“Make it Happen”: The Female Struggle in the Business World by Kayleigh
Kayleigh Winter
Romantic Comedy
Professor Sinowitz
20 April 2020
“Make it Happen”: The Female Struggle in the Business World
Mike Nichols’s Working Girl seems to be one of those underdog stories where the protagonist breaks through her barriers and reinvents herself. This type of film gives the audience hope that we can do the same in our own lives, but Nichols also makes some bold claims about women’s role in society. Even when Tess (Melanie Griffith) earns a job that makes her feel worthy and noticed for her capabilities, she still struggles with not being taken seriously as a woman, specifically a working class woman. At the same time, the film contradicts its depiction of the obstacles that bar Tess from being treated equally by emphasizing that all she needs to do is take matters into her own hands and “make it happen” (Working Girl, 1988). The film suggests that Katherine’s (Sigourney Weaver) advice is more a criticism about the corporate world’s treatment of women during the late 1980’s, than as an inspirational motto to encourage Tess to make her goals a reality.
While battling the corporate culture of the male dominated business world, Tess faces two disadvantages: being a young and beautiful woman, and being a member of the working class. In the beginning of the film, Tess struggles to make something of her career when her boss, Mr. Lutz, overlooks her for a promotion because he doesn’t take her seriously. Instead, he mocks her by treating her as a sex object and pimping her out to corporate businessmen. Another example of Tess’s struggle is evident during her presentation with Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford) and his associates. For example, on her way to the meeting she whispers to herself “Don’t fuck up, don’t fuck up” (Working Girl, 1988). The full body shot of Tess talking to herself is important because for the first time she has a real chance to pursue a career that will utilize her talents and motivate her to go after what she wants. Because she has struggled with several male bosses making a fool out of her, Tess doubts herself as a result of them neglecting to give her a fair opportunity to prove herself. Without a firm foundation of confidence and self-esteem, making things happen is impossible for Tess because she is made fun of by businessmen who think women are incapable of handling a male empire.
When watching this, I recalled how I had experienced a similar situation during gym class my freshman year of high school. One day students were required to perform a strength test, in which we tried to do as many pull ups as we could without letting go of the bar. My teacher asked for a volunteer to go first and after a few moments I raised my hand. I remember stepping up to the bar, adrenaline pumping through my veins, when all of a sudden, a group of football boys snickered that a tiny gymnast like me wouldn’t be able to handle it. I remember completing fifteen pull ups while the same boys began mocking me with cheers. As soon as I was done, they were determined to “beat me” so they didn’t look weaker than a girl. In this case, a man is seen as inadequate if he is weaker than a woman, so they resort to mockery in order to get inside a woman's head and affect her performance.
As soon as Tess gets fired from her job and placed in a new one with only female co-workers and a female boss, there is a clear shift that takes place in the film. Katherine's all female staff represents women rejected from the business world because there is only enough room for one powerful woman. Katherine, being the only woman in the film with her status, reinforces the corporate world of the 1980’s because there was a small female presence. Katherine even says so herself when she quotes Coco Chanel by saying “Dress insatiable, they notice the woman” (Working Girl, 1988). In other words, women need not have a brain, rather they must conform to the sexist norms of corporations by dressing nicely in order to be taken seriously.
I have also encountered the negative effects of sexism through my experience of attending a catholic high school. We wore uniforms most days, but about once every two weeks our principle allowed us to have an out of uniform day. During afternoon announcements on Thursdays, my principle would say “Now remember ladies, no leggings, jeggings, or weggins and make sure your shoulders are covered.” Also, my principal would send out weekly emails to all of the upper class girls, reminding us to purchase one piece dresses only and to bring a sweater if our shoulders were showing. My friends and I would always complain about the rules because we felt singled out by our principle. There was never a word said about the boys’ clothing choices, yet it was a sin for a girl to show her shoulders at prom. It is unfair to place so many standards on female fashion, forcing women