Last night I laughed myself to tears watching Fox’s New Girl. Though the show got sort of a slow start, I stuck with it and boy am I glad I did! Something about the episode really struck a chord with me and I felt compelled to share my thoughts on it with my fellow entertaining enthusiasts.
Last night’s episode, “Jess and Julia,” focused on the conflict between the show’s heroine, an adorkable, ribbon-loving, polka dot rocking Jess (Zoey Deschanel), and her roommate Nick’s new girlfriend Julia, a smart, pant suit-wearing lawyer. Jess’s sugar-sweet demeanor irritates Julia who is not very girly and doesn’t like dessert.
Things come to a head when Jess finally snaps back at Julia’s passive agressive comments:
“I brake for birds. I rock a lot of polka dots. I have touched glitter in the last 24 hours. I spend my entire day talking to children. And I find it fundamentally strange that you’re not a dessert person. It freaks me out. I’m sorry that I don’t talk like Murphy Brown. And I hate your pants suit. I wish it had ribbons on it or something just to make it slightly cuter but that doesn’t mean I’m not smart and tough and strong.”
Something about Jess’s mini monologue really hit home for me. Lots of times people think that just because I am a girly girl that I am not tough and strong and smart. But that couldn’t be further from the truth!
I love to bake, ribbons make me happy and I rocked a polka dot shirt just yesterday. At the same time, I am gainfully employed, own my own business and serve in leadership roles in a variety of professional and community organizations. I speak a second language and have a college degree.
Sometimes girly girls can be underestimated but, just like Jess proves, when we want, we can be a force to be reckoned with!
There’s nothing wrong with pant suit-wearing, Murphy Brown talking girls. The world needs us both! But I agree with Jess, I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like dessert. It really freaks me out.
Right on Sista! Girly girls rock. Ribbons, dots and cupcakes. Love em!
I love it! I’m a pantsuit with ribbons kinda gal, and I think the invention of the dessert table trend is up there with the Seven Wonders Of The World. You rock that polka shirt, we do need that in the world.
LOVE New Girl! “Who’s that Girl, Who’s that Girl…it’s Jess!”
I loved Jess’ defense of girly girls but as someone whose more of a Julia (I take my dessert in the form of many whiskeys on the rocks, thank you), I definitely related to Lizzy Caplan’s unease around a girl like Jess. When you’re not used to braking for birds or wrapping blankets (not blankies!) around others, it can be a bit off-putting. I just think all girls, Murphy Brown or ribbon hat wearing, should be able to get along 🙂