Borgen and the Twice Join: The brand new Troubled Princesses of Danish Castle

Strong and you will wise, stunning and you may sexy, that have a huge love of life, flawless performs stability, and you will impressive endurance, commander of Modest Party Birgitte is even represented because the good great enjoying mom and a treasured spouse-exactly who 1st generally seems to “obtain it the

In the foreword of the thought-provoking volume Communicative Understandings of Women’s Leadership Development, Alice H. Eagly (2011) states that “there can be no genuine gender equality without women being represented equally with men in positions of power and authority” (p. ix). A celebrated Danish political TV drama Borgen (2010-2013, literally, Castle) does exactly that-puts a strong, intelligent, and visionary woman Birgitte Nyborg in the most powerful position of Prime Minister of Denmark and an inspiring role model for many women in Denmark, Europe at large, and beyond, considering the popularity of the series. The huge success of Borgen is comparable with the triumphant story of Birgitte Nyborg’s landslide victory in the Danish political election-in its overwhelming effect on the audience. The series became a hit in many European countries and later in the USA. John Powers, a reporter from the US National Public Radio claims that Borgen is Den). Borgen harvested an impressive amount of international awards in various categories-ranging from Best Drama Series and specifically Best European Drama TV Series to the Outstanding Actress in the Drama Series by Sidse Babett Knudsen (better known to the audience as Birgitte Nyborg). ” Until she becomes the Prime Minister-and the expected care for the country eventually clashes with the expected care for the family-reminding the audience of the unavoidable reality of female leadership-the infamous double bind.

Given that story of Madame Minister spread in most its intricacies, they sooner converts toward a cautionary story for the emancipated and you may driven female, who witness in every around three season how blend of women political management plus the stability out-of domesticity and care and attention getting a beneficial quasi-oxymoronic design

Because the story out of Madame Minister spread in most its complexities, it fundamentally turns to your a preventive tale for the emancipated and motivated women, just who witness throughout about three 12 months the combination of people political frontrunners while the ethics out-of domesticity and worry end up being a good quasi-oxymoronic layout, and just how this new unobtainable ideal out of “which have it-all” gets highly affected, toward stability and joy of the female protagonist-if hit-getting fragmented and you can brief at the best. Which have tested extensive media exposure on governmental trajectories from Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, Tracey Quigley Holden and you may Sandra French (2011) advise that “news experienced for ladies governmental candidates generally seems to wanted a worried truce between your polar opposites of double binds” (190), tinder statistics speaking about this new cutting-edge matchmaking between your political together with personal of female political figures. Alice Eagly (2011) clarifies: “Given prominent criterion that women is sweet and type and you may that frontrunners is going to be assertive and you can dominating, ladies leadership deal with casual pressures of finding a combination one to mixes niceness and you will assertiveness. New twice join is very constraining whenever girl enter men-reigned over frontrunner spots due to the fact expectations was in fact shaped because of the previous male occupants ones spots” (x). Birgitte Nyborg’ trajectory demonstrably employs fit-and the clash of one’s ”asked cares” abilities to your a cycle regarding private losses, accompanying Madame Minister’s governmental gains, as if seeking punishment the girl ambition and penalize the lady to own their governmental triumph.

Cecelie allows Phillip and you will repeatedly informs your you to she enjoys him

As the industry out-of Birgitte Nyborg sees, their family members existence actually starts to break toward numerous profile, the woman young guy Magnus, struggling towards the exhausting environment of your usually missing mother, actually starts to damp his shorts. Nyborg’s enjoying and you will supportive husband Phillip–exactly who in past times actually place their field towards keep into the purpose of Birgitte and nearest and dearest-starts craving more intimacy, starts an event, and in the end documents for a divorce case, even with his wife’s desperate asks for the next options. In one 12 months, Phillip begins a new, committed relationship with a beneficial childless Cecelie, who is willing to promote your and his awesome youngsters the girl undivided focus and you can unconditional care: she preparations their vacations, decides decorations for their new house, earnestly activates together with children, they cook North american country edibles and you will gamble loved ones game together. An old, nearly stereotypical method into the famous Danish hygge. Importantly, Cecelie goes wrong with features a career one to symbolizes the newest stability from traditional proper care by itself-a doctor. Meanwhile, mentally wounded Primary Minster conserves some other political crisis, models some other Parliament, if you’re covertly ingesting sour tears out of loneliness and you can frustration, and being troubled by the news just like the energy-starving crappy girlfriend and you may mom who sacrificed her friends on her behalf governmental community. Regardless of if to begin with Italian language and still profoundly ingrained from the German federal psyche, the new derogatory notion of an effective Rabenmutter (actually, the brand new raven mom) -a father or mother who abandons the woman children and you can goes to job is an effective discursive shaping-can be used to help you discipline and shame of numerous lady leaders as much as Europe, like the reputation out of Birgitte Nyborg.