Ranking

Hannah Montana discussed a lot of social issues through the show. It never appeared to preach the viewers, but to make them aware and gave a food for thought. An episode from the show was a standout for me where it spoke about how powerful people can create inequality.

Ashley and Amber are Miley's classmates. Both of them are beautiful, stylish, and extremely cunning. They are Miley and Lilly's bitter rivals. They are typical school divas, the mean girls, very popular among schoolmates and spoiled by their parents' money.

In an episode, they create a 'cool list' and rank each of their classmates. The cool list has no particular parameter but it is based on how Ashley and Amber like or dislike a person. When they release this list, every student is eager to see their own standing. Miley and Lilly are placed at the bottom of the list while the only one who is below them is a boy who has uncontrollable dandruff.

Miley and Lilly defy this list, yet surprisingly every classmate has embraced it. The social dynamic of the school changes because of this list, where the students at the top of the cool list hang out only with other cool people. While the students at the bottom of the list almost become like outcasts.

It was relatable because in my college too the crowd was divided into two distinct groups. We belonged to the group of students from middle class families while others were fron wealthy families. Students from the wealthy families never created a divide like Ashley and Amber. However, it was very evident that those students were far different from us. When I would speak with any of them, I would realise that I have nothing in common with them. Thankfully I had never seen or experienced a 'mean girl moment' in my school and college. Yet the inequality remained. It was never erased.

This episode spoke volumes to me. Mainly because social inequality is not rare. We often see how the society gets divided because of various parameters. The invisible ranking or positions are seen not only in societies but also at workplaces.

In my opinion, this episode was pivotal to let the young viewers know that they should not expect the world to be ideal because it reality the world is far from ideal. It showed a real picture to the audience by creating a fictitious storyline, though there were bit and pieces of reality in it. It warned us that we may get treated in an unfair manner and we must fight if we face inequality. Just because the world is unfair to us that does not give us the right to treat others badly. Also if we belonged to the group where power is with us, that does not give us the freedom to treat others poorly.

That episode, gave a lot more food for thought that entertaining the viewers. While I did not realise how important that lesson was back then, I now understand how crucial the learning was.