Gilmore Girls: The feminist fantasy you didn’t know had a class problem

Gilmore Girls is one of those binge-worthy and cozy shows that will make you fall in love with its small-town vibes and the speedy, fast dialogue. The unbreakable mother-daughter bond makes it even more memorable.

Lorelai and Rory Gilmore feel like those cool best friends who somehow always know exactly what to say. They are probably the mother-daughter duo everyone admires who debate about pop culture and figure life's problems together. They are better friends than parent-child.

The show wears its feminist heart on its sleeve. It celebrates women who chase their dreams and speak their minds. They define success on their terms. It’s the kind of empowering story that feels good to watch, especially when the world outside can be less than kind to ambitious women.

But Gilmore Girls also has an overlooked layer beneath. It's a story about privilege and the myth of making it on your own. The show wraps itself up in a fantasy of independence and lives in an exclusive bubble where wealth and connections make the Gilmore girls’ version of empowerment feel out of reach for most of us.

Let's get into it a bit more.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's opinions. Reader discretion is advised.

Gilmore Girls: Feminism meets privilege in Stars Hollow

Lorelai and Rory are sort of like the poster girls of modern womanhood. They are independent and smart. Lorelai escaped her privileged but suffocating upbringing to raise Rory on her terms. Rory is a perfect girl with ambition and intelligence. It sounds like a dream for any feminist to watch, right? But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll see how the show leans more on some advantages that were hardly pointed out or spoken about.

Rory is hardworking and brilliant. Her education, however, had some favors in. Her path to Yale isn’t just about merit. Her mom’s wealthy parents bankroll the school fees, and their social circle is packed with connections. It’s not exactly a story of clawing your way up from nothing.

Lorelai’s journey is also a paradox. She rebels against her high-society mom Emily’s expectations. She chooses independence and an inn over fancy galas. Yet her ability to open an inn, survive financial hiccups, and send Rory to an Ivy League college is backed by invisible safety nets.

The show never really addresses the realities of economic struggle that real single moms face. And that makes Lorelai’s rags to riches story more of a fairy tale than reality.

The women of Gilmore Girls represent different takes on feminism. Unlike Rory and Lorelai, Emily Gilmore represents the wealthy, poised, and powerful woman who's often trapped by tradition and image.

So, Gilmore Girls is as much about the glamour of white privilege as it is about breaking norms. It’s a warm and witty show we can still love. But if we watch it with our eyes a little wider open, we might start to notice the hidden little details that might separate the fantasy from the reality.

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