Rachel Green: A True Feminist Icon
By: Fairooz Shafin
Tags: Feminism, Pop Culture, Television, Friends, Rachel Green

Ever since the show started back in 1994, it is safe to say Friends has gained quite a lot of traction. At the turn of the decade, the show took a chance with relatively unknown actors and became a cultural revolution.

Sure, the concept of a story revolving around a group of friends living their lives wasn’t anything wholly original. There have been shows like Cheers and Seinfeld based on the same idea, but neither of the two are as successful in withstanding the test of time as Friends has been.

Even now -twenty five years since the pilot and Ross’s infamous “Hi”- Friends is still as relevant in global pop culture as ever.

With it remains the legacy of one of the main characters. The lovable, quirky and iconic Rachel Green.

There have been many Rachel duplicates in the decades to come ever since the show wrapped up back in 2004, but none of them are as beloved and mentioned as often. None of them have been able to become a cultural icon the same way she has.

Being one of the most well regarded Friend and the so called dream girl throughout various generations, Rachel Green may just be one of the most iconic characters to come out of the 90’s craze. She is one of the many TV characters who define the decade and her influence ranges across various fields such as fashion, romance and lifestyle.

The Rachel Haircut, her whirlwind on-again off-again romance with Ross Geller and her many memorable fashion looks may be the most frequently mentioned characteristics of Rachel Green. However, those aren’t the things that set her apart.

There have been many Rachel duplicates in the decades to come ever since the show wrapped up back in 2004, but none of them are as beloved and mentioned as often. None of them have been able to become a cultural icon the same way she has.

Robin Scherbatsky from How I Met Your Mother is the closest example. An otherwise independent who comes as a new addition to the group, getting involved romantically with one of he male group members which turns into a relationship to hold the audience’s interest over the seasons. There are striking parallels between both the characters as well as glaring differences.

However, at the end of the day, Rachel Green comes out as a more influential character, despite Robin being the more put together one of the two.

The first and foremost reason for Rachel’s popularity comes from her vulnerability. At the begin of the show, in it’s first season, Rachel is nothing but a clueless suburban girl, sheltered by her Dad and her fiance’s money.

What makes her so special is that despite having this easy life set out in front of her -a life of comfort and ease- she chooses to pave her own path to success. She runs away from her wedding to an unknown city and puts everything at risk. She cuts herself out of her father’s support and is left on her own to build a new life for herself.

There is the case of her romance with Ross. His pining which goes on for two whole seasons and the drama that comes along before and after they begin dating.

Robin is also involved in a similar relationship. However, while Robin’s character stands as a reflection of Ted’s feelings towards her, Rachel Green’s arc is not defined by her relationship with Ross Geller.

She goes on to build her success from the ground up, starting at the dregs as a waitress. She takes the next step to quit her safe job.

Even though her friends and then boyfriend Ross is a big influence on her decision and help her look for a new job, at the end of the day it was a daunting choice she makes for herself. Rachel seeks out her dream to work in the fashion industry and takes the necessary risks that come with success.

Any mid-twenties job seeker can relate to her quest of sending out countless resumes and doing countless interviews only to be rejected. Once she does get a job in her desired industry, it isn’t the glamorous work she had fantasized it to be. This is too is something that resonates within the youth in any generation. One of the many things that make her so relatable.