Sexism In Netflix’s Modern Period Piece ‘Bridgerton’ (2020-)

Originally inspired by The Duke and I, written by Julia Quinn, Netflix’s Bridgerton (2020-present), created by Chris Van Dusen, has charmed viewers with corsets, cake, and love affairs. With season one earning a rating of eighty-eight percent on rotten tomatoes, the recently announced season two is sure to see lots of returning fans. Set in 1813, Bridgerton (2020-present) invites its audience to get lost in the magic of the regency era, or more specifically, the magic of the ton’s social season at the time. Fans may find themselves daydreaming about what dress they would have worn to the latest social event if they were of the time, but with the romanticization of this era, it’s important to point out the flaws as well. Fundamentally, period pieces, like Bridgerton (2020-present), will exhibit uncomfortable tones such as sexism. With that being said, the question arises: what is the best way to address issues like sexism in a period piece when you know it’s being presented to a modern audience?

Period pieces are inherently sexist…at least historically accurate ones…and Bridgerton (2020-present) is no exception. While the writers have introduced racial equality to the regency era, making it historically inaccurate, sexism is still around every corner. This is because the plot heavily relies on the true dynamic between men and women at the time, as it revolves around the social season. In the regency era, women were living “with few legal and economic rights or even receiving little respect, women [could] be seen as oppressed victims of a patriarchal society, subordinate first to their fathers and, then, to their husbands who had, of course, been selected by their fathers;” (( Swords, Barbra. 1988. “Woman’s Place in Jane Austen’s England” JASNA. Papers From The Chicago Conference. 1988. )). Between women having no real control over who they would marry and the internalized misogyny and competition between women at the time, Bridgerton (2020-present) really could not exist without notes of sexism.

What Is Bridgerton (2020-Present) About?

Season one of Bridgerton (2020-Present) explores the inner dynamics of the regency era’s social season. The show starts with the debut of this year’s eligible brides, and Daphne Bridgerton makes quite a splash. While she has been deemed the most desirable, her protective older brother drives all interested suitors away. Now desperate for more options, Daphne forms a fake relationship with the nonconformist Simon Hastings that should work in both of their favors. Simon courting Daphne should make her more desirable to other men and get Lady Danbury off of his back to marry. As they delve further into their characters, they find themselves harboring true feelings for one another. Though don’t be fooled, this was not without many struggles and missteps to get on the same page. The next season has been confirmed, yet Anthony Bridgerton is set to be the main focus this time. Daphne will be returning, but we will have moved on from her love story; she is to become more of a side character (similar to her other siblings in season one).

The Players Of Bridgerton‘s Sexism

Due to Bridgerton‘s (2020-Present) amplification of romantic relations in 1813, sexism is an unavoidable part of this story. It is embedded in the show everywhere you look, minus the few feminist characters that offer a refreshing break. Between men, women, children, traditions, dress, and laws, Bridgerton (2020-Present) takes place in a man’s world. Some of these players are unavoidable because the plot is what it is, but some are intentional. Why are some characters blatantly sexist while others are subtle? Who is a feminist, and why? Which characters are villanized or protected by the writers? Character relationships are the prime method that Bridgerton (2020-Present) uses to present sexism in this modern period piece.

Anthony Bridgerton

Played by actor Johnathan Bailey, Anthony is the firstborn son of the Bridgerton name. Unfortunately, the Bridgerton’s father has passed away, leaving Anthony to deal with the duties of being a Viscount at an earlier age. At this point in his life, Anthony is the head of the family, and as fans watch in season one, he is in charge of finding Daphne a husband. Throughout the show, he struggles between his appointed duties and his social life, prioritizing one over the other depending on what’s convenient for the character. These choices prove to be the catalyst for some chaos in his personal life and others with whom he may involve.

Is Anthony Bridgerton A Good Guy?

When characters exhibit behaviors that are displeasing to the audience, the writers of Bridgerton (2020-Present) have to give them some redeeming qualities. This is so that you continue to watch regardless of the offensive undertones that are there. Anthony Bridgerton’s relationship with Daphne Bridgerton (his sister) and Siena Rosso (his love interest this season) highlight this exceedingly well. Anthony is often seen portraying himself as a man doing what’s in these women’s best interest, but unfortunately, his judgment is overrun by his ego.

Siena Rosso

The opera singer, Siena, played by Sabrina Bartlett, is not one to mess with. She is an independent and talented woman, though she struggles with an on-and-off relationship with Anthony Bridgerton. Anthony tries to promise her the world, but she is unable to trust him. Even when he comes to her with good intentions, she can’t chance going back to him because of their track record. Heartbreaking surely, but again she is independent; while she wants to be with Anthony, she knows a stable future is more valuable. She communicates this to Anthony, but because of his misogynistic views, he is unable to interpret her needs correctly.

