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Student 1

When reading through the PowerPoint this week, I learned a lot about feminism along with many terms that relate to it. When thinking of an example that can relate to some of these terms such as sexism and objectification, I think of the show The Office. The Office is filled with many stereotypes and “jokes” that relate to feminism.

Sexism is the belief that one sex is greater than the other. In the show The Office, Michael Scott (the male boss) often treats Pam (the female receptionist) disrespectfully. Because she is “only the receptionist” she is often not granted the ability to participate in activities that the other office workers are. For example, in season 3 episode 23 “Beach Games”, Michael does not allow Pam to enjoy the day like the rest of the office can. Instead, he makes her responsible for taking notes on everything during the day. This represents sexism because Michael Scott treats Pam differently based on her sex and lower job position.  

 

Objectification is when a person is treated like or becomes nothing more than an object. They are not treated as a human being. There are many examples of objectification in The Office. For example, Michael Scott tends to view the women in the office not as the great people and workers that they are, but as romantic interests or objects. This is often shown when Michael Scott constantly brings up Phyllis’s appearance. He will comment on her weight and her (not so attractive) looks. This makes Phyllis feel terrible because she is not being treated as a person but more so like an object.

Student 2

I recently rewatched the movie Ms. Congeniality, a film from 2000 starring Sandra Bullock as the main character, Gracie. She is an FBI agent and assigned the task of investiating a possible terrorist threat at the Ms. USA pageant. The operation requires her to be a contestant in the pageant, wearing wires and recorders at all times. Grace is very skilled at her FBI job, and works around mostly all men. She is often teased for her no-fuss appearance and behaviors being "masculine". When her office was trying to narrow down the selection for this investigation job, everyone found it comical and impossible that Gracie could pull it off. That scene actually turned into the whole office crowding around a computer checking out pictures of all of their fellow female FBI agents, eating popcorn and laughing, cat calling and basically judging all of the womens' faces and bodies. That scene seemed quite sexist to me, and likely a double standard, as I cant picture a room of all women being paid high salaries to sit in a circle and check out men and gossip, and still keeping their jobs.. So no one else was a good fit, and Gracie ends up being selected. However, to "fit the part", she gets sent to get an extreme head to toe makeover, new wardrobe, and extensive overhaul of her etiquette, speaking, and walking. During the process she is teased by many people (her coworkers and etiquette coaches) on her "masculine" behaviors: Her FBI job, the fact she doesnt do her hair and makeup, and her choice to go home after work and enjoy a steak and a beer. She even gets asked "When was the last time you were on a date?" To me, this came across as sexist and again likely a double standard. She is a great FBI agent dedicated to the job, and I don't think anyone would question a man for living life the way she was living. I don't want to mis-use the term, but I think that patriarchy fits in the picture here as well. Unfortunately, Gracie herself had even absorbed many of these ideas. It seemed like she had taken on some toxic views. When she is first immersed in the pageant world, she makes fun of all of the other women, and thinks they are all stupid. She doesnt have much respect for the organization at all. She is repulsed by all of the stereotypical "feminine" aspects of the contestants. Throughout the film, she grows to really respect her colleagues as she is protecting their lives. She takes Cheryl, another contestant, under her wing and even tries to teach her some self defense after she opened up to Grace about having been sexually assaulted by someone at her school in the past, brushing it off saying she never told anyone because "those sort of things happen all the time" (sexism again). Gracie even teaches them some self defense at the pageant's talent show. By the end of the film, Gracie's had saved everyone from the terrorist attack at the event. Her views had completely changed around the other women, and I think they displayed sisterhood among each other. At the end, the mood was completely different and they werent competing anymore. They all felt indebted to her for saving their lives. She didn't win Miss USA, but they nominated her "Miss Congeniality", hence the name of the film.