Feminism and Gender Roles in Bridget Jones’s Diary

Abstract

A cornerstone of contemporary women–centric fiction, Helen Fielding’s Bridget
Jones’s Diary (1996) continues to charm readers by playfully exploring womanhood through an
emotionally resonant character – a single cosmopolite woman juggling self–expectations and
socially imposed standards. A prominent exponent of the much–discussed chick–lit genre,
Fielding’s novel reveals its complexities by satirically addressing the feminist and gendered
discourses. This paper investigates the ways in which feminist discourse is introduced and
discussed in Bridget Jones’s Diary, the manner in which different female characters engage
with it, and the critical interpretations that arise from their interactions with its agenda. After
addressing the presence and impact of feminist discourse in Helen Fielding’s novel, the focus
shifts to the depiction of gender roles, exploring how the novel negotiates or reinforces
traditional gender(ed) expectations.