Anthony and Siena

Anthony and Siena’s relationship, a familiar trope, is a tale of forbidden romance. This a couple to have sexual relations out of wed-lock (which, if you weren’t aware, was a big no-no at the time), so you might ask yourself, why not just get married? Therein lies the root problem, a difference in class. Siena is of a lower class, often seen earning her wages as an entertainer at the royal events her secret lover is attending as a guest. The fact alone that Anthony is upper class and in this relationship establishes a positive, maybe even romantic, perception of him in the viewer’s mind. Because Anthony is risking the social acceptance of his entire family to see her, it gives their love credibility. There isn’t a question that the love between the two characters was real in the end, but Anthony’s naive and misogynistic ideas inevitably lead to the couple’s demise.

While the idea of forbidden love is enticing to the characters and the viewers due to cognitive dissonance theory, this relationship was rocky indeed. Fans watch as Anthony continually promises Siena protection and stability; however, a problem arises as it seems he can’t decide between his love for her and his ‘duties’ as a Viscount. So they have a kind of on-again, off-again situation; Siena wishes to be loved by Anthony in the light of day, and after time starts to believe that will never be a possibility. It is made clear in the show that at some point, Anthony does support Siena financially and does wish to continue doing so. After Anthony comes knocking for Siena and learns she has left, Madame Delacroix tells him, “as it transpires, my lord, she does not need your money or anything else for that matter.” (( Bridgerton. “The Duke and I.” Netflix, 52:20. December 25, 2020. )). Anthony is so entrapped in the male gaze that he has yet to realize what Siena wants and needs from Anthony as a partner: love, respect, and acceptance, not financial support from afar.

For most men at the time, the relationship with a woman was a transaction; she would bring sex and an heir to the table, and he would provide financial and social protection. This was especially apparent in the upper-class community, as your family’s social status meant the world. There was also the belief that men were smarter than women and women needed to be looked after. Anthony’s perception of relations with a woman was so skewed and self-serving that he gave her what he thought best for her; instead of what she blatantly told him she needed. Sadly, when he finally seems to understand what’s being asked of him, she explains that this relationship cannot work. At this point, trust is broken, and she needs to ensure her own future because he never gave her the stability she needed.

Daphne Bridgerton

The star of season one, Daphne Bridgerton, is played by actor Pheobe Dynevor. As previously described, Daphne’s love story is the primary plot of the show thus far. Daphne is the eldest daughter of her family and the first to debut onto the marriage market; she is also very aware of a ‘women’s place’ in the world. She explains to her brother and fans that women only have one purpose in the Regency era: to marry and give their husbands an heir. As it is clear, after these fleeting moments in her life, she will have no other purpose as a woman. So, Daphne is out to find a true love match, a man that will hopefully love her and keep company with her when all is said and done. Unfortunately, this becomes a trying search as she lives in a patriarchal world that does not intend to help her.

Anthony And Daphne

As for the relationship between Anthony and Daphne Bridgerton, their dynamic is a hybrid between father-daughter and brother-sister; due to their father’s untimely death. This puts him at the head of the family, meaning he will ultimately be in charge of Daphne’s marital relations. On a surface level, it seems he wants the best for his sister, maybe even too much to the point where he’s driving suitors away. This, again, gives the viewer a sense that Anthony is a really good older brother, and despite his overbearing tactics, his intentions are good. However, it does not take long for his altruistic behaviors to be revealed.

After Lady Bridgerton scolds Anthony about finding Daphne a husband, he arranges her with Lord Berbrooke, a much older and creepy man. Though Anthony is not aware of Berbrooke’s attempted assault on his sister, she makes it abundantly clear that she will not allow this arrangement. Regardless of her wishes, Anthony pushes forward with the marriage getting exceedingly close to sealing the deal. Luckily, Simon Basset (Anthony’s best friend and Daphne’s love interest) informs Anthony of Berbrooke’s attempted crimes before they can be forced to marry. Daphne later poses an important question regarding the matter, “Would you have believed me? Did you only change your mind about Lord Berbrooke because another man told you the truth?” (( Bridgerton. “Shock and Delight.” Netflix, 27:06. December 25, 2020. )). This is important because not only is he unable to give her a straight answer, affirming her belief, but it also reveals a piece of their relationship. Daphne didn’t even want to tell her brother what happened because she knew he’d probably believe Berbrooke over her if it came down to it.

After the Lord Berbrooke situation, one would hope Anthony and Daphne’s relationship could grow. Maybe he would listen to her more in the future instead of assuming he knew best. When he catches Daphne and Simon sharing a kiss, all hope is lost as he challenges Simon to a duel. This would be one thing if Daphne did feel violated, but she pleads with Anthony,

“I could live with that [the secret of their kiss getting out], what I could not live with is the Duke’s death on my hands, nor yours however tempting that may be at this very moment.”

