heropening

Heropening is a term used in media studies and literary criticism to describe the opening segment of a work that foregrounds a female protagonist’s perspective, voice, or experience. As a compound of “her” and “opening,” it captures how the initial pages or minutes establish narrative authority through a woman’s point of view, setting, and thematic concerns. The term is informal and relatively recent, appearing in online discussions and academic writing about gender representation in narrative media.

There is no single origin for the word, and its usage is not standardized. “Heropening” emerged in the early 2020s within discussions about how openings shape audience expectations and identify agency for female characters. It is often found in analyses of film, television, and literature, with variations such as the hyphenated form. Because it is still a developing concept, writers may apply it somewhat differently across disciplines.

In practice, a heropening refers to opening scenes or early chapters that center on a female character’s experience, choice, or inner world, using techniques such as camera work, voiceover, or narrative framing that foreground her perception. Critics use the concept to explore how openings establish gendered vantage points, influence genre expectations, and set the tonal and thematic agenda for the work.

Critiques note that while the term can illuminate patterns of representation, it can also be overgeneralized if applied without attention to broader narratological elements. When used carefully, heropening complements analyses of point of view, voice, and narration to assess how female agency is introduced and sustained from the outset.

See also: feminist film theory, gender representation, point of view, narration, opening scene.