When you fall in love with a television show, falling in love with the characters and their relationships is almost inevitable. In fact, many people like to personally connect themselves to their favorite shows by comparing their own real life friendships with the ones that are depicted on screen.
Often times, however, the female friendships that are created on many television shows are not realistic or healthy portrayals of what a real friendship between two or more women should look like.
“Women are forcefully pitted against each other as a way to serve the male ego,” said Gracie Zwernemann, a senior English and education student. “So female friendships on TV are important for young women because it accurately represents them in a way that isn’t always available in the media.”
Many depictions of these friendships are littered with stereotypical and negative female character tropes: the frenemy, athe mean girl, the ex-best friend, the list goes on.
However, amidst all of the less than desirable female pairs on television today, there are a number of fictional female friendships that serve as excellent examples for what a healthy relationship should look like.
1. Leslie and Ann, Parks and Recreation
The love that these two women have for each other could make anyone appreciate their own friends that much more. Their relationship is hysterical, heart-warming and probably most known for the strange but endearing compliments that Leslie usually gives to Ann: “Ann, you beautiful tropical fish. You’re smart as a whip and cool under pressure.” Or, a true fan favorite, “Ann, you poetic, noble land-mermaid.”
2. Toni and Candace, Portlandia
Okay, yes, one of these women is actually Fred Armison in a wig, but that’s not important. Toni and Candace were once enemies at their former workplace, but after discovering that they were both being sabotaged by their male boss, they teamed up to fight back and have been best friends ever since.
They now own a feminist bookstore called “Women and Women First” and although their ideals may be a little outdated, they really make a great pair.
3. Jess and CeCe, New Girl
These two have been through a lot, but it’s only made them stronger. From dealing with cheating boyfriends to shaving each other’s armpits, Jess and CeCe have tackled pretty much everything together. These two seem like they couldn’t be more different from one another, but that’s what makes their relationship work.
In the end, it doesn’t matter that Jess and CeCe have very different jobs or that they sometimes lead very different lifestyles; all that matters is that they always have each other’s backs.
4. Meredith and Cristina, Grey’s Anatomy
Not only are Meredith and Cristina both incredibly intelligent and wonderful individuals, but they are able to build off of each other and support one another whenever they need to, making them almost unstoppable as a pair. These two are, after all, the reason why so many girl friends refer to each other as their “person.”
Hayley Toft, a junior fine arts student, said that Meredith and Cristina are her favorite fictional friends because they constantly remind each other that the men in their lives can not and should not be the center of heir worlds.
5. Abbi and Ilana, Broad City
If you think that you and your best friend have found yourself in some pretty weird and sort of dangerous situations, you probably haven’t been keeping up with Broad City. In almost every episode, Abbi and Ilana end up getting involved with the wrong people, like a man in a diaper that they found on Craigslist who made them clean his apartment in their underwear. But they stick through everything together, regardless of how strange or illegal it is, and that’s what counts.
“The culture of woman versus woman is so ingrained in our society, but female friendships on TV show that woman are more powerful together,” explained Toft. “When women on TV empower each other, it’s empowering the viewer, too.”
PHOTO TAKEN from vulture.com
PHOTO TAKEN from fashionista.com
PHOTO TAKEN from popsugar.com
