The ever popular sitcom television series, Friends, is a staple in many peoples’ lives. Everyone who has seen the show has a favorite character. One character though that I think is underrated is Rachel Green. She overcame so much throughout the series, from being financially cut off by her father in season one to being a single mom living in the city. Now I do admit that season one Rachel often acts entitled and self righteous but this phase in the character’s personality just made her transformation at the end that much more incredible.
She goes against traditional expectations for women. In season one, Rachel is introduced to the group of friends in Central Perk while wearing a wedding dress. She had just left her husband to be at the altar, already straying away from the traditional expectations of women. Another example would be when Rachel was pregnant with Emma. Her and Ross having a child out of wedlock seemed crazy at the time and Rachel gracefully excepted the fact that she was going to be a single mother living in the city. A third example would be her sexuality. The men she dated and pursued during the series defined her. From the infamous “We were on a break” fights with Ross, to being openly flirtatious, and all of her on and off relationships with men, Rachel never hid her sexuality.
She worked to be successful and respected. Rachel in season one is almost unrecognizable next to Rachel in season ten. She started with never working a day in her life and ended by turning down a job offer in Paris. She worked all the way up from being a waitress at Central Perk to a highly respected and successful woman in the world of fashion. She followed her dreams and achieved them by not giving up. She rose to the challenge and balanced being a single mother while working a full time job.
She fought for what she wanted. Throughout the ten seasons, Rachel was never one to back down. She was outspoken about her opinions and expressed herself. One example of her never backing down was when she fought for maternity leave. After Rachel gives birth to Emma, she has to return to her office two weeks early to pick up her work and her job is threatened. Her boss gave her no sympathy and assigns her a presentation when she has no one to look after Emma. Rachel pushes through the obstacles and is able to keep her job and take care of Emma.
Rachel represents the improvements that have been made in the portrayal of women on television. Even though it premiered twenty years ago, Friends still influences our lives in positive ways. Rachel is such an inspirational role model for women of all ages. She is a strong, confident, successful woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. These are the qualities that make her such a great feminist role model.
