ELOISE THE WHITE FEMINIST?????
l wish to discuss my interpretation of white feminism within bridgerton. Both the canon and fans perspectives
Disclaimer: I don't think feminism actually exists in bridgerton as this was prior to the feminist movements. I believe this was called the proto feminist era. Because of this I will not be identifying Eloise herself as feminist or any subcategory of feminist. I will only discuss if her actions fall into the category of modern white feminism.
Note however that historically feminism has yet not been created and racism has been solved in-universe. I may not apply these facts to this particular analysis.
In-universe Bridgerton Racism-
I think about big part of how the audience views bridgerton is that they is fail to come to terms with the idea that in-universe race relations in Bridgerton don't operate the same as actual history. With the fantastical "love cured racism" narrative, the show effectively does erase common race relation terminology including 'White privilege, White woman tears, white feminism' from the world of Bridgerton.
(Sidenote. I will NOT be arguing the whole love cured racism line. I understand that in Queen Charlotte it their marriage was a contractual agreement and that she did face racism there. HOWEVER, as the conversation between Lady Danbury and Simon in season 1 indicated, the racism at that time no longer exists because of love. And POC are now able to hold nad maintain positions of power equivalent to their white counter parts. All discussion I will be having in this post will exclude the Queen Charlotte the spinoff and focus only on the show itself)
Canon vs Audience Interpreted Race Relations-
Now as the audience viewing the show, these terms are very much real, and the situations they seek to describe in our world are real.
Creator and writer biases can also exist. And because of these biases the character may be put into situations that, under real world circumstances, would constitute the application of those terms. The showrunners however, have failed to create an world in which they can reasonably be applied.
For example: Daphne (white woman) raping Simon (black man), then being upset about it and making him apologize would likely be an example of WW tears being weaponized against a POC. However, the situation they have placed the characters in is one in which Simon (man) is at odds with daphne (woman).
The audience can recognize the characters race as factor in their respective portrayals by the creator. But to keep up the inclusive romantic elements, the characters cannot. Or at least they must view racism as problem of the past with no bearings on their current situations.
The intersectionality that would have made for a very interesting discussion of what white privilege a WW would have over a BM (even including their recently aquired positions of power in bridgerton) is erased by the colorblind, racism-free romance they have been placed in.
That isn't to say that discussions about portrayals of race in bridgerton can't/shouldn't be had. I simply believe these discussions should take the in-universe context of Bridgerton. And understand while certain characters action may read as white privilege in real world context, that's not what they are in bridgerton.
Any application of white privilege may be better discussed as writer bias, similar to talks of colorism in Bridgerton. Not to be discussed as if the characters partake in it directly, but how racial prejudice can makes its way into the writing and the way fans view of characters.
Example: Marina partakes in the same passionate premarital intimacy with a loved one, as Penelope does. But one of them is demonized by the fans as a slut, and is not allowed their happy ending with their true love, by the writers.
My understanding of white feminism is that it is a particular feminist theory and practice centering needs, experiences of white, cisgender women whilst disregarding the intersectional struggles (think racism, LGBT+ identities, class struggles).
Those who practice it seek to benefit for mall forms of oppression, by attempting to rework those frameworks for themselves. In turn, they surpress women's voices, who are further marginalized under other surpressive structures. They do so not only to center their own experiences, but to benefit from others subjugation, which systemic structures of whiteness and patriarchy were built on.
The Non-feminists of Bridgerton-
This time period is labelled as the proto feminist stages, the 'feminists' in this stage are having discussions and questioning the system that they live under. Not making movements to change it.
Therefore, I don't think Eloise is feminist (as no one is in the show). I believe she is a young woman craving a life that is distinctly not standard and NOT PERMITTED TO HER.
Still I will try to analyze the characters actions through a feminist lens. Analysis will be done under 3 categories:
White feminist individualism emphasizes self-reliance and the individual's advancement through structural opression. Due to this focus on personal effort over collective action, it considers systems of oppression as nothing more than hurdles that any person can overcome through hardwork. This is because often times, white feminists seek to benefit from the oppression that, if ignoring gender inequalities, will place them at the top of the hierarchy equal to cis white men. Failure to acknowledge institutional issues, encourages white feminists to partake in oppressive structures, including patriarchy, rather than destroy them. Thus labeling an individuals inability to face systemic issues on their own inaction/ laziness.
Eloise seems to have a general understanding that the system of patriarchy as one which affects all women.
Re: "Can you imagine all the time there would be if we didn't have to always think about marriage. The time we would have to exchange ideas or do anything that isn't entirely for the prupose of ensnaring a husband"
What I will say is she does seem to focus on her own experiences and not always acknowledge the experiences of others under the system.
Re: How marrying might not be the best option for Cressida who is in a abusive situation, under full control of her father and had no money to back her up. Eloise doesn't notice that her family is willing to care for her until a good partner comes along , whereas Cressida's family will use her inability to find a partner to abuse her more.
We dont have much to suggest that she acknowledges the class aspect of women's rights. As again her time with with the working class was limited. In addition the only feminist readings she gained from that time ,which we know of, is Mary Wollstonecraft (1759β1797). She, whilst of lower class than Eloise (middle class specifically), was still know to have some classist ideas in her work.
Though it should be acknowledged that the most class conscious prot feminist philosophers were not alive during the time frame bridgerton is set in (Regency Era: 1811 to 1820) .
The few notable exceptions of earliest writers who Eloise could have read from were Flora Tristan (1803β1844) and Harriet Taylor Mill (1807β1858). [The time frame makes it a bit iffy tho]
Her actively venturing out to seek audience with the said working class could suggest there were class-based feminist discussions being had. At the very least it does recognize her interest in class issues, without confirmation of distinctly class consciousness feminist philosophy.
