Dear Gentle Readers, sorry I just had to write that and get my Lady Whistledown moment! Like many of us I have been hooked with the third season of Bridgerton, I was an avid fan from day one.
I managed to catch the first four episodes of season three before going on holiday and then binge watched on my return whilst wading through the inevitable amount of holiday washing; back to earth with a bump heh!
If you are not familiar with Bridgerton, one could ask where have you been hiding? 😊 but for those who have not seen it, it’s a period drama series set in Regency times based on Julia Quinn’s novels. It has been praised for its progressive approach to themes like race, gender, and female persona’s. One of the series’ notable subtle themes is female empowerment, including aspects of female entrepreneurship. There are several powerful characters who demonstrate influence, business acumen, and of course Lady Whistledown who secretly writes a society paper, calling out bad behaviour and popular news much to the Queen’s distaste. I won’t reveal the full plot in case you are intrigued to watch or are still catching up.
However, whilst on leave I was thinking of how Bridgerton has strong links with modern female entrepreneurship, particularly how it resonates with modern audiences. It is evident that female representation is a key feature of the programme, and it highlights independent and entrepreneurial female characters who defy traditional gender roles. This aligns with current trends where women are increasingly starting their own businesses and supporting the economy with a positive impact.
“Bridgerton” offers a compelling lens through which to examine modern female entrepreneurship, drawing parallels between the show’s portrayal of female empowerment and the realities faced by contemporary women in business.
Here are my reflections.
Breaking Barriers – Key characters break societal norms and assert their independence in a male-dominated society, and of course women entrepreneurs today exemplify this trend.
Innovation and Adaptability – the characters often demonstrate innovative thinking to navigate social constraints. For example, Madame Delacroix’s success as a dressmaker requires creativity and adaptability. Of course, today’s female entrepreneurs use innovation to create niche markets, such as sustainable fashion, tech startups, and wellness industries. They adapt to changing market demands and use technology to their advantage.
Networking and Mentorship – throughout the programme you can see social networks and alliances female characters form which are crucial to the plots and the characters success. We see here at the BEC a continuous model of women supporting women.
Resilience and Perseverance – the female characters face societal pressures as it would have been in regency times, but nowadays resilience is the epitome of successful female business owners. Often facing the unique challenges of family responsibilities, gender bias and securing funding but despite all of this they persist and thrive.
I personally think “Bridgerton” effectively mirrors the journey of modern female entrepreneurs, highlighting themes of resilience, innovation, and empowerment. By drawing inspiration from the show’s characters and their narratives, contemporary women can find motivation and confidence to navigate their entrepreneurial paths.
Here at the BEC we are proud to be advocates of female business owners, on our new (relatively) programme Amplify funded by the Council and UKSPF we are proud that 75% of our first cohort are female business owners in food, care, and of course other sectors.
We are currently recruiting our next cohort for September if you are in Barking and Dagenham then you can use this link to register your interest. Register here: https://beccic.co.uk/event/building-business-resilience/
PS its open to any gender!