Mean Girls is one of the most quotable movies of the twenty-first century; from “it’s like I have ESPN or something” to “stop trying to make fetch happen” the film is stuffed to the brim with hilarious and chaotic distinction. Though the plot of Mean Girls focuses on the competitive and negative relationships among women, it also provides its audience with new ideas about the relationship between parent and child. I am, of course, referring to the one and only Mrs. George (played by Amy Poehler).
At first glance, Regina’s mother serves as an enabler who allows her children to run wild and be morally corrupt because she’s the “cool mom”. However, if you operate the way I do and think way too deeply about everything, then you’ll begin to consider the fact that Mrs. George’s relaxed parenting style could actually be a legitimate and even nurturing way to raise kids.
During the trip to the George’s residence, Cady is completely out of her element in the less-than-humble abode—she does not know what to expect from Regina and her clique, nor her family. Mrs. George is the antithesis of her expectation of the American mother: bold, big-boobed, and buoyant. Cady is left flabbergasted by the life Regina leads—so when Mrs. George declares that it’s “happy hour” it makes sense that she would ask if her drink was anything but virgin, to which the mother replies, “Oh, God, honey, no! What kind of mother do you think I am? Why, do you want a little bit? Because if you’re going to drink I’d rather you do it in the house.”
Her offer of alcohol may seem like a funny, reckless gesture from a desperate housewife, but when you consider the way she communicates with Cady, it’s a very responsible route. Rather than forbidding her daughter’s new friend to drink, she is attempting to provide a controlled environment where she can take care of Cady in case anything were to go wrong (not to mention that Mrs. George could potentially be saving her daughter’s friend from a fatal car accident).
The mother also fully comprehends and accepts Regina’s sexuality, allowing her to not only express herself however she pleases (i.e. Regina’s playboy bunny Halloween costume) but also allowing her to have her own autonomy. In most narratives where there is a parent and child, the parent will actively discourage sexuality (especially in young girls) by telling them that they need to “maintain some self-respect” and that if they do not maintain chaste, they will become “that kind of girl” that society so dearly loves to hate. However, Mrs. George gives her daughter the freedom to make decisions about her sexuality on her own terms, and makes it clear that she will love Regina no matter what she does.
In contrast, when Cady’s parents discover that she is misbehaving by throwing a party, they flip out and ground her. The more their animosity towards her new life grows, the more Cady begins to resent them, a practice of which is not only seen often in media, but also in peoples’ everyday lives. Mrs. George seems extremely aware of this phenomenon, and knows that it will only do more harm than good—she will push her family away rather than foster an environment of communication. So, she behaves the way she does, and though her methods are unconventional, it is indisputable that she has an unconditional love for her daughters, and at the end of the day, can’t every parent agree with that?
– Mia