Good girls is a television series that features three mothers, Annie, Ruby and Beth. These women turn to a life of crime to solve their financial troubles. Even though a life of crime is not a good thing, these women in the series are not portrayed as bad or evil characters, instead the writer tries to justify their reasons for engaging in criminal activities. For them, a life of crime is seen as the last resort. What I like about the show is that typically, criminal activities are often portrayed as predominantly male dominated, but "Good girls" challenges this stereotype by featuring women as the central figures engaging in a life of crime. Interestingly, they are never labelled as "bad" women for doing so. The show gives the overall sense of empowerment for me personally, that women can be tough, strong and powerful enough to handle businesses that often people think they cannot. This subverts the notion that mothers and wives have only a single role to play, often times in tv shows we also see the wives as "naive" and "delicate". This show brings forth the strong and powerful mothers and wives who have strong leadership and decision making skills.
The three protagonists also challenge the stereotype that men should be the primary breadwinners. Beth, Annie and Ruby take active roles to support their families financially and make contributions to their households, additionally, they are shown as very loving and caring mothers and friends. The show speaks girl power! This show is also about girls standing up for each other, providing support to each other during tough times. Another thing I like about the show is that these three mothers are not played by a cast of slim models or they are never made to dress sexually to fit the male gaze.
Throughout the series, Annie, Ruby and Beth demonstrate their ability to make tough decisions and navigate dangerous situations. Their actions defy the notion that women are incapable of taking charge or making critical choices. This show also displays a more complex, multidimensional portrayal of women. They balance their criminal endeavours with their responsibilities at home. They each have a lot on their plates, plus a life where a gang monitors them is not an easy one, but they still find the strength to keep going even with their lives at stake.
That being said, I think the problem we all had with this show was Beth being involved with Rio aka the leader or owner of the criminal business. Understandably, these are mothers facing a dangerous criminal who can kill them whenever, however, the influence that Rio has on the three women sort of dulls down the power of these three women. Rio who is covered in tattoos with his gang of thick macho guys holding guns, ends up getting the women to work for him. Only Beth is able to stand up against him some times. This too is dulled down by the attraction that both Rio and Beth seem to have for each other. Rio is made a seductive criminal. Beth's attractiveness is sort of used as a tool to manipulate or gain advantage. In one of the episodes, Beth is shown taking her clothes off for Rio who watches from a distance and only leaves when Beth has taken all her clothes off. There is still authority that Rio holds over the three women. They are often shown to be scared of Rio. Even though Beth is shown as the strongest and the most courageous, she is still scared of Rio. Their physical involvement can be seen as women going for what they want but it also then feels toxic and forced. In a show where women take authority, why did the owner of criminal activity/business (Rio), have to be a guy when they could have chosen a woman. This just shows that only men can be true authority figures and have the ability to establish control by being extremely dangerous and frightening. Let me know what you guys think!