‘Baby Girl’ on Female Leadership: no Leader in bed

Imagine a woman being the head of a company. She must be bossy, cold, and strict. She’s the embodiment of leadership: demanding respect, taking charge, and commanding authority in a world that expects her to be both tough and approachable, powerful yet nurturing. But what happens when the narrative around female leadership shifts, and the portrayal of women in positions of power intertwines with the idea that they need a leader in a completely different context: the bedroom?

The 2025 film „Baby Girl“ explores this very idea, presenting a romanticized version of female leadership and autonomy while juxtaposing it with the notion that even the strongest women need a figure of control when it comes to their romantic and sexual relationships. The film follows the protagonist, a strong, independent woman navigating the complexities of her professional life, while also exploring her personal relationships and the emotional intricacies of power dynamics in the bedroom.

The film crafts a portrait of a modern woman juggling the expectations of the corporate world, personal desires, and societal pressures. Yet, as we follow her character’s journey, „Baby Girl“ introduces a recurring theme: the seemingly paradoxical need for a leader in a personal, intimate context. The movie blurs the lines between power in the workplace and in romantic relationships, implicitly suggesting that while women can take charge professionally, there exists a complex interplay where they might desire a leader in their personal lives. This reinforces a troubling stereotype: the strong, assertive woman who leads by day requires someone to take control in the bedroom by night.

This narrative contributes to a broader cultural message that perpetuates the idea that women, even those with high levels of agency and success, need to relinquish control in their romantic and sexual relationships. While the film doesn’t outright demonize female empowerment or leadership, it implicitly feeds into the stereotype that a powerful woman, to be truly fulfilled, must eventually seek a man to lead her sexually, suggesting that a woman’s autonomy in the workplace isn’t enough.

This romanticization of power dynamics in relationships, where women who lead must find a counterpart to dominate them sexually, also carries implications for how we view female leadership in general. It reinforces the idea that there’s something inherently ‘unbalanced’ or unnatural about women holding power and that a woman’s fulfillment can only be complete with the presence of a male figure who ‘takes charge’ in more intimate spheres. This is not only reductive, but it also distorts the understanding of leadership as a whole: be it in the office or the bedroom.

In reality, women’s leadership should not need to be tethered to the concept of sexual submission, nor should their professional success be framed as an incomplete endeavor without a male counterpart who ‘takes charge.’ Leadership should be defined by an individual’s ability to make decisions, inspire, and manage responsibilities—whether they are in a boardroom or in any other aspect of life.

By Sophie Schiller