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TV Needs More Girlfriends

Sorry for the day-late post! I was so focused on my school work yesterday that I completely forgot about the blog - just goes to show you how focused I've actually been. I'll also be posting on Wednesday instead of Tuesday so I can maintain space between posts. Just to keep you updated.

I’m going to admit something straight up – I plagiarized this title from the article I was inspired by. The truth is, I can’t say it any more blatantly than that; it’s perfect. In the article found in Glamour magazine (I forgot to write the year down), the author Megan Angelo describes just how disappointed she is that female friendships are not portrayed on TV. I remember watching a documentary about how females are portrayed in media, and the reason we’re so misrepresented is because TV is a predominantly male field of work. We have shows like Sex in the City that show us accurate friendships: brunch, shopping, and dishing about the partners we’re into, but the higher Escalante isn't quite relatable, is it? As the article led me to think, it's frustrating to not be able to relate. Angelo has a point – where are myself and my friends? We all seek to relate to what we’re watching, and TV is missing the mark here.

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For the most part, TV is about women in relation to men. Have you ever heard of the Bechdel Test? It’s about the way women interact in movies. To meet the criteria, the movie must have at least two women in it, the women must talk to each other, and the conversation must be about something other than a man. It’s a good indication as to how women are portrayed. Think about it – how many of your favourite movies pass the test? This leads to my next question – why aren’t female relationships represented? Cheryl Strayed, in an interview, with Reese Witherspoon says “Female friendships are a treasure, which is a direct contradiction to the way they have often been portrayed” (Glamour, p.97, Nov. 2014). There is so much truth in this statement. I don’t know what I would do without my friends.
 
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I place so much importance on friends, and I know how my girlfriends have played roles in my life. I have relied on my girls for a shoulder to cry on, gossip about boys, advice on clothes, and countless other things. Why do I not see that in media? Why do I not see two ladies getting a little too drunk and giggly on wine night? Why don’t I see coffee dates and perusing book stores? Why don’t I see excited friends telling each other about the new guy they’re having sex with? Why don’t I see girls lying in bed after a night out and talking about their lives? We’re missing the immense support girls give each other. Female relationships are complex and special compared to the male bond. I yearn for the day that relationship is widely portrayed in TV.
Do you think this is an issue in media?
-Daniella
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