husband – she unconsciously connects her self-worth to her perceived sexual desirability. And patriarchy convinces us that has an expiry date.

When Pennywise transports her back to a bathroom stall, during the third act confrontation of Chapter Two, it is a direct call-back to her terrorisation in the first film – specifically because the stall then floods with blood. But, this time, she saves herself by saving Ben, who is simultaneously being buried alive. It is her acknowledgement of the connection she feels to Ben that saves them both. This is important, because when Beverly’s deepest fears are seen in conjunction with those of the men in The Loser’s Club, we see that all of them result from the patriarchal social structure in which they have each grown to adulthood.

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