Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
I have always had a deep love for “The Golden Girls” as I have many fond memories of watching it with my grandmother when I was a little kid. My recent decision to rewatch the show has given me a whole new appreciation for what it originally set out to do.
At first glance, the NBC sitcom can look like nothing more than an ’80s soundstage with four elderly women sitting around and poking fun at each other. But if one looks beyond the surface, they will find that the show is so much more.
Originally airing Sept. 14, 1985, the show stars four women — Dorothy Zbornak, played by Bea Arthur; Rose Nylund, played by Betty White; Blanche Devereaux, played by Rue McClanahan; and Sophia Petrillo, played by Estelle Getty — who live together in Blanche’s Miami home and get up to various shenanigans in their neighborhood.
Of the four women, one is a recent divorcee and the other three are widows. Much of the premise revolves around their mutual single status and exploring what life after 50 looks like — excluding Sophia, who is 80 years old and Dorothy’s mother.
While the show looked simple on the outside, in actuality, it was exploring an age group, relationship status and perspective that had rarely ever been at the forefront of a television show before.
The women on the show discuss and experience a myriad of relatable life experiences such as children getting married, dating and exploring sexuality after a long-term partner. In addition, the show tackles challenges that are more specific to the character’s season of life, such as aging and the complex emotions that accompany it and declining parents, to name a few.
Additionally, it served as a platform to explore timely topics like LGBTQ+ representation, the AIDs epidemic and depression in various forms as they relate to the principal characters. Through it all, the show is able to use excellent comedic timing and witty writing to keep viewers engaged.
“The Golden Girls” gave audiences an example of well-rounded, independent women with fulfilling friendships making the most of their lives regardless of their age. In addition to its forward-thinking, it also went on to break multiple TV history records, including all four principal actors winning Emmys for their respective performances.
Characters over the age of 50 are far less likely to be shown on television, according to the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. When they are shown, female characters that are 50+ are often reduced to their service to others: wife, mother, caregiver.
“The Golden Girls” offered an alternative narrative: these women are known to the viewers first and foremost as friends — a mutually beneficial relationship. The show was one of the first to suggest there is more to life after marriage and children.
Separate from its trend-setting ways, there is a certain, almost inexplicable charm to the show. Maybe some of that can be attributed to the slightly grainy quality of the episodes, the superb late ’80s and early ’90s garb or the nostalgic set design and iconic theme song.
Or maybe it is due to the tangible love the characters feel for each other. Underneath the incessant teasing, it’s clear that these relationships are paramount in these women’s lives. They are the center of each other’s worlds, and I think it’s rare to see friendship portrayed in this way in the later half of life.
There is something endearing and relieving about imagining the potential relationships that can come into your life at any stage. It is a common assumption that women who are past the years of marriage and child-rearing will have a less engaging social life, but Sophia, Dorothy, Rose and Blanche show viewers that true friendship can be found at any age.
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Contact Fiona Creadon via email: fiona.creadon@pepperdine.edu or on Instagram: @Fiocreao
