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The document discusses the portrayal of gender roles in the Netflix series "Bridgerton". It notes that in the early 1800s setting of the show, men were expected to be the heads of households and women were largely expected to marry young. While most female characters embrace these domestic roles, Eloise Bridgerton desires education and a life beyond marriage. However, the document criticizes that Eloise is the only character who diverges from the social norms, and that she holds a condescending view of women who do want marriage. For the show to have a truly progressive portrayal of feminism, it argues there needs to be more complexity and variety in how women view marriage and ambition.

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Zimal Tahir
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191 views2 pages

Script For Presentation

The document discusses the portrayal of gender roles in the Netflix series "Bridgerton". It notes that in the early 1800s setting of the show, men were expected to be the heads of households and women were largely expected to marry young. While most female characters embrace these domestic roles, Eloise Bridgerton desires education and a life beyond marriage. However, the document criticizes that Eloise is the only character who diverges from the social norms, and that she holds a condescending view of women who do want marriage. For the show to have a truly progressive portrayal of feminism, it argues there needs to be more complexity and variety in how women view marriage and ambition.

Uploaded by

Zimal Tahir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Slide 4

the show itself incorporates a lot of important details about the gender roles that existed
during the early 1800s.

Anthony, the eldest Bridgerton, is asked by his mother in the first episode, “Are you merely the
older brother, or are you the man of the house?” This question shows the patriarchal
expectations that existed at the time, as men were expected to step up and be the leaders of
their given households.

Bridgerton also shows the domestic roles that women, especially those of the upper class, were
expected to have in society. Women were expected to be married off at a very young age to a
man within their given social class.

One character, however, who fights against this norm is Eloise, one of the Bridgerton sisters.
Eloise desires a life that does not simply revolve around marriage as she instead dreams of
attending college. This dynamic can be seen in episode two when she says,

“Having a nice face and pleasant hair is not an accomplishment. Do you know what is
an accomplishment? Attending university! If I were a man, I could do that, you
know.”

This shows that society wasnt very keen on sending girls/women for higher education.

Looking at the gender roles that exist within society today, it is evident that women now have
more freedom in deciding what they want to do with their lives, as well as who, and even if,
they desire to marry. However, these classic gender roles are still apparent, as men are
expected to be the heads of their households—in which they hold a job and are the only
provider—while women are expected to be the nurturing caregivers who remain at home to
take care of the children as well as the household. Even though a few of the show’s characters,
such as Eloise, defy their expected gender roles, the majority eventually fall into these roles due
to social pressures.

Slide 5
there are only two attitudes towards marriage expressed by “Bridgerton”’s women. Majority of
the female characters are seen to be dreaming of being a wife and obsessed with the concept
of marriage, including the female lead Daphne.

The only female character who deviates from this attitude is Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie),
Daphne’s younger sister. Eloise is completely uninterested in a domestic life. She also
frequently serves as the voice of feminism of the show, almost as though she serves as an insert
for “Bridgerton”’s modern audience.

A small part of this problem lies in the fact that Eloise’s particular take on feminism is deeply
condescending to other women who do participate in the “marriage mart.” Throughout the first
season, she implies her sister and other girls who wish to marry are unaccomplished,
unintelligent, and living dull, unworthy lives. In short, Eloise is “not like other girls,” and to have
the most progressive voice in the show be so mean and dismissive is deeply frustrating.

by having Eloise be the only woman with divergent views of matrimony, “Bridgerton” creates a
false dichotomy where every female character is either completely obsessed with domesticity
or completely uninterested, with no room in between.

If “Bridgerton” wants to be progressive and feminist, it is not enough to just insert a character
who thinks marriage is stupid. Viewers deserve to see the complexity of these emotions
represented on screen, rather than be presented with stories that make these different life
paths seem predestined — where women are either romantic or ambitious by nature and never
the two shall meet.

furthermore, just because Anthony is the eldest does not mean all the responsibility should be
thrown on his shoulders. the societal pressures make it hard for him to progress as he is not
able to do what he wishes and is bound by his mother to perform the duties as the "man of the
house".

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