I selected three television series from different eras and scrutinized the depiction of gender and career tasks through the ages. The TV show I have watched are the “Mad Men” which first aired in 2007 representing the 1960s, “Friends” that aired in 1994 representing the 1990s and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” that aired from 2013 to 2021.
In “Mad Men” that is placed in the 1960s, the male characters held the traditional jobs which were typical for that time. The central character in this drama is Don Draper, a creative director at an advertising agency (Apple TV, 2007). Other men in these stories had jobs in sales, account executives, and other industries. These were male-centric jobs, reflecting the patriarchal society prevalent in the 1960s.
Similarly, the female characters in “Mad Men” tended to be portrayed in more traditional roles of that era. The show’s women were often seen as secretaries, receptionists, or housewives. Besides, a few women have been accepted to work as copywriters or account executives in advertising agencies. However, these ladies also faced challenges and discrimination in a field that men controlled. For instance, Peggy Olson first serves as a secretary, but as time goes by, she becomes a copywriter, overcoming the traditional stereotypes of her time (Apple TV, 2007). Overall, the role of women in “Mad Men” reflects the few career opportunities open to women in the 1960s.
Moving forth to “Friends” on air during the 1990s and early 2000s, the male characters in the show held more diverse jobs than the traditional roles shown in “Mad Men.” In the show, Joey Tribbiani was an actor, Chandler Bing worked in data processing and later joined advertising, and Ross Geller was a paleontologist by profession (IMDB, 1994). These jobs were not merely those that were usually considered masculine; rather, they captured some of the opportunities available to men in that era.
Similarly, the female characters of “Friends” displayed different professions that did not limit themselves to traditional roles only. For example, Rachel started as a waitress and gradually became a fashion executive, Monica was a chef, and Phoebe was a massage therapist and musician (IMDB, 1994). Those roles represent the new look at career opportunities for women in the 1990s as they began to break into the traditionally male-dominated fields.
Finally, in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” which premiered in the 2010s and 2020s, the men on the show were also seen as having job opportunities that were not what society would conventionally consider traditional roles. The central male characters of this series were detectives and police officers- disciplined, which, back in those days, were typically male-oriented (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, (n.d.)). However, some men worked in administrative positions, such as Captain Holt as a precinct captain and Terry Jeffords as a sergeant. These roles clearly showed that in addition to law enforcement and security, men could do a variety of occupations.
The women in the “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” also broke the mold and performed roles that were not stereotypically associated with their gender. For instance, Amy Santiago and Rosa Diaz were detectives, while Gina Linetti happened to be a worker in the 99th precinct’s administrative office (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, (n.d.)). These women served as a broad reflection of different types of female characters whose operations on the job had transcended the established gender norms and stereotypes surrounding the profession.
Women and men portrayed in television shows of different decades reflect the evolving career representation representation. In the past decades, such as the 1960s, like the “Mad Men” series, the jobs held then were a bit gender stereotyped in line with the then prevailing gender dispositions. Men were more likely to occupy positions of authority and power; women were, as a rule, assigned to supporting roles or conventional professions, such as secretaries or housewives. Yet, the further we drift toward newer productions ranging from “Friends” to “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” the representation of jobs that both men and women hold moves toward a more diverse and progressive style of portrayal. From male and female characters who had different types of jobs that pressed against traditional gender titles and displayed the workplace more balanced, these shows highlighted women’s progress. This transition shows a shift in mindset about roles of sex, and the individuals become more open to joining different occupations.
Although the TV series may over-exaggerate or add some entertainment factor to the workplace scenario, they continue to offer an accurate portrayal of workplaces for men and women. Each character goes through difficulties, celebrations, and complexities of work-related lives that are similar to what employees encounter in a modern-day workforce. However, it is essential to acknowledge that these shows are fictional and may not always accurately represent the full spectrum of career experiences in the real world.
When I watched the TV programs, the series had different messages concerning occupation and gender roles. “Mad Men” showed that there was a massive gender inequality in the workforce in the 1960s by putting in the spotlight the challenges and discrimination women faced at that time. Friends reflected a career opportunities trend for women in the 1990s that emphasized actively following one’s interests and demolishing stereotypes. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” depicted an inclusive and diversified workplace where no one’s ability to succeed was restricted because of gender, an advertisement of equal opportunities and representation in the workplace. Hence, these programs proved that people are open to the traditional roles of women and men and can succeed in any work area. Through showing characters in roles of no gender conformation and breaking the stereotypes, the TV programs encouraged the idea of women’s equality in the workforce and audience to challenge societal ideas and norms.
In summary, the portrayal of work and gender roles in TV productions are evolving, considering the changes that have occurred in society’s views and perceptions. Although improvement has taken place in departing from historical gender roles and conventions, there is still a lot to be done to reach complete gender equality and job role representation as well. Through television broadcasting, it becomes possible to diverge and invert the entrenched way gender and career are being portrayed in the cultural landscape, where the programs may help influence and shape the audiences not only to challenge negative stereotypes about specific genders but also to inspire and motivate people to pursue careers in fields that are not beyond their horizons.
References
Apple TV. (2007, July 19). Mad Men – Apple TV. Apple TV. https://tv.apple.com/us/show/mad-men/umc.cmc.260bmp43ucaq656rs0tw6aioj
Brooklyn Nine-Nine. (n.d.). Www.rottentomatoes.com. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/brooklyn_nine_nine
IMDB. (1994, September 22). Friends. IMDb. Friends (TV Series 1994–2004) ⭐ 8.9 | Comedy, romance. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/
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