Representing Bridgerton: Intersectional Perspectives of the Popular Culture Phenomenon

Representing Bridgerton: Intersectional Perspectives of the Popular Culture Phenomenon critically examines Netflix's groundbreaking Bridgerton series through intersectional lenses of race, gender, sexuality, disability, neurodiversity, and environmentalism. This interdisciplinary research situates Bridgerton within broader cultural frameworks, interrogating its representation of diverse identities and historical contexts. Issues explored include neuroqueer storytelling, neurodivergence and autism representation, the redefinition of regency masculinities, the portrayal of matriarchal power, translation across cultures, and complex representations of race, sexuality, and disability. The project further addresses the underlying tensions between Bridgerton's progressive reimaginings and historical colonial realities, critiquing themes of race, privilege, and marginalisation. Drawing on cultural studies, disability studies, gender theory, queer theory, and postcolonial critique, this research highlights Bridgerton’s cultural resonance while examining the nuanced ways it both subverts and perpetuates historical stereotypes and power dynamics.