TDW Emporium dress c/o | Nude heels | Forever New clutch
My Netflix suggestions brought “The Bold Type” to my attention last week and I’ve since fallen completely down the rabbit hole and I’ve been binge-watching the series. Initially, I thought it was some light-hearted, perhaps even shallow, fashion lover’s series, however, I’ve been blown away by how it is so much more than that. The Bold Type contains so many incredibly important themes that we should be taking note of. Here are a few of the lessons that can be learnt from the series.
1. How to take charge of your career
The girls in this series are highly motivated, ambitious women that are trying to navigate the early years of their careers. They are faced with challenges that we all have to deal with. Stressful scenarios such as job security, interviewing, making a career shift and climbing the corporate ladder are things that so many of us can relate to. Sometimes you may take a risk and resign from a stable job to take on a new position that excites you, only to find that it isn’t the right fit for you just as Jane did. You may also need to learn the art of negotiation that Sutton beautifully showcased when she realised that her dream role wouldn’t pay as well as her previous role. In the early years of your career, everything seems a little scary but you need to have confidence in your ability to pivot and put in the hard work required to prove yourself.
2. A female mentor is a rare find
Initially, Jaqueline is portrayed as what could be interpreted as a tyrant very similar to Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, but she turns out to be an incredibly savvy and knowledgable woman in charge that is 100% empathetic to her workforce. She is the ideal female leader who can quickly identify strengths and weaknesses in a person and guide them with her wisdom. She never crosses the line of being too friendly with her staff, but she is always able to give career advice and encourages them to be excellent working women but without losing sight of their true desires. Each one of us should learn to lead the way this woman does. Women need to encourage and support other women with the skill and the kindness that she shows to her employees.
3. Romantic relationships in your twenties
From office hook-ups to tinder dating, this series really covers so many important themes on this topic. Not every relationship you have in your twenties is going to work out and that comes with heartbreak but that’s okay. I love that this show explores relationships of the same sex, interracial couples and partners with a large age gap because all these relationships are stigmatised and can be very taboo even in the year 2021, but this show depicts how these relationships are as loving as the most traditional ones. Relationships are complex and all we can wish for others is that they are happy in them.
4. Let’s talk about sex
This series touches on so many important facets of this topic. We learn that so many women struggle to feel satisfied. The show explores sexuality and how that may mean many different things to different people. We also look at the topic from the perspective of family planning and reproductive health which is something we should all be discussing. The show also touches on the harmful side of sex: sexual harassment and even sexual assault. From an act of love to a moment that can haunt a person for the rest of their lives, this show breaks down the walls we often put up around these topics and encourages greater conversation about sex. I think this a wonderful reminder to feel free to discuss these issues with your friends, ask the questions you may have and speak out against anything that should not be tolerated.
I am so taken with the fact that this series tackles so many important female conversations and I think it deserves a huge amount of praise for addressing them. While I initially judged “The Bold Type” as yet another thin fashion story, I was very pleasantly surprised at how courageous the storyline really is. It’s definitely worth a watch.
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