Season 1 Episode 5
Ilana and Abbi get invited to a rooftop party in New York City and want to make sure that they look the part. They go shopping at an upscale boutique, and Abbi decides to buy the first dress she tries on. As she’s checking out, the cashier tells her that her total is $438. Ilana and Abbi show reluctance and tell the employee that they will be seeing her in a few days to return it.
Shortly after, the girls go to the party when as they walk in, they feel very confident. Ilana says “You know what’s cool about this party? We are the sexiest girls here, ‘cause we have, like, the fattest asses, you know?” As they walk with pride, Abbi follows and says, “Yeah, I mean, look at all these fashion chic basic bitches”.
Through the sex role perspective, I saw that this episode resists feminine stereotypes in media. In most film and television, when women go shopping there is a whole montage of them smiling and portraying very feminine traits. Seeing Abbi choose the first dress she tried on seems very real and relates to experiences of other women. Additionally, in these montages, money is never brought up. It’s popular to see girls pay with a card given to them by their father, boyfriend, or another male figure. Abbi bought this dress herself and emphasized that it is a hefty price. It is typical for films to show women second guessing what they are wearing, if they look fat, their chest looks bad, or showing a lack of confidence. Abbi and Ilana’s self assurance resists most stereotypes of women going out. It was quite refreshing to see!
Shared by: Meghan Lowery
Image Credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/185984659598879763/