Women in the Workplace and Media
Women in the workplace are very often portrayed negatively in
the media. Historically, the media have shown that a woman’s workplace should be in the home. Taking care of a family and cleaning a house
were seen as a woman’s only two important jobs. According to an article published on the
University of Colorado’s website, the role of women in the media during periods
such as the 1950’s “was repressive and constrictive in many ways” because women
were confined to working in their homes ("Analysis Based on Popular Media").
The article referenced the character Betty played in the movie Pleasantville as an example of a 1950’s woman
confined to this type of role. This movie along with many others showed women
as homemakers, mothers, and housewives ("Analysis Based on Popular Media").
Today, women have made great strides away from this type of overly domestic role. Many women now play active roles in the workforce. The media, however, negatively depicts the working women of today as threats to the social norms. Working women frequently play characters that are mean, rude, and overbearing.
According to a study conducted by “the publishing company Essence research consulting firm Added Value Cheskin” these negative portrayals are even worse for working, black women (Walton 134). Black women in the media frequently embody many of the characteristics that are looked unfavorably among women. For the study, 1,200 women were asked to fill out a survey on how they believed black women were portrayed in the media (Walton 135). A large amount of the participants stated that they believed working, black women are depicted with extreme personalities such as very bossy and demanding or overly sexual and promiscuous. One participant even stated that "the hypersexual image... is particularly harmful to young black women. It's seriously damaging to their sense of self-worth and how they form a positive self-image" (Walton 134).
However, the negative media portrayals are not just exclusive to working, black women. Mostly all women today have to suffer through the unrealistic media portrayals. According to an article entitled Woman Should Not Be Another Word for Sex published in the Huffington Post, working women are increasingly becoming sexualized in the media (Clymer 1). Women are seen more as sexual objects instead of productive human beings who make a significant contribution to society.
There are many other negative messages that are sent through the media about working women. In order to further show these negative portrayals of working women in the media, examples have been listed below.
Movies that send the message that successful, working women have mean personalities
Deliver Us From Eva – The main character Eva, played by Gabrielle Union, was a successful health inspector for the Los Angeles Health Department. She was very mean and rude to men because she believed her success made her much better than them.
The Devil Wears Prada – The main character Miranda, played by Meryl Streep, was a well established fashion magazine editor who was extremely bossy and rude to all of her employees. Miranda’s many demands made the lives of those who worked under her very complicated.
Think Like a Man – The main character Lauren, played by Taraji P. Henson, was an extremely successful woman who belittled people who made less money than her. Lauren was unable to find love because she believed her money, status, and power were far better than love.
Advertisements that show that a woman’s workplace should be in the home
-Advertisement for the Kenwood Chef
Today, women have made great strides away from this type of overly domestic role. Many women now play active roles in the workforce. The media, however, negatively depicts the working women of today as threats to the social norms. Working women frequently play characters that are mean, rude, and overbearing.
According to a study conducted by “the publishing company Essence research consulting firm Added Value Cheskin” these negative portrayals are even worse for working, black women (Walton 134). Black women in the media frequently embody many of the characteristics that are looked unfavorably among women. For the study, 1,200 women were asked to fill out a survey on how they believed black women were portrayed in the media (Walton 135). A large amount of the participants stated that they believed working, black women are depicted with extreme personalities such as very bossy and demanding or overly sexual and promiscuous. One participant even stated that "the hypersexual image... is particularly harmful to young black women. It's seriously damaging to their sense of self-worth and how they form a positive self-image" (Walton 134).
However, the negative media portrayals are not just exclusive to working, black women. Mostly all women today have to suffer through the unrealistic media portrayals. According to an article entitled Woman Should Not Be Another Word for Sex published in the Huffington Post, working women are increasingly becoming sexualized in the media (Clymer 1). Women are seen more as sexual objects instead of productive human beings who make a significant contribution to society.
There are many other negative messages that are sent through the media about working women. In order to further show these negative portrayals of working women in the media, examples have been listed below.
Movies that send the message that successful, working women have mean personalities
Deliver Us From Eva – The main character Eva, played by Gabrielle Union, was a successful health inspector for the Los Angeles Health Department. She was very mean and rude to men because she believed her success made her much better than them.
The Devil Wears Prada – The main character Miranda, played by Meryl Streep, was a well established fashion magazine editor who was extremely bossy and rude to all of her employees. Miranda’s many demands made the lives of those who worked under her very complicated.
Think Like a Man – The main character Lauren, played by Taraji P. Henson, was an extremely successful woman who belittled people who made less money than her. Lauren was unable to find love because she believed her money, status, and power were far better than love.
Advertisements that show that a woman’s workplace should be in the home
-Advertisement for the Kenwood Chef
-Advertisement for Enameledware Kitchenware
Television shows that send the message that women can only be successful by marrying wealthy men
Each of the shows listed feature women who have been able to establish careers from money that was given by their wealthy ex-husbands or current husbands.
-Married to Medicine – The show features women who are married to doctors. Most of the women on the show have been able to start careers and business from money that was given by theirs husbands.
-Basketball Wives – The show features women who have been or still are married to NBA players. Most of the women on the show have been able to start careers and business from money that was given by theirs ex-husbands or husbands.
-Starter Wives Confidential - The show features women who have been or still are married to famous rappers. Most of the women on the show have been able to start careers and business from money that was given by theirs ex-husbands or husbands.
Each of these media outlets contribute to the negative and unrealistic portrayals of women in the workplace and lack thereof. As discussed, women in the workplace are often seen as mean, sexual objects, or only successful because of their wealthy men. Some media outlets even still send the message that a woman's workplace should be limited to the home. If there were more positive and realistic images of women in the workplace, society perhaps would be more accepting and have a better perception of working women.