First, to talk about class we must talk about money.
The flow of money in bridgerton through lineage and marriage seems to take this structure. Ladies with male relatives of higher familial rank have their money controlled by those male relatives prior to marriage. They will be given a little bit of spending money for personal use(not too sure about how much it is.). The main money belonging to any woman of the ton is her dowery. It is distinctly the daughters inheritance which is transferred to her husband's family/her upon marriage. At this point it gets a bit more complex as to what the dowery is meant to be spent on, or if the women have full control over their dowery. Other ways of gaining money would be through death of the main patriarch, provided there were no male heirs/relatives to take over. Spinsters were not allowed access to dowery. If remaining unmarried a spinster will be taken care of financially by the most appropriate male relative.
[Also I will NOT be referring to the rest of the ton as though they are of a different class to the bridgertons simply because they have less money. They are of the same class. All members of the ton benefit from the ton whether you like that or not.]
Being of the ton presents Eloises with privileges those of lower class do not have. To analyze this power from a feminist lens we must ask if she uses that power of to control/demean/oppress women of lower class for her own benefit. We must also ask if she chooses to listen the to perspectives and plights of the working class. And how/if she begins to apply those ideas or spread them (of course under consideration of the social confines she is stuck in).
Whilst her interactions with the lower class are limited. We do see her in Season 3 taking action to attend radical political rallies of her own accord. At the very beginning, Eloise is excited to attend the meetings. Being surrounded be analyticals pushing for structural change and evaluating the system they exist in is exciting for her. We also see that she isn't just attending from the thrill. But because she actually wants to hear other opinions. This is highlighted by her wanting to discuss the literature presented with Theo and trusting his reading suggestions as a man of the lower class.
However, its is clear these words do not immediately translate into self reevaluation on class. After being accused of being LW she returns to theo to find out he has almost lost his job because of their interactions. Her actions and privilege are quickly called out by Theo. After which we see her understand the power structures that divide them as she analyzes her position of power, over the lower class. Leading to her 'breaking up' with Theo knowing if word gets out, he will be punished much more severely than her.
Re: " I do not normally care what other people think, but yes, I care about you. And if we continue on like this. I could not live with myself if you are the one who has to face the consequences."
It can be said that her actions were partially influenced by her crush on Theo. But I feel that would be a dishonest representation of her willingness to continue the intellectual consumption of radical literature.
Also, we are aware that she spoke to Cressida about some of these things. Even inspiring her to read a feminist philosopher Theo had introduced her to. So I do think she tried somewhat to spread the philosophies she discovered whilst among the working class.
Of course, after this, any attendance to revolutionary parties was prohibited because of of the whole LW situation. And in S4 Eloise is being fully monitored most of the time. Either directly her mother or by having to accompany her sister. We don't get to see much of her interactions with the working class much outside of this despite the focus on working class people in S4. Through those limited interactions we fail to see anything that would suggest she is against the revolution of working class or sees them as lesser than her. We do see that she seems to greatly respect Sophie opinion on the book, but that could also be due to the surprise that Sophie read it.
Let us analyze characters actions through a modern lens of race and feminism and understand why a characters actions would be deemed white feminism, if race were a present social construct in Bridgerton.
- Does she directly harm any poc physically or mentally?
- Does she try to remove power from any POC?
- Does she utilize her identity as a WW under patriarchy to indirectly harm poc?
- Does she center her experiences over those of POC?
In my knowledge Eloise does not go out of her way to harm any POC in the story. This is also a result of the ton still being majority white. And her not being able to explore much outside of it.
Her interactions with the POC characters, while limited, do not distinguish any hostility. In fact one of the main WOC we see Eloise interact with is Kate. In this conversation she seeks the verbal reassurance that the life of a spinster (a life eloise herself seeks) is not miserable as ppl make it out to be. At first glance in may come across as Eloise using WOC to do the emotional work of satisfying her feelings. But what preceeds and follows that snippet disregards that interpretation. Initially Eloise seeks Kate out because Kate appears content with the life of a spinster. She genuinely admires Kate for living life this way. Eloise as a young woman then asks for knowledge on what her future may look like. Kate answers honestly, and says it is not glamorous. Eloise in turn doesn't get angry at or insult Kate for not appeasing her dreams, or say her experiences are untrue. She takes what Kate's says solemly and goes on her own to deal with these emotions.
Next her interactions with Sophie who is the WOC she speaks to most outside of Kate. In S4 she appears to be both intrigued by how well read Sophie is and very interested in her opinion of the book being discussed. Again interactions are limited but no untoward statements or actions are made.
When Sophie is transferred to being Eloise's lady's maid she seems genuinely happy. Likely due to her respect for Sophie's intellect.
After the reveal of Sophie's familial rights, she stops being a maid for the Bridgertons. In their first interaction after the change Eloise is not upset at having her maid now become someone of equal status to her in the household. She welcomes her with a hug, suggesting some level of closeness was formed during their time together.
Finally we do not see Eloise use her identity is a fragile WW in need of protection to villainize any POC as aggressive or intent on causing her harm. She does also not use her "inherent innocence" as a WW to direct the violence of any WM to the POC around her.
I don't think Eloise displays any of the hallmarks of white feminism. The closest we get is her self-centered nature over-lapping slightly with individualism. Also her initial lack of understanding on class issues is, in my opinion, counterbalanced by the fact that she voluntarily went to political rallies to gain a better understanding of societal problems (which is exactly what happened). Finally, no racist narratives were apparent to me in my watching.
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