Is Girls Like Girls woke?
Girls Like Girls (2026)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2026
Wokeness Score
8/10
Strongly Ideological
Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
Key Summary Points
- Centers explicit lesbian romance and queer self-acceptance as the main plot driver in a coming-of-age story.
- Directed by Hayley Kiyoko, a prominent LGBTQ+ figure, adapting her own song and novel promoting same-sex attraction.
- Market positioning and reviews highlight themes of 'queer joy,' identity exploration, and representation for marginalized sexual orientations.
Wokeness Analysis
Directed by openly lesbian artist Hayley Kiyoko and adapted from her hit song, music video, and bestselling novel explicitly centered on same-sex female attraction, the film centers a queer coming-of-age romance as its core narrative. The story follows 17-year-old Coley navigating grief over her mother's death while developing romantic feelings for another girl, Sonya, who is also unfamiliar with dating girls, emphasizing themes of self-acceptance, embracing same-sex emotions, and overcoming internal doubts about queer identity. Marketed heavily within LGBTQ+ contexts, including Frameline screenings and references to 'queer joy' and representation for 'girls like girls,' the project prioritizes visibility and affirmation of lesbian experiences in a rural, post-loss setting. While incorporating grief and adolescence, the intentional focus on a WLW (women-loving-women) love story as the emotional and thematic engine, backed by Kiyoko's personal brand as a 'lesbian icon,' positions the ideology of queer self-discovery and acceptance as the primary driver. This results in a message-driven approach where plot and characters serve to normalize and celebrate non-heteronormative relationships, often at the expense of broader entertainment or neutral storytelling, leading many viewers outside the target demographic to perceive it as agenda-driven rather than purely escapist.
Plot
Coley, a 17-year-old girl from rural Oregon, grapples with intimacy and self-doubt after her mother's death while living with her estranged father. She meets Sonya, sparking new romantic feelings that challenge her uncertainty about dating girls. Over one sun-drenched summer, the two navigate their budding relationship, learning to embrace their emotions amid grief, adolescence, and personal growth. The film features original music by director Hayley Kiyoko and explores first love in a heartfelt, candid manner.