Madonnas, Whores, and Jane the Virgin
Let’s be real. It’s usually more fun to watch stories about bad girls. Good girls are often dull or just too lofty to really connect to us-- the mere mortals.
BUT, when a truly good, interesting, and lovable woman is the center of a hit TV show-- it’s a marvelous thing EVERYONE should be excited about.
Which brings me to my current favorite “good” girl on television:
Jane the Virgin.
JTV is a brilliant show for a number of reasons, but chief among them is the titular lady herself. Jane is simultaneously virtuous, funny, and relatable-- a TV character combination that is almost as rare as her accidental artificial insemination.
Jane the Virgin tells a story about a vibrant woman, Jane Villanueva, who finds herself mixed up in the intrigues, love triangles, and dramatic reversals of a telenovela (with plenty of humor and charm as well).
But I would claim that the show is really about a woman’s virtue-- and all the complex, difficult, important questions surrounding what it means to be a “good” woman.
I’ve broken down my convoluted thoughts on this subject into two and a half points (just like a sermon, but shorter). So here it goes.
1. Jane reminds us that a woman’s virtue can not and should not be reduced to her sexual activity.
Historically, when people have discussed a woman’s ‘Virtue’ it’s been a euphemism for her virginity. “You gotta make an honest woman out of her, son.” “Once your virtue has been taken away, you can never get it back.” Or, in JTV, Jane’s “flower,” which, according to her Abuela, “You can never get back!”
JTV explores this problem in many ways. I like the contrast between Jane’s mother, Xiomara, and grandmother (Alba). Flashy, sexy Xo has had many sexual partners-- one of which produced Jane. Abuela Alba has not been in a romantic relationship since her husband died. Pious, old fashioned, and strong-willed-- she sticks to her disapproval of Xo’s behavior. Abuela and Xo roughly represent the madonna-whore dichotomy. In other words, these two female characters portray the two roles society typically grants women, as either perfect, pedestaled virgins or fast and loose whores.
We can see the dichotomy reflected linguistically in their names:
Xiomara: “Ready for Battle”
Alba: “Fortress,” dawn, a shrub with white flowers.
But, JTV reveals that Xiomara is not all slut, and Alba is not all saint. As a matter of fact, one of the show’s most powerfully emotional scenes comes in Season 2, when Alba reveals she was not in fact a virgin upon marriage, and Xo tearfully expresses the anger and pain she has struggled with as a result of years of slut-shaming.
Both ladies are flawed, but both love their family fiercely. As viewers, we love them both. Despite their differences, these women have made a loving and supportive home for Jane. They are both ready to go to the mat for their girl and protect her.
However, the contrast between Alba and Xo is a big conflict for Jane to grow up with. In response, Jane decides to “maintain her flower” and tries to be the “good” girl.
But Jane’s goodness doesn’t begin or end with her virginity (as no person’s goodness should). Even though a question of virginity is the premise of the show, the episode-to-episode drama centers on Jane’s moral decision-making, as a fully embodied, thoughtful, imaginative, woman.
And now, we’ve arrived at point 2.
2. Jane contradicts the myth that virtue is boring.
Another false assumption we’ve picked up through the centuries, is the notion that virtue makes for boring entertainment and badness will be all drama and suspense.
Almost every episode of Jane The Virgin involves a situation in which Jane decides to be the less selfish person. After some struggle and even some mistakes, Jane chooses to be kind, to forgive, and to put other people first. Try watching an episode with this moral plot in mind. I’ve found almost every chapter contains some moral conflict and then victory for our Jane.
Here’s some of my favorite examples of the protagonist choosing the moral road less travelled:
Chapter 4: During a pre-marital counseling session, Jane spills to Michael and the local priest that she might have feelings for Rafael. Jane tells the whole truth-- and nothing but. The consequences are messy, but Jane chooses honesty (a road less travelled in television).
Chapter 18: After snapping at a rude customer (who also happens to be the city commissioner who will help Rafael’s hotel get its liquor license back), Jane sacrifices Easter with her family to make things right with Mrs.Commissioner at an event with Rafael. Not only does Jane help Rafael out, she actually has a lovely and kind interaction with the commissioner. Forgiveness for the win.
Chapter 12: Jane lends a kind ear to Petra (a she-devil who has been pill, to put it nicely, to Jane and Rafael). Jane empathizes quickly and wholeheartedly, instead of holding a grudge.
These situations are not dull just because Jane does the right thing. The outcome of each JTV episode also reminds us that even good decisions can have consequences, which makes for fascinating storylines.
2.5. Jane has important predecessors.
I see Jane as the most recent inheritor of a long legacy of complex and virtuous women characters. No shoving the ladies to one side of a binary in these stories.
Jane has the imaginative feistiness and writing aspirations of Jo March or Anne of Green Gables, the moral fiber of Jane Eyre, the wittiness and humor of some of Jane Austen’s leading ladies. There must be something about the name Jane!
We could even push the legacy farther back to the most powerfully symbolic woman throughout history-- the Virgin Mary herself (I think the title of the show suggests that we make this connection). From Chapter 1, Jane finds herself in a strangely similar position with Mary-- immaculate conception and all.
A good woman can be hard to find these days, so you are missing out if you are not watching Jane The Virgin. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will want Jane to be your friend, because she would be the friend to crack you up, but more importantly, give thoughtful, sound advice.