Sexism in the By Rachel Thomas - PowerPoint Presentation

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Sexism in the

By Rachel ThomasSlide2

My Claim

The television series The Office, acquired its explosive popularity by virtue of the satirical comic relief it provides viewers with that emanates from the

politically incorrect and misogynistic attitude of the main character, Michael Scott.

The reason this cringe worthy humor is so amusing is due to how easily identifiable these behaviors are as socially unacceptable in this generation, however Michael Scott is in no way portrayed as an antagonist in the plot but instead as the nice boss that somehow manages to charm the audience with his imbecility. The archetype of

Michael Scott conveys the insensitivity that still characterizes today’s generation’s approach towards sexual orientation and women in the workpl

ace. Slide3

The Office as a Satire

Mirrors the flaws that characterize Corporate America today

Countless seminars Michael’s superiors require him to present to his employees to attempt to create a more inclusive working environment

The audience is intrigued due to its degree of relatability

The style/format it is filmed in, although entirely fictional, is

similar to that of a reality tv show

The viewer gains insight to each character’s personal thoughts and emotions during the

private camera interviews

throughout

Amusement is derivative of the countless awkward scenarios Michael creates and what kinds of reactions follow from his employees

Illustrates the dilemma many corporate employees today, face when they

determine whether they should pass off these remarks as a joke or when to voice their protest

In many cases the characters won’t overtly express their offense to Michael, or the rest of the office, in the moments following its occurrence

Only is it that until they can go off privately with the camera man, do they expose their true feelings towards the offenseSlide4

Examples

in the TV ShowSlide5

What Michael Scott & Todd Packer should be asking potential employees if they want to give them an accurate sense of what their role would be at Dunder Mifflin: Slide6

“The implications of this kind of nonchalant gender stereotyping are especially dangerous when Cultivation Theory is involved. Cultivation Theory is the idea that heavy television viewers construct their own views and reality based off what they see on television, which is, obviously, very different from real life. The

gender stereotypes might end up as a teaching mechanism

, showing viewers that it is acceptable to be emotionally needy and a nymphomaniac if you are a single woman, but once you get married, you must lose interest in sex and transform your emotional need into nagging.”

Cultivation TheorySlide7

Women Are Expected To Do The Office Housework

Maternal figure

Stereotype that women are naturally more adept at these chores however they aren’t they are just merely conditioned to fill these roles by males

Expected to do more and benefit less from it

Season 5 episode 9 frame TobySlide8

Taking Notes in a Meeting Slide9

Expected to Coordinate Office Parties

The women form opposing party planning committees & compete at who can have the better party. Both are thoroughly planned out & successful.

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Michael’s Insensitivity to Sexual Orientation

“Michael’s

pertinent efforts to achieve brotherly relationships with his male employees

despite most of their relationships never extending beyond cubicle walls, demonstrates

his unceasing need to attain other’s approval

.”

‘“In “Bro’s Before Ho’s” by Michael Kimmel, he proposes the concept of

homophobia used as a tool by many to assert masculinity

. Kimmel contends, “Ask any teenager in America what is the most common put-down in middle school or high school? The answer: ‘That’s so gay’” (Kimmel 545), which is ironically also a phrase frequent of Michael’s derogatory dialogue despite his many years since adolescence.”’Slide11

“In Anya Jaremko-Greenwold’s article “Why Michael Scott is One of the Most Original Characters of All Time” she elaborates upon many of the possible reasons many viewers disregard the heavy misogynistic undertones of his character. Although defending him, she does not fail to acknowledge his faults,

“Michael Scott — was filled with such complexity. On the surface,… was a two-dimensional imbecile; racist, chauvinistic, and culturally tactless”

( Jaremko-Greenwod), but continues to justify his behavior by claiming

“Michael is relatable and sympathetic because he is so deeply flawed…” and that “his cultural ignorance is rarely malicious”

. Anya Jaremko-Greenwod illustrates how collectively, as an American audience, we find it such a difficult task to hold him accountable for his political incorrectness. We have now progressed from a time of outrightly denigrating the value of many members of minority parties, like homosexuals and females, to now masking that same form of derogation as a joke.

Instead of to move away from their belittlement, we have simply adapted new methods promoting them, through comedy.

” Slide12

Works cited

"NBC's The Office: Satire, Feminism, and ...Sexist Stereotypes?" Web log post. secondinnocence.blogspot.com. The Feminist Underground, 19 Oct. 2007. Web. 25 Apr. 2017.

"Gender Roles in The Office." Web log post. Mediasanatomy.wordpress.com. N.p., 1 Feb. 2016. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

Lee, Alice. "Sexism in Modern Television Shows." Her Campus. N.p., 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

Moore, Tracy. "Women at Work: We're Doing All the "Office Housework Too"." Jezebel.com. N.p., 10 Feb. 2015. Web. 7 Apr. 2017.

Jaremko-Greenwold, Anya. "Why Michael Scott is One of the Most Original Characters of All Time." IndieWire. N.p., 24 Mar. 2017. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.

Kimmel, Michael. ""Bros Before Hos": The Guy Code." Rereading America. Ed. Gary Colombo. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 461-65. Print.

Office Episodes:

“Frame Toby”

“Women’s Appreciation”

“Sexual Harassment”

“Gay Witch Hunt”

“Christmas Party”