR for blatant sexual harassment, Bridget giggles and then responds by saying her skirt is just fine and then anxiously awaits Daniel's reply.
  • Bridget Joness Diary (2001)
    A potential employer offers to hire Bridget (Renée Zellweger) on the spot and tells her that "no one ever gets sacked for shagging the boss" at his company after she tells him she wants to change professions after having sex with her current boss.