(( Bridgerton. “An Affair of Honor.” Netflix, 18:02. December 25, 2020. )).

Anthony is more hurt that ‘his’ sister (and by extension his family name) was dishonored than Daphne is by the situation because, as she explains to Anthony, it was consensual. But, of course, Anthony doesn’t listen as he is first and foremost concerned with his ego rather than Daphne’s wishes. It should be interesting to see how his character and relationships may evolve in season two, as he is set to be the star of the show this time around.

Female Characters Internalized Misogyny

Now that we’ve pondered Anthony Bridgerton for a moment, It is important to realize a lot of his sexist behavior is not out of explicit hate or distaste towards women. Most of the time, Anthony Bridgerton falls victim to the widespread belief (at the time) that men truly do know better than women, and he is not the only one. If you’ve ever heard of the bystander effect, you would understand that humans by nature assume that if something bad is happening, someone is bound to do something about it. This grants people the privilege of feeling comfortable walking away from people who need help; because someone else will help them. This is important because, with the issue of sexism, no men (who were the people making the decisions at the time) were doing anything to stop it, so it gave less credibility to the notion that women being beneath men was even wrong at all. Because sexism was so normalized, you can see women, themselves, engaging in sexist behavior and remarks without even realizing it’s wrong.

Lady Featherington

In this society, women are pitted against each other, especially during the ton’s social season. When Marina Thompson (cousin to the Featherington’s) arrives in Mayfair London, it is apparent that Lady Featherington knows the competition she will create for her other three daughters. She seems to have it out for Ms. Thompson from the start, and when she later finds out about Marina’s illegitimate pregnancy, it only adds fuel to the fire. Regardless of the plentiful number of young, enticing suitors visiting Marina quite often, Lady Fetherington would try to force Marina into marriage with a man of significant age difference and incompatibility. This is because Marina was a threat to her daughter’s eligibility as well as the Featherington’s social circumstance.

She planned to get Marina married off to whoever would take her as soon as humanly possible. Oh, and let’s not forget Marina’s lover, the father of her child, never turned her away. Lady Featherington wrote a forged letter to Marina to trick her into thinking getting married off was her only option. The manipulation and degradation of another woman, unfortunately, left Marina feeling lost and broken. Lady Featherington was brutal to Marina, but she wasn’t much better to her own daughters either…

There are multiple scenes of her forcing her daughters into corsets clearly too tight for them, and when she is questioned, she responds, “I was able to squeeze my waist into the size of an orange and a half when I was Prudence’s age, your sister shall do the same” (( Bridgerton. “The Diamond of First Water.” Netflix, 57:10. December 25, 2020. )). She is also critical of her daughters for participating in activities such as reading because according to Lady Featherington, “[They] shall confuse [their] thoughts.” (( Bridgerton. “The Diamond of First Water.” Netflix, 46:41. December 25, 2020. )). While Lady Featherington may seem pretty terrible at this point, like Anthony, she doesn’t necessarily hate other women. Instead, society has made her view a woman’s beauty as her only form of value. Unfortunately, this also fuels the belief that other women, gorgeous women, are a threat.

Penelope Featherington

Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in Bridgerton (2020-Present) as we shift our focus to Lady Featherington’s youngest daughter, Penelope. There’s a lot to unpack with this character because she lives a bit of a double life. Fans know her as Eloise’s best friend, Marina’s confidant, and Colin’s secret admirer. What fans finally learn in the season finale is that Penelope has also been writing as Lady Whistledown the entire show. So, we can look at her actions as Penelope and her words as Lady Whistledown. Spoiler: both versions of the character internalize misogyny and sexism.

Unlike her mother, Penelope befriends Marina when she arrives in London; she even comforts her and tries to support her through her pregnancy. She seems to be a good friend until Marina begins to show interest in Colin Bridgerton. Colin, one of the better options for a suitor as it seems, shows interest in Marina as well, and things start to look up for her for the first time thus far. Even Lady Featherington gives her a shot to secure a marriage proposal. However, Penelope’s attitude towards Marina at this time has completely changed, and she attributes this to her long-standing friendship with Colin. She argues that because Colin is so young and unaware of Marina’s pregnancy, the courtship is wrong.

I think this is pretty valid if it were the real reason for her disapproval, but alas, as we have now established, Marina was competition for Penelope. As a result, when it is later revealed that Penelope is in love with Colin, it becomes clear that she wasn’t disapproving because of genuine concern for a friend but because she wanted Colin for herself. While turning on Marina for the reasons she did was bad already, she used her platform as Lady Whistledown to further the damage and betrayal. After trying to separate Colin and Marina by telling him that “Her heart belongs to another” (( Bridgerton. “Swish.” Netflix, 29:22. December 25, 2020. )), Colin remains loyal to Marina. This clearly upset Whistledown as she informs the ton of Marina’s pregnancy the next morning. Keep in mind that she harbors this information as long as the viewers have been aware of it.

