Women and Men in the Work Field

Women and Men in the Work Field

Pop culture has molded the public’s thought process to view success in the work field to be something that men are better equipped to achieve. For example, the photo above is a book cover for actress Tina Fey’s book, “Bossypants”. The photo has some unique characteristics that stick out immediately. First of all, Tina Fey has hands of those that belong to a man, and is dressed in formal wear that a man would typically wear. I believe that the book cover implies that being bossy and successful is something that is more entitled to males than it is females. Had Tina Fey been dressed in formal wear for females and had her regular hands in the photo, my feelings are that the book cover would not have been as eye-catching to viewers which would result in lower sales of the book. I believe this is a prime example of how women are not viewed as the stereotypical “top dog” of companies and businesses throughout the world. In today’s society, the stereotype is that men are still viewed as the leaders, the CEO’s, the boss of the company etc., while women are more of an assistant, the Robin to the Batman, the secretary to the manager etc. Obviously women have been trying for years to break that stereotype and many have been successful. Women such as Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres are prime examples who have become extremely successful and good at what they do. Females and males throughout the world tune in everyday to watch the shows hosted by Winfrey and DeGeneres. Another example is when John Belushi (Former cast member of Saturday Night Live) ironically once stated that “Women aren’t funny.” Soon after, Tina Fey joined the cast of SNL and was one of the most popular characters on the comedy sketch show. After SNL, Fey went on to star (and currently does so in the present) on the multi-Emmy Award winning show, 30 Rock. Women such as Tina Fey and Oprah Winfrey have been able to show society that women indeed can be the star and can be extremely successful without the presence of an alpha male. Despite what pop culture portrays as women’s role in the work field, women in reality have a chance of becoming successful, or even more successful than males.

The picture above is an American icon that arose during World War II as a marketing ploy to attract women to the work place. With the majority of the men overseas fighting the war, women were called upon to fill the jobs that the men had vacated. Named Rosie the Riveter, the picture represented the American women in the work force. Before this, women had been working mainly as subordinates with low-paying wages. With the emergence of the icon, women gained confidence and momentum and began to believe that they too could work the same jobs as the men. Once again, pop culture is shown redefining the public’s perception of women’s role in the work force. In this case, Rosie the Riveter was used as a stepping stone for women to gain more leverage and equality in the work field. Women had proven themselves by working jobs that usually men would have worked such as the construction of airplanes. Rosie the Riveter shows in a positive way that women are just as good workers as men are and that they should not be discriminated based on their sex. It is unfair and frustrating to see still today that women are treated unfairly in the work force. Women tend to be looked down upon by males and even receive lower wages. Despite the fact that 100% equality has not been reached, I believe that women have come a long way in attempts to reach level ground with men in the work force. Pop culture has both a positive and negative effect on the work force. Many shows still have women as the traditional house wife who stays home and takes care of the children, such as Family Guy and Everybody Loves Raymond, but the roles that women can take on in today’s pop culture is an extreme vast range compared to the media fifty years ago. Today women are seen playing a multitude of roles from Emily Deschanal playing Temperance Bones, a forensic anthropologist on the television show Bones to Melora Hardin playing Jan Levenson, Vice-President of Sales for Dunder Mifflin in the television show, The Office. Women will continue to work towards full equality in the work field. Even if it is stated in the laws that no one will be discriminated based on sex, there is no denying that it occurs every day.

References

Adams, David. "Who says women aren't funny?." Maneater. (2011): 1. Web. 21 Sep. 2011. .

"Bossypants." Photograph. ThinkProgress. First Last. 2011. Web. 21 Sep 2011. .

"Rosie the Riveter." Photograph. EqualYouEqualMe. 2011. Web. 21 Sep 2011. .

"Rosie the Riveter: Women Working During World War II ." www.nps.gov. NPS, n.d. Web. 19 Sep 2011. .

Ziesler, Andi. Feminism and Pop Culture. Berkeley, California: Seal Press, 2008. 1-57. Print.