The most effective traces from Bridgerton’s third instalment undoubtedly comes from one of many season’s MVPs: the sequence’ reply to Kris Jenner, Portia Featherington (Polly Walker).
“You know what is romantic? Security,” she scoffs at her daughter Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) dismissing her desires of a storybook romance as an final aim. After all, Bridgerton is ready within the Regency period, however this line resonates all through the season.
Penelope (aka Girl Whistledown) is without doubt one of the solely girls of the Ton along with her personal monetary means past marriage or inheritance — a covert state of independence she shares along with her buddy, modiste Genevieve Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale). Penelope’s work as a secret gossip columnist brings in extra money than the Bridgerton males might fathom, and but, she continues to be compelled to “take a husband”, as a way of escaping her household and persevering with to hide her earnings.
When Colin discovers Penelope’s id, alongside his disdain for her reporting on issues regarding him and his household, he reveals a degree of jealousy. An aspiring author himself, Colin exhibits an lack of ability to simply accept his fiancée’s publishing success, her ability as a wordsmith, and the truth that her work means she will be able to afford to pay Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) 1000’s of kilos in blackmail cash — with out his assist. “What good am I to you?” Colin asks repeatedly, believing his price in a relationship is outlined by his potential to deal with her — financially, and when it comes to her social standing by marrying her. To Colin, if his wife-to-be does not want him — his cash, his standing, his obvious superior mind — he’s uncertain what his position is within the relationship. And it is actually Penelope’s feminine pals Genevieve and (finally) Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie), not her husband, who help her in reclaiming the authority she’s labored so arduous to determine.
Why is Colin really mad at Penelope in Bridgerton?
Credit score: Liam Daniel / Netflix
In Bridgerton Season 3, Half 2, we see Colin angered by Penelope’s writing and its real-world influence, however we additionally see him really feel threatened by and envious of her success. Whereas her accomplishment as Whistledown, a place Eloise deems as having “nearly as much power as the Queen”, may very well be seen as an empowering instance to set for different girls of the Ton in pursuit of safety — monetary or in any other case — we as an alternative see Colin react by imposing his insecurities on Penelope. When Penelope suggests she makes use of her earnings to pay Cressida off, Colin seems possessive and proud, telling Penelope “it is not up to you” what occurs and decides to take the scenario into his personal fingers — and in doing so, makes it a lot worse. Whereas Colin finally admits his jealousy of Pen’s energy, even celebrates it within the sequence finale, initially all he sees is how Penelope’s secret id and monetary success disempowers him.
What Colin didn’t realise is that safety in a relationship have to be cultivated mutually via belief and help, and individually, via two people feeling empowered to pursue their very own successes and desires. Portia, emblematic of Regency repression, tells her daughter: “Ladies don’t have dreams. They have husbands.” This irritating, unprogressive dynamic is not contained to the Regency interval, and persists within the modern-day, sadly.
It isn’t simply Regency girls hiding their success
Credit score: Liam Daniel / Netflix
Research have proven that ladies who’ve a “higher social status” are a lot much less probably to achieve success in romantic relationships. And for these in heterosexual relationships, a lady’s skilled, monetary, or social success can influence a person’s shallowness and psychological well being, in addition to a lady’s motivation to comply with her desires, says medical psychologist Dr Sarah Bishop.
“According to a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, men’s self-esteem can significantly suffer when they perceive their partner as outperforming them, potentially leading to mental health issues such as depression,” she explains. “On the other hand, the fear of straining relationships may cause women to downplay their achievements, as highlighted by research in the American Economic Review. This can result in career stagnation and unrealised potential.”
Girls’s temptation to cover their achievements and never attempt for their very own monetary safety is horrifying in relation to the massive drawback we then undergo on high of grappling with a gender pay hole and a value of residing disaster.
Credit score: Liam Daniel / Netflix
In Bridgerton, girls not solely conceal their impartial means, however are punished for searching for it in any respect. Cressida Cowper’s character arc this season is a major instance of a lady resorting to pragmatic means to realize monetary safety — and being disciplined for it. After being advised that her father might be reducing off her allowance if she doesn’t discover a husband, she makes use of petty and aggressive means to attempt to win over Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), earlier than being compelled into an organized engagement with a person thrice her age. Determined for a manner out and with a plan to depart the Ton for Europe, she’s impressed to impersonate Girl Whistledown and resorts to blackmail to attempt to generate the wealth wanted to safe her freedom.
After all, she is unsuccessful, however she can be vilified and shunned for trying to take action. Arguably, the one distinction between Penelope and Cressida is that Penelope succeeded find her monetary means and social standing. Cressida didn’t and subsequently was shipped out of society, not seen as a viable marriage match by males of the Ton. It begs the query, traditionally and right now, would a person be subjected to the identical social isolation and rejection for pursuing monetary safety?
Strain to hide success or present can harm each events in a relationship
Credit score: Liam Daniel / Netflix
In Bridgerton storylines and the current day, this insecurity, jealousy, and requirement from males to be “needed” in a relationship, and girls subsequently turning to pragmatic wants and being shunned or disrespected for his or her ambitions and successes “reflects deeper societal inequalities and norms that impact women’s opportunities and choices,” in line with counselling psychologist Dr Rina Bajaj.
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She provides that ladies might “downplay or sacrifice their career ambitions to maintain harmony in their relationships”, similar to Penelope is tempted to do on the present. Besides we’re residing in 2024, not the 1800s.
“Fear of surpassing their male partners can lead to women settling for less demanding roles or not pursuing promotions.”
“Fear of surpassing their male partners can lead to women settling for less demanding roles or not pursuing promotions,” Bajaj explains. “This self-limiting behaviour can hinder women’s professional growth and contribute to broader societal patterns of gender inequality in the workplace.”
In line with Bishop, these sexist dynamics “often stem from societal conditioning and personal insecurities”. Rajaj provides that males might really feel threatened when evaluating themselves to a companion, a response that’s “heightened in a society that often measures success through financial and career achievements.” Fears of rejection or abandonment can be tied up in self-worth, alongside the deeply ingrained social stress for males to supply.
Credit score: Liam Daniel / Netflix
At their core, these dynamics are indicative of engrained social norms which can be sexist, patriarchal, and do not serve anybody or their relationships. A person’s price is far more than his potential to supply and a lady’s price is far more than her potential to restrict herself in line with what may threaten her companions’ social and monetary standing.
After all, Bridgerton’s portrayal of this explicit difficulty is particularly focussed on the dynamic of a heterosexual relationship, regardless of its hints at queer storylines approaching for subsequent seasons. Whereas Bishop factors out that queer {couples} could possibly negotiate these dynamics in a extra fluid style as they aren’t as tightly sure by conventional gender norms, Bajaj insists that these relationships “can also face issues related to power dynamics, though they may not always align with traditional gender roles”. These points should stem, although, from revenue disparities, or variations in social standing and expectations.
“Issues of power and inequality might manifest differently compared to heterosexual relationships, but they still require attention and resolution,” she says. “Just as in heterosexual relationships, promoting equality and mutual respect is crucial. Partners should strive to understand each other’s experiences and support each other’s personal and professional goals.”
What is the resolution?
Credit score: Liam Daniel / Netflix
So how can we problem these stereotypes and norms that promote a sexist angle in direction of girls’s pursuit of their very own monetary stability and success?
“To reduce these dynamics in heterosexual relationships, it’s crucial to challenge traditional gender roles and promote equality,” Bajaj says. “Both partners should support each other’s career and personal aspirations. This includes celebrating achievements, providing emotional support during challenges, and making joint decisions that consider both careers.”
She adds that actively rejecting such stereotypes about what men or women “should” be doing of their lives and relationships, and embracing a “more flexible approach” can assist create extra equal relationships.
Additionally it is crucial that companions give one another area to “maintain individual identities”. Within the case of our Bridgerton couple, we see some type of decision on the finish the place Colin helps Penelope’s columnist position and her determination to cease writing anonymously, as they construct a household collectively. Bajaj advises that “engaging in activities that are personally fulfilling” can encourage “balanced interdependence, where you support each other whilst also nurturing your individual growth”.
The portrayal of those problematic dynamics on a well-liked TV present proves the pervasive nature of those attitudes but additionally offers viewers the chance to determine if they might be experiencing an analogous difficulty of their relationship.
“Seeing characters confront and navigate gender inequalities can inspire viewers to take action in their own relationships or advocate for societal change. It can encourage individuals to challenge stereotypes and strive for more equitable partnerships,” Bajaj says.
Primarily, Portia Featherington was proper — safety in a relationship is certainly romantic. However that safety have to be mutual, so that ladies be happy to pursue passions and earn as a lot cash as they see match, with out worrying for the success of their romantic relationships and the ego of their companions.
They need to really feel emotionally supported in doing so, a complete different sort of safety that’s maybe not as normalised in Bridgerton-era or trendy society. In a relationship, there may be no safety, equilibrium, or sound basis with out acceptance of one another’s energy, strengths and successes.
Maybe, with this newest chapter, and the issues Colin and Penelope face, will encourage extra girls to attempt for extra — from themselves, profession smart, and their relationships.
“While Bridgerton is set in the past, it also celebrates progress by portraying characters who challenge societal norms and strive for equality,” Rajaj says. “This can inspire hope and optimism about the potential for positive change in relationships.”
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