The top 10 empowering moments of The Bold Type
By Shaun Stacy
The Bold Type Jane has a double mastectomy
One of the biggest storylines Jane had over the course of the show was finding out that she tested positive for the BRCA gene mutation, the mutation that could eventually grow into breast cancer, in season one. Since Jane’s mother died from breast cancer, the entire situation throws Jane for an emotional loop, which we see her start to deal with about halfway through season two.
Being diagnosed with the BRCA gene mutation means that she has to think about a multitude of things, including which preventative surgeries she wants to have, if any, as well as how she feels about having children. If she wants to be a mother, she could either freeze her eggs or should think about getting pregnant sooner, rather than later. Pretty heavy stuff for a 25 year-old to deal with.
With the support of her friends and boss, Jane decides to have a double mastectomy as a preventative measure against the BRCA gene mutation in season four mid-season finale. The second half of the season sees Jane struggling to embrace her new body, despite the fact that she knows that she did the right thing. Female characters in television shows dealing with fertility and life-threatening diagnosis don’t often get the nuanced storytelling the situation deserves, but The Bold Type handled Jane’s story with honesty and sincerity.