Photo: ‘Maid’
Netflix’s new series ‘Maid’ has garnered the acclaim and recognition it deserves. Audiences are brought on a harrowing journey of a young mother struggling to become financially and emotionally free from her contemptuous relationship The one-word title fails to capture the richly complex narrative of a woman maneuvering the financial and legal system to support her daughter while living below the poverty line. The vague title barely scratches the surface of a multifaceted story that leads Alex (Margaret Qualley) down a path where she is forced to redefine her identity as a mother, daughter, and confront childhood traumas that are impeding her personal growth. Viewers are transfixed as Alex and her three-year-old daughter, Maddy (Rylea Nevaeh Whittet), transition to a phase in their lives without the toxic presence of Alex’s boyfriend, Sean (Nick Robinson.)
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It is a powerful story that encapsulates the silent suffering of mental health that is exacerbated by the ongoing emotional abuse inflicted on a young mother and her daughter. It magnifies the complexity of the human experience and calls into question how past traumas can alter our sense of selves and what we are willing to accept for ourselves. Additionally, we’re introduced to the complicated relationship between Alex and her mother, Paula (Andie MacDowell, who happens to be Qualley’s real-life mother). Paula suffers from mental illness which causes further strain on her relationship with Alex. The show expertly acknowledges the various forms of mental disorders, generational trauma, and childhood trauma. We’re given a glimpse into the lives of three generations of women who are navigating life’s messy circumstances.
‘Maid’ – Let’s Talk Emotional Abuse and How It is Represented
There’s a reason ‘Maid’ is one of Netflix’s biggest hits. It is close to surpassing ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ and has remained on Netflix’s top ten most-watched list for two weeks in a row. The show provides a broad understanding of domestic abuse that goes perils of physical violence. The emotional implications that arise from a destructive relationship are revealed by Alex’s desperation for independence. It’s a harrowing journey to follow Alex as she copes with the pain from the present while struggling to come to terms with her past childhood trauma. What makes the show feel empowering is the strength of Alex to remove herself from a toxic situation and break the cycle of trauma for her daughter. She’s determined to start from the bottom that she can financially support a new life for her and Maddy. Netflix’s ‘Maid’ is a vivid representation of how mental health, poverty, and domestic abuse are closely linked.
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‘Maid’ challenges the government’s definition of domestic abuse and urges lawmakers to accept that abuse transcends just physicality and violence, it translates to emotional torture that can ruin someone’s life if they don’t have the resources to free themselves from the shackles of an abusive relationship. It is a messy road to find freedom and ‘Maid’ does not glamorize or sexualize a woman’s path to peacefulness. It is a show that is triggering for many who have experienced similar situations without a clear path forward, for those who are still in the middle of abusive relationships, and for those who did not even know they were stuck in emotionally abusive relationships with partners who consistently put them down and take advantage of their partners. The show may help to empower those who are finding it difficult to put into words the feelings of unhappiness and feeling stuck in a relationship that is not serving them happiness.
The True Story of ‘Maid’
The series is based on the novel written by Stephanie Land. At the age of 29, Land escaped from her abusive boyfriend as a single mother who then faced the prospects of unemployment. To survive below the poverty line, she moved into a homeless shelter with her daughter and sought support from the government. She found work cleaning houses for the elusive elite whose lives were the stark contrast of Land’s for her to understand the financial disparities within our country. As a writer, she was able to find a couple of freelance jobs and eventually wrote a published piece for Vox, “I spent 2 years cleaning houses. What I saw makes me never want to be rich,” which led to her writing a memoir, “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive,” based on her experience. The book became a New York Times bestseller which solidified Land’s independence from her abusive boyfriend.
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The series ‘Maid,” centers on the many different layers of emotional abuse but also on Alex’s will to survive and provide a more mentally stable future for her daughter. It is a gripping tale of a woman who decides to put the love of her daughter before her toxic relationship and is forced to reckon with the financial crisis for single mothers without financial security. Land’s show promotes the philosophy that a woman should never be made to feel that her life is devoted to a man who takes advantage and doesn’t provide an equal amount of support or respect to a relationship.
Key Takeaways
Land’s writing encourages viewers and readers of her novel to gain a new perspective on what it means to be poor and the humanity behind poverty. Additionally, Land’s story demystifies the definition of abuse by expanding that term to the emotional and mental torment that many endure. Netflix’s ‘Maid’ illuminates red flags to look out for in relationships, by showing examples of aggressive language and one partner taking advantage of the other partner’s financial means and generosity.
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One key feature ‘Maid’ exemplified is a partner manipulating another partner to believe as though they deserve the unhappiness they feel in a relationship or that having divorced parents is worse for a child than the toxic environment they subject them to. Alex’s motivation to break the cycle of pain for her daughter is her determination to do what she can to become a role model of a woman who takes control of her life and demands independence.
Cast: Margaret Qualley, Andie MacDowell, Nick Robinson
Writer: Molly Smith Metzler,
Director(s): Molly Smith Metzler, Bekah Brunstetter, Marcus Gardley, Colin McKenna, Michelle Denise Jackson
By Gina Michele Yaniz
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Black Lives Matter, in which he tackles more than just police reform, press freedom and more – click here.
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Gina Michele Yaniz is a writer and digital media content creator with a deep love for storytelling. Charmed by the notable influence of the entertainment industry, Gina is passionate about uplifting the voices of artists and celebrating powerful material. She likes to embody the philosophy of writing through a non-judgmental and a genuine perspective while expanding the perception of film industry. Along with Hollywood Insider, Gina values the responsibility the media holds and wishes to use her writing to provide meaningful content. During her free time, Gina loves to watch period pieces, stand-up comedy, and indulges on her avid interest for reading articles on self-care.
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Gina Michele Yaniz is a writer and digital media content creator with a deep love for storytelling. Charmed by the notable influence of the entertainment industry, Gina is passionate about uplifting the voices of artists and celebrating powerful material. She likes to embody the philosophy of writing through a non-judgmental and a genuine perspective while expanding the perception of film industry. Along with Hollywood Insider, Gina values the responsibility the media holds and wishes to use her writing to provide meaningful content. During her free time, Gina loves to watch period pieces, stand-up comedy, and indulges on her avid interest for reading articles on self-care.
