Gilmore Girls is one of those feel-good shows that exceeds the standards of TV drama with its clever writing and realistic characters. As a result, the show has received critical praise and has gained a large fan base. Through its exploration of the trials of single motherhood, its exceptionally intellectual humor, and its characters whose personalities defy gender norms, Gilmore Girls has made significant, positive contributions to feminism. Their portrayal of successful, independent, single women is inspiring and continues to impact females of all ages.
Gilmore Girls is a fairly complex show, with many subtle subplots, interwoven backstories, and complex character motivations. However, the show never strays far from its main focus of the lives of Rory (the daughter) and Lorelai (the mother). The concept of having two female leads, especially ones as successful as Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham, was fairly new when the show was airing. Despite being narratively complex at times, the main overlying theme of the show is the life of a single mother: her personal trials, successes, and the struggles of raising a gifted daughter. For some context, Lorelei’s parents were among the rich and elite. They lived a lavish life and tried to raise Lorelai to be a perfectly well-behaved girl to represent their family. However, instead of complying to their demands, Lorelai rebelled and left the house. Despite becoming pregnant as a teenager and raising her child in a veritable shack, she overcame her trials, built a successful career, and raised a brilliant daughter all on her own. Lorelai's extraordinary feats and her overall independence depicts a powerful feminist message.
Throughout the show, Rory and Lorelai’s banter gives the scenes an academic atmosphere. Rory was a very good student, showing brilliance from a young age while developing a kind yet complex personality. The combination of these traits is rare in visual media, where women are often portrayed as gossipy, drama-obsessed, and vapid. Her intelligence and drive lead her to join a highly competitive private high school, and later gain admission into Yale where she would prove her leadership skills as editor of the university newspaper. Overall, Rory's motivation, empathy, and intellect inspires young girls, and sends a message that intelligence is something to be valued in a woman instead of something that is seen as “intimidating”.
Despite these aspects, Gilmore Girls does not always portray women in a purely feminist light. One stereotypically “female” activity that the mother and daughter do is shopping. The two love shopping and dislike physical activity greatly. This is something that I believe takes away from the feminist message in Gilmore Girls by reinforcing societal views of women as less physically involved. However, I believe that their assertive and intellectual personalities develop both characters as atypical female role models, making up for their relative disinterest in physical exertion.
Gilmore Girls features the journey of two women through the highs and lows of their lives. While they are relatively close in age for a mother-daughter pair, they are still separated by 16 years. This portrayal of a woman in her early 30s and a girl in her teens shows how age and experience affects the struggles one faces. Through this, the show manages to connect and relate to a large age-range of women. This is essential to the show's goal of female empowerment, as seeing and experiencing things alongside the characters captures the viewer's attention. This also allows the viewer to empathize more with the Lorelai and Rory, further emphasizing their impact.
Throughout the show, Rory and Lorelai’s banter gives the scenes an academic atmosphere. Rory was a very good student, showing brilliance from a young age while developing a kind yet complex personality. The combination of these traits is rare in visual media, where women are often portrayed as gossipy, drama-obsessed, and vapid. Her intelligence and drive lead her to join a highly competitive private high school, and later gain admission into Yale where she would prove her leadership skills as editor of the university newspaper. Overall, Rory's motivation, empathy, and intellect inspires young girls, and sends a message that intelligence is something to be valued in a woman instead of something that is seen as “intimidating”.
Despite these aspects, Gilmore Girls does not always portray women in a purely feminist light. One stereotypically “female” activity that the mother and daughter do is shopping. The two love shopping and dislike physical activity greatly. This is something that I believe takes away from the feminist message in Gilmore Girls by reinforcing societal views of women as less physically involved. However, I believe that their assertive and intellectual personalities develop both characters as atypical female role models, making up for their relative disinterest in physical exertion.
Gilmore Girls features the journey of two women through the highs and lows of their lives. While they are relatively close in age for a mother-daughter pair, they are still separated by 16 years. This portrayal of a woman in her early 30s and a girl in her teens shows how age and experience affects the struggles one faces. Through this, the show manages to connect and relate to a large age-range of women. This is essential to the show's goal of female empowerment, as seeing and experiencing things alongside the characters captures the viewer's attention. This also allows the viewer to empathize more with the Lorelai and Rory, further emphasizing their impact.
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