Bridget Jones, Insecurity Journal
As soon as it appeared, Bridget Jones’ Diary received an undeniable success in theaters. Almost for the first time, we showed in the cinema an imperfect character: with real problems, insecurities and doubts. Immediately Bridget Jones became an icon: she was that woman all women could relate to.
The Bridget Jones’s Diary is a film that came out in 2001. It is based on a book of the same name and follows the adventures of Bridget, a London woman. Both the book and the film could be seen as a parody of the novel Pride and Prejudice.
Bridget actually represented Elizabeth Bennet, obviously modernized. Bridget Jones is in her thirties, single and addicted to cigarettes. With a virtually non-existent love life and some self-esteem issues, Bridget is seen as an “old maid”.
At the same time, Bridget meets two men: the pleasant and flirtatious Cleaver and the arrogant Darcy. After having had unhappy affairs with her boss, Bridget discovers that this one is cheating on her and she puts an end to the relationship. Very quickly, we understand that Darcy, silent and taciturn, is a man willing to love and support her in difficult times. Little by little, Bridget falls in love with him and ends up accepting the fact that he may be the Mr. Correct she was waiting for.
Bridget Jones, a real woman
Bridget Jones’ success as a character lies in some unpleasant qualities. These “imperfections” give it reality, they allow viewers to identify with it. We realize that movies and television show idealized images of everyday situations. For example, the professional challenges and conflicts of a group of doctors are only shown in an idealized way. In fact, idealization is not necessarily bad.
However, in order to achieve true empathy, it is necessary for the characters to show more humanity. This is where Bridget Jones makes the difference. She’s a character who seems to have the same issues as any other woman in her situation. For this, Bridget Jones’s Diary is a revolution in the genre of romantic comedies.
In most romantic films, the character is an adorably tender woman. Despite their supposed problems, these type of protagonists are generally radiant. For her part, Bridget Jones is a woman who does not comb her hair to go to work because she got up late. And despite her great intelligence, she is a woman who is always alone on the sofa in her living room watching television. Bridget Jones inaugurates a new kind of protagonists: real women.
A journal on insecurities
Bridget is the perfect example of a complex woman: a woman who has to balance her professional life and her love life. She is a very intelligent woman, and when we look at her we find beauty in her. However, Bridget is a character filled with insecurities.
Bridget sees the world in a very negative light. For example, she considers that she is fat and that she is not pretty. Despite this, she manages to conquer two very charming men. But Bridget doesn’t feel comfortable in her own body and she needs external validation.
Bridget only begins to smile when Darcy tells her that she is beautiful “the way she is”. This phrase might sound romantic, but it’s just proof of Bridget’s insecurities. No woman should need outside approval to feel pretty.
Suffering from very marked self-esteem issues, Bridget Jones overcomes the challenges that life imposes on her. However, it is clear that his journal is a journal of pain more than of happiness. For all the women who identify with Bridget Jones, how can we lower the self-imposed barriers?
Some tips to increase your self-esteem
Raising self-esteem and overcoming our doubts is a long and laborious but very rewarding process . We can always be satisfied with the importance of Bridget Jones to the cinema: pioneer of real women on the big screen.
However, it is very important to get negative thoughts out of our own body. It is the only way that we will find to be fulfilled and happy individuals. Below you will find some strategies with which you can take care of your self-esteem.
- Be aware of yourself. We can only initiate behavior changes by identifying them. Thus, by understanding the fact that we adopt a negative discourse towards our body, we can try to modify it.
- Avoid comparing yourself. Few habits have such a negative impact on our self-esteem as comparing yourself. The alternative involves looking for opportunities for growth.
- Channel your inner genius. Albert Einstein asserted that all individuals have genius. However, we do not all develop it in the same area. Develop your interests, and you will find a niche where you will feel right at home.
- Get some exercise. Engaging in physical activity releases endorphins and makes you feel better immediately.
Remember that the process of self-knowledge and self-esteem is not always easy. Some days you may find it more difficult to adopt certain strategies. Beyond Bridget Jones, remember that maintaining a good self-esteem is important.