Why “The Bold Type” is the Show I Need as a 22 Year Old

I’m a 22-year-old recent college graduate. I’m trying (more like struggling) to navigate everything that comes with the real world — finding a job, making new friends, dating, living on my own, etc. These past few months have brought a lot of ups and downs and twists and turns for someone who thought she would have it all figured out and planned down to the last detail by now.

Despite my indisputable love for and obsession with television, I did not expect a show to give me comfort, solace and confirmation that what I’m going through is normal. But that’s exactly what I found with The Bold Type. 

The Bold Type tells the story of three friends: Jane (Katie Stevens), Kat (Aisha Dee), and Sutton (Meghann Fahy). All three are navigating professional journeys at Scarlet magazine in New York City, while trying to figure out who they are as young women in a world that can be emotionally intense and challenging.

From the moment I was introduced to Jane, Kat, and Sutton on my screen, I saw myself in each of them for very different reasons.

I relate to Sutton as a woman who is ambitious. Sutton is trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do, while simultaneously trying to move up in the company. She hesitates to rock the boat due to financial obligations and fear that her secret romance with the magazine’s publisher, Richard (Sam Page), will be revealed.

I relate to Kat as a woman who is outspoken. As the social media manager she tries to get the magazine to be more political, citing social shares and Twitter traffic as reasons to pursue riskier interviews with controversial figures. She believes a lot of good can come from being outspoken, however she learns there can be consequences. There are times when making noise and bringing attention to yourself won’t change things for the better.

I relate to Jane as a woman who is idealistic, yet hesitant to step out of her comfort zone. Jane is a bright-eyed dreamer who visualizes how her new staff writer job, and the stories she wants to write, should go. She tries to impress her editor, Jacqueline, by pitching stories she thinks she’ll like. When Jacqueline advises her to ”write what you know,” Jane resists. But she soon realizes she’ll get nowhere quick, and never be able to write the kind of articles that leave a lasting legacy as she envisioned, if she doesn’t heed her boss’s instruction.

All three are career women whose stories primarily focus on their professional development and relationships with each other. That’s not to say those are the only stories told. The show also deals with feminine issues like: female orgasm, same-sex attraction, a younger woman having a secret affair with an older male executive, yoni eggs for vaginal exercise, sex positions, pornography for women, Internet trolling and other real-life concerns. The topics are wholly relatable to their audience of young women, like me.

I also think this show could not have come at a more appropriate time, considering what is happening in the real world. Decades-old magazines like Cosmo and Glamour are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Over the past year, Teen Vogue added a political voice to its storytelling, which broadened its audience. The show taps into this dynamic, proving how in-tune to reality the show’s writers are.

The Bold Type is everything I didn’t know I needed at this stage of my life. It is entertaining, fun and has surprising depth. There is no doubt I will continue to tune in each week, to be both enthralled and inspired. Here’s to learning more about myself.