I think it’s safe to say the timing of this announcement was no coincidence, none other than a last-ditch effort to break up the couple, and it worked. Not only that but as her best friend (Eloise) makes apparent in the show, Whistledown has enough influence over the ton to make people’s lives better if she so chooses. Though we don’t see her necessarily doing that, it would be a good setup to see her do some good in season two. Nevertheless, Lady Whistledown seems to be more fond of gossip than charity so, don’t get your hopes up.

Portrayls Of Feminism in Bridgerton (2020-Present)

Maybe not the popular mindset, but there are some feminist characters in Bridgerton (2020-Present). Eloise Bridgerton is a great example. There are also some characters that I wouldn’t necessarily classify as feminist, but that’s more so because they were side characters. For that reason, the viewer wasn’t allowed enough time with the characters to fully gauge their personality. An example of this is Colin Bridgerton, but more specifically, the relationship between Colin and Marina.

Colin Bridgerton

Colin was very respectful when it came to courting Marina. He wanted to get to know her, and when she tried to seduce him, he refused because he respected her and the fact that they were unmarried. The bar is low, but let’s continue; Colin never takes anyone’s word over Marina’s. When Colin reads of Marina’s pregnancy, he does not believe it until he can talk to her face to face (Keep in mind most other men didn’t hold a woman’s word at much if any value at the time). Though, the most respectable line that comes from Colin is when he does have this conversation with Marina and proceeds to tells her, “If you had simply come to me and told me of your situation… I would’ve married you without a second thought. That is how in love I believed myself to be, but I see now that was all a lie.” (( Bridgerton. “Oceans Apart.” Netflix, 44:55. December 25, 2020. )). Although Colin never shames her for pre-marital sex or being pregnant; he cannot be with her because she lied to him about such an important piece of her story, and now he can’t trust her; he feels betrayed.

The same could not be said for most men or women at the time, as we see the rest of the ton shame her in comparison. Then again, Colin is a side character, and his relationship with Marina is almost the entirety of his plotline this season. The audience is able to gather that Colin, before meeting Marina, traveled often and was an admitted flirt. Is his character capable of having a bad past or future with women? Possibly, but without more time to ponder, he seems to be a good ally for now.

Eloise Bridgerton

The second eldest daughter in the Bridgerton family and the next in line for her debut, Eloise does not intend to live a life like her mother or sister, Daphne. She is ‘taking a year off’ before debuting onto the marriage market for most of the season. This is so that she can focus on her studies. She looks up to Lady Whistledown as she imagines her to be a single woman living the dream and writing her time away, unbothered by societal standards. Though she lives in a man’s world, she hasn’t adopted the male gaze like many of her other female counterparts.

She spends her time trying to find Lady Whistledown, at first, so she can find out how she does it and, hopefully, figure out how to adopt the lifestyle. Then, when she finds her friends in trouble, her hunt intensifies as now it is seen as a means to clear their names. She is a girl’s girl, and she even debuts to the ton before she’s ready so that she can find Whistledown faster. She is uninterested in the social events and the suitors, she doesn’t seem to care much for formal dress, and obvious to the viewer she does not believe reading equates to ‘filling one’s head with nonsense.’ She argues, “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…” (( Bridgerton. “Shock and Delight.” Netflix, 54:57. December 25, 2020. )) as a true feminist.

Did Bridgerton (2020-Present) Do A Good Job?

As we’ve established, period pieces are inherently sexist, and Bridgerton (2020-Present) couldn’t have done away with this construct without re-writing the entire plot. Therefore, we know the audience will be delivered sexism somehow, and it becomes a matter of approach. Season one of Netflix’s Bridgerton (2020-Present) may have sexist undertones, but they did a good job showcasing female voices. This may be the best attempt at combating social issues in a period piece yet, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. We were given some wonderful feminist characters and even sexist female characters, which was a great move. It’s important to showcase that women are fully capable of being misogynistic themselves. In addition, the show does not shy away from illustrating how women at the time truly felt about their situation.

You have no idea what it is to be a woman, what it might feel like to have one’s entire life reduced to a single moment.

-Daphne Bridgerton, Bridgerton

As season two has been announced, they have also created lots of room for growth in our more problematic characters, like Anthony. It should be interesting to see what they do with season two; it has just as much potential to be successful as it does to fail. However, if they keep up with how they are currently delivering sexist material, It could be a great fit for modern audiences as far as period pieces go.