Blair Waldorf is a Liberal

Recently, we saw an article from the conservative website, FutureFirstLady. Its author tried to claim one of Gossip Girl’s main characters—Blair Waldorf, was a conservative. Though a TV character’s political affiliation shouldn’t matter, we know that Gossip Girl is huge among teen (and young twenties) girls, and the characters have influence. We love Blair’s power, Serena’s charm, Dan’s normal-ness, Nate’s dazzling looks, and Chuck’s well—I’m Chuck Bass-ness. So, we giggled at the claim that Ms. Waldorf is a conservative, because if you truly listen to what Blair says, we think she would definitely vote Democrat today. But before we get to those reasons, we’ll tell you why the “5 Reasons Blair Waldorf is Actually a Conservative” article is wrong… in all five reasons.
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The article’s first reason claims that “Blair is definitely NOT a feminist.” Uh, I’m sorry, I can’t hear you over her turning Chuck down a few times because she didn’t want to be known as “Chuck Bass’s girlfriend.” Blair’s independence and drive is mentioned, which is something we agree on, but what’s funny is that the author goes on to explain that Blair isn’t a feminist because apparently being in a relationship and “recognizing the advantages of having a man in her life” is reserved only for conservative, non-feminist women.

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Seriously? Whoever wrote this article clearly only interacts with radical feminists. There’s nothing in feminism that says women can’t or shouldn’t be in a relationship or enjoy having a man. There’s nothing in feminism that says marrying young is wrong or disgusting, actually feminism stands for women doing whatever they want to do and be whoever they want to be. You want to work full-time and save a family for later? No problem. You want to be stay-at-home-mom and start your family as soon as possible? You go girl. You want to stay single? Not a problem. Want to be married? Go for it. Feminists do not frown upon marriage or having a relationship with a man.
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But wait, Blair and Chuck are a power couple, another thing the author tries to monopolize in the conservative ideology. Are you saying liberal, feminist women can’t be in a power couple? Oh wait, President Bill Clinton and his wife lawyer, First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the United States, Senator, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy, who promoted historical preservation and acted as a traveling ambassador. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who was an activist and writer. Brad and Angelina—need we say anything about the accomplishments of Angelina? And etc. All power couples and liberals.

Reason two isn’t even the second reason. It plays off of the first reason, so really this article has four reasons. “Blair is fiercely independent and ambitious.” We’ve established this, and that we agree with the author here. There’s no doubt Blair is an independent powerhouse. Apparently, feminism is a movement based on “false entitlements and special privileges.” Of course Blair didn’t need these things, because feminism isn’t “false entitlements and special privileges”—well unless you count equality to men as “false” and “special.” Blair worked extremely hard to achieve her accomplishments, setting an example for young girls and women that we can do anything and be anything. Feminism works to show that women are capable of doing anything and everything.
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Oh….well this is awkward. Reason three plays off of reason two, so… are we down to three reasons in the article now? “Blair knows the value of hard work.” Is this implication here that liberals don’t know the value of hard work? Okay, yeah you’re right. Things like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 8-hour work days, a federal minimum wage, the G.I. Bill of Rights, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, Student Loan Reform and Pell Grant Increases, the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Hate Crimes Prevention, just to name a few (and all accomplished by liberals) definitely didn’t take a lot of hard work. And you’re definitely stereotyping liberals and lazy. So, thank you.
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The fourth reason is “Blair is her own person, and doesn’t let society tell her what’s ‘cool,’ ‘normal,’ or “weird.’” Is this even a legitimate reason to be considered a conservative? Or any ideology? This explanation goes on to essentially say the Democratic Party is cool and it’s “against the status quo” to be a Republican… Um? Yeah, you go look at the amount of apparel available for Republicans, both women and men, compared to that of the Democrats and get back to me on that one. It’s definitely considered “cooler” to be a Republican. “Someone as independent as Blair would never let her political views be influenced…” Anyone strong in their ideology doesn’t let their views be altered. This doesn’t belong to conservatives.
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Reason number five, and our personal favorite, “Blair has amazing style and class.” This one is a joke right? The author can’t seriously believe that Republicans are the only party with style and class. This is stereotyping the parties. Again. This one is too stupid to even need further explanation of why it’s not a reason. But let’s not forget, Blair also wore blue. And rocked it.
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Now that we’ve debunked the theory that Blair Waldorf is a conservative, let’s explore the reasons we think she would vote liberal. For starters, Blair is pro-choice and she becomes furious when one of her minions labels Sarah Palin as a powerful woman. But, even better…

Blair admires Hillary.

In season four, episode nine, Blair and Chuck are on the verge of a relationship (again) while she tells him, “With you, I’m Hillary in the White House. And I want to be Hillary, Secretary of State.” and “I have to be Blair Waldorf before I can be Chuck Bass’s girlfriend.” Blair is telling Chuck she needs to be her own person and sure of herself before she can be his counterpart. She wants to do great things, and though she knows Chuck will support her in whatever it is she wants, she wants to do them herself. Blair is her own person, but wants to continue empowering herself before committing to Chuck. Oh, and then there’s this brilliant line to Dan, “Hillary Clinton is one of my role models — I do not break treaties, you ass…”
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Blair is definitely a feminist.

Blair Waldorf runs her own life, and Blair Waldorf happens to people—“I’m not a stop along the way, I’m a destination.” Blair doesn’t let other women or any men define her or put her down. She is her own person, and she couldn’t care less what others think. She doesn’t take a backseat in her own life, she runs it. She doesn’t wait for things to happen, she tries until she succeeds. Feminism is insisting that women are entitled to equal rights under law, have equal opportunities, and are allowed to be the acting agents in our own lives.

Though it’s hard to tell which party a fictional character would align with, we think it’s safe to say that Blair Waldorf has more liberal tendencies than she does conservative. *Cue conservative, preppy tears*

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