*Possible spoilers for S1-3 of The Bold Type ahead*
Happy International Women’s Day!
For those of you out of the loop or perhaps in a bit of a ‘what day of the week is it again?’ pandemic blur, International Women’s Day takes place every year on the 8th of March. It’s a day to celebrate women’s achievements while also raising awareness for women’s equality and raising funds for female-focused charities.
This year’s theme is #choosetochallenge: “We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge”.
3 people who certainly choose to challenge are the main characters from my favourite TV series The Bold Type which is now streaming on Netflix (Thank you Netflix Gods).
Described as “an updated version of Sex and the City, complete with Snapchat and topical hot-button issues” by Young Hollywood, the show had me hooked by episode 2 and became my go-to for feel-good viewing. Main characters Jane Sloan, Kat Edison and Sutton Brady are 3 successful women working at Scarlet Magazine. The show makes you feel like you are part of their little girl-gang as we see them tackle life as young women in NYC. With beautiful fashion, endearing and empowering storylines and a dash of feminism, it’s a wholesome celebration of female friendship and, arguably, female power.
And a question that they would easily answer for you on pages of Scarlet Magazine: Why do we need International Women’s Day?
Despite what post-feminist shows such as Sex and the City and the Bridget Jones films would have us believe, we aren’t quite there yet.
I mean, hello pay gap.
In fact in the UK the pay gap is currently at an average of 6.5%. The number of women in positions of power is decreasing – only 7.9% of CEO’s of EU companies are women. Rape convictions have declined to 2%. FGM, the rough sex defence, abortion laws and child-marriage are also a few of the many issues women are facing globally every single day.
So yes, we need International Women’s Day.
But why am I talking about The Bold Type?
Well, The Bold Type discusses many of the issues that International Women’s Day aims to bring attention to. In fact, I’m certain that almost every woman would relate to an issue in the show which has storylines revolving around everything from the orgasm gap to racial injustice.
A major storyline for much of the first 3 series (and probably series 4 – but I plan to binge it this weekend) is Tiny Jane’s confirmation of her BRCA gene status, meaning she is at increased risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. Not only does the show demonstrate the emotional distress this news is to a young woman in her 20s, it also deals with the issue of access to healthcare when Jane discovers her work health insurance will not cover egg freezing and she will have to fund the process out of her own back pocket.
The show explores how women have an unfair access to healthcare compared to their male counterparts. As Jane states: “Vasectomy, covered. Viagra, covered. Vagina, not covered.” Unfortunately, this is a fact that will ring true with women worldwide. Jane deals with this issue the only way she knows how and the only way she believes she can promote change – writing, producing an article that calls out her own employer for its outdated policies.
A major girlboss character of the series is Social Media Department head Kat Edison, who develops her identity as a black bisexual woman throughout the series. Despite her own difficulties in her personal life, Kat stands up for women often at risk to her own job security. Numerous scenes show Kat in the board members meeting, a smiling beacon in a patterned top, amongst a sea of greying/balding older men (a great representation of the patriarchy tbh) fighting for what she believes in – whether its hiring a woman who lacks a college degree or helping to free the nipple. Kat always speaks her mind even when that means calling out her friend for her White Privilege.
And then we have Sutton – a woman after my own heart who goes after what she wants. Sutton spends much of the series climbing the career ladder whilst being the mum of the group. In series 2, Sutton discusses gun control and her right to own a gun, a controversial topic to the shows main target audience of America. The incredible thing about The Bold Type is the way it deals with such sensitive and often political topics in a unique way. There is a lack of judgement for so many differing opinions allowing the viewers to often learn alongside the characters.
It’s pretty clear that the women in The Bold Type #choosetochallenge. And that’s something we can all get behind this International Women’s Day and everyday going forward.
Loads of virtual events are taking place this year: everything from writing workshops to yoga as well as panels, lectures and guest speakers on numerous topics from diversity to powerlifting; there’s something for everyone, so get involved.
Images not my own
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