Having recently joined the rest of the world in subscribing to Netflix, I have become totally obsessed with The Good Wife, and its main character, Alicia Florrick. The show focuses on a woman returning to her career after having raised a family due to the arrest and disgrace of her husband, the State’s Attorney of Chicago. Not only does Alicia Florrick take the Chicago courts by storm, she does it with style, integrity and a good dose of kick-ass, and that’s why young women everywhere should take note.
1 She’s Intelligent
There’s nothing that makes for more of an empowering role model for young women than intelligence, and Alicia Florrick has that in spades. Episode after episode you can see her formidably taking on those with much more experience, usually to their detriment. With a culture that values sexuality and dieting above all else, having a leading lady that exudes intelligence is great for young women.
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Alicia Florrick is the main character in the hit show The Good Wife, and she is a great role model for young women. She is a strong, independent woman who is intelligent and capable of taking on any challenge that comes her way. She is a successful lawyer and a devoted mother and wife, showing that it is possible to have a successful career and a fulfilling family life.
Alicia is portrayed as a woman who is unafraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes in. She is a powerful advocate for justice and is not afraid to take on powerful opponents. Her intelligence and quick wit make her a formidable opponent in the courtroom, and she is often able to outwit her opponents and win her cases.
Alicia is also a great role model in terms of her personal style. She is always dressed professionally and tastefully, and her wardrobe is always appropriate for the situation. She is not afraid to take risks and stand out from the crowd, but she still maintains a sense of sophistication and class.
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2 She’s Feisty
My favourite trait of Mrs F is that she takes no prisoners. She handles her altercations with grace and charm, but, when those she’s invested in are under fire, be it friends, family or clients, she doesn’t pull punches. As the series develops, she becomes more and more outspoken as she realises that she doesn’t have to play nice if others don’t. Girls everywhere should take note: mind games and back stabbing are not the ways to face your problems; tackle them head on using your intellect and wit – remember, WWAD? (What would Alicia do!)
3 She’s a Cosmo Girl Too
Cosmo-feminism has taught us that we don’t have to choose between career and family life; we can have it all. This is epitomised in The Good Wife. As the title of the show suggests, she is a good wife, standing by her husband’s political ambitions, despite their separation; making waves whilst advancing her career, and above all, marching through fire for her children, Zach and Grace.
4 She’s Moral
She may play by her own rules, but she sticks to them. She believes in conducting herself in a certain way, in treating people in a certain way and dealing with problems in a certain way. We all have to compromise at times, but, we should never do anything we believe to be morally wrong.
5 She’s Stylish
As well as being a role model in many ways, she is a style icon. Her professional attire as well as her fabulous function frocks makes her stand out. My personal favourite is her red ball gown in series four – she is the epitome of the lady in red. I quite often find myself googling work attire after devouring another episode, inspired by her immaculate elegance. Of course, she is played by the drop dead Julianna Margulies and therefore would look good in a paper bag…Jealous, table for one please!
6 She’s Forgiving
Her husband had an affair with a prostitute. Her best friend had sex with her husband. Her colleagues have crossed her more than once. But she eventually forgave them. She does, however, make them work for her forgiveness – she’s nobody’s fool and nobody’s pushover- but she does forgive. Despite all the wrongs her husband did, she fell in love with him again - despite opinions, she tried again. Being someone who doesn’t forgive easily, this trait makes me admire the lady more.
7 She’s Fun!
Constantly being called “Saint Alicia” by her husband’s campaign manager rubs her up the wrong way, and my favourite quote is her response to him: “I swear, if you start clocking my alcohol intake – I’m gonna start doing shots”. As well as sipping tequila with her colleagues after a tough day, she is often seen mucking around with her children and getting quite amorous with the men in her life. Good for her.
So there we have it, my favourite show of the moment and my favourite leading lady. For all these reasons and many more, I genuinely think that young women should watch this show. Twerking, drinking, starving and promiscuity seem to be taking centre stage at the moment so it’s great to see a woman that’s classically beautiful, strikingly intelligent and full of charisma. When I grow up, I want to be Alicia Florrick…hmm, maybe in a next life! Who do you admire?
