Faith Bondarowicz
Nov 4 · 3 min read

How come every time someone does not make as much money as the richest character in the show they are considered the outcast? Sit down and watch how Gossip Girl enforces the norms of the stereotype of how money will determine your social rank.

. Throughout the show Gossip Girl, Serena, Blaire, Chuck and Nate all are “trust fund “ kids who live off of their parents wealth. These four characters live a grand life consisting of drinking and partying every weekend, shopping at high end clothing stores, and buying a new outfit for every party. Since these four are always doing something crazy and fun everyone knows who they are, and wants to be just like them. This allows for these kids to gain so much power and popularity over everyone because people want to do exactly what they do and have exactly what they have

However, with the Humphrey family that is not the case. Jenny and Dan Humphrey are known as the “outcasts” because they don’t live in a fancy apartment or have the newest handbag or designer dress. Dan specifically is known for being “lonely boy” because he is never hanging out with anyone besides his family. The Humphrey family can not afford to live in Manhattan so they live in an old apartment in Brooklyn. One day while riding the bus to school Chuck and Nate turn to Dan and say “are you following us or something?” Dan replies “I go to school with you guys, see matching uniforms and ties”. This is an example of how the popular rich kids do not even notice the people who are not at the same wealth level as them. Since Dan cannot afford to live the same lifestyle as Chuck and Nate they did not even know that he existed because the rich only want to be associated with rich people and not some bum from Brooklyn.

As you continue watching the show it becomes more and more obvious that anyone and everyone wants to be associated with the popular kids. Even if you do not have the money to live the lavish lifestyle of a popular kid you will do anything to fake it. When Serena tells Jenny Humphrey that she should wear this expensive dress in black, Jenny runs home and makes the exact dress so that hopefully she will fit in with the popular crowd at the party. Jenny did not have enough money to purchase that dress but she found a way to try and fit in with the popular kids. Jenny Humphrey had never been invited to a party before because she did not have the status that it took to get invited so when she was invited she knew she had to go all out to try and impress them. However this does not work, no one notices Jenny in her black dress. People are confused as to who she is and question why she is in attendance.

The average American who is watching Gossip Girl cannot afford to live in a penthouse apartment in New York while spending over 800 dollars on a dress that you will wear to one event. The typical American can connect to Dan and Jenny Humphrey more than Serena or Blaire, but Dan and Jenny are seen in this show as outcasts. This is enforcing the norms that if you are not making as much money as someone else or possibly more money you will not have any friends. Since Dan and Jenny would never be able to afford the lifestyle of Chuck, Nate, Serena, or Blaire he is seen as a strange, “loner boy”. This piece of media is sending its viewers the wrong message. Money should not equate to your status, it should be your personality and your values that allow you to have friends not by who can spend more money or have the best clothes.