For years women have been portrayed as the weaker of the two sexes.  This portrayal had been never been more evident than on TV.  Women had been given secondary roles to that of men in power, an assistant to the boss, but never the boss.  In an article written in the New York Times in 1999, its author clearly denounces the use of women on TV in roles that were seen as powerful yet women were portrayed as weak in them.

            In television courtrooms, as in real life, the judges we have been accustomed to seeing are men.  But on the screen and in the courts, there is change.  Networks have law-based series that portray women as judges.  While that brings to the screen something we are not used to seeing – women in positions of power – these judges are generally presented as bimbos or sexual predators, as dangerous or incompetent (Goodman, 1999, p.47).

            The truly unfortunate issue is that young girls who watch such programs are lead to believe that women, although given the position of authority, do not always received the respect of that position.  In case of one such TV series, the women judge, while given the responsibility to decipher right from wrong, is portrayed as letting her feelings cloud her decision making.  Wear as a man would have handled the same responsibility with stoic demeanor and reserve.

            As in most courts, the case load and social problems are overwhelming.  They are problems that male judges would have difficulty resolving, but they would not be likely to describe themselves as incompetent (Goodman, 1999, p47).

            To believe that the interpretation of the female sex will change quickly, is to be that there is a “man” on the mood.  Over time change has happen, female doctors hold very prestige positions as head of medical facilities, there are top female military officers, as well as senators, cabinet heads, and foreign dignitaries.  But it is still believed that men in these same positions do a better job and in many cases are paid “handsomely” for them.  But change is happening, roles are being reversed, ability rather than gender is recognized, and women are becoming empowered.

            An interesting twist, the New York Times that this article appeared in 1999, has just elected in September of this year, its first female Executive Editor, Jill Abramson.  The times they are changing, even if slowly.

 

Goodman, E. (1999, December 12). Seducers, Harassers and Wimps in Black Robes. 

   New York Times, 47. http://libproxy.mcla.edu:2070

the power in women.

      Women forever have been viewed as the weaker sex. They are not able to handle both roles of looking pretty, being strong and independent that is how the world has seen it and what they are told. The thought of being a strong pretty figure has moved itself more accepetedly into society as time has gone on, but their still questions asked of their abilities in these jobs. 

       This article discusses and takes the point of views of many women holding different positions in power and still being beautiful.  There is power and dignity to be won by defying the status quo and the majority rather than by adapting to them (Forbes, 2011). Saying that women should not be ashamed of being strong that they should go against what people believe the norm is and show everyone that they can be strong. From young ages children see what adults are like and what think about they would like to be like as an adult either male or female. The thoughts and ideas about men and women shape their ideas if they have a strong women figure in their life they realize it is okay to be a strong women. But if not they could get other ideas and veiws about this. Children lead and learn by example.

       There should be something to say about women who hold their ground and  don’t  believe that there is sexism roles that they must follow and fit into.


Forbes, 9/12/2011, Vol. 188 Issue 4, p112-112, 1p, 1 Black and White Photograph