Anyone who has been on Netflix recently has heard of the new show Bridgerton, which has been all the rage for almost two months now. The season first aired on December 25, 2020, and has been in the top ten list on Netflix ever since. According to The Today Show, the series is “…based on the popular “Bridgerton” book series, written by Julia Quinn, that revolves around two families during “the season,” an annual period where elite families would host formal events to introduce their children to society and find them a suitable marriage.” It takes place in early 1800s England and follows the scandalous lives of several families who are considered to be a part of the nobility class.
Looking beyond all of the scandals, the show also incorporates a lot of important details about the gender roles that existed during the early 1800s. Anthony, who is the eldest of the Bridgerton brothers, is asked by his mother in the first episode, “you must ask yourself, are you merely the older brother, or are you the man of the house?” This clearly shows the gender role that existed at the time as seen with how men were expected to step up and be the man of their given house. Looking at Anthony in particular, he was never asked but simply was expected to take on this role as man of the household and arrange for his various sisters to be married off, as he was the eldest of his brothers when their father died.
Bridgerton also shows the domestic role 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 within the show who fights against this is Eloisebecause she desires a life that is not simply marriage, but instead, dreams of attending college which 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.” 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 life, as well as who, and even if, they desire to be married. However, these classic gender roles continue to prevail within society today as men are expected to be the head of the household, in which they hold a job and are the “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 characters, one example being with Eloise, defy their given gender roles of the time, eventually, fall back into them due to the expectations of society. It is evident that these gender roles have dissolved in some capacity, but continue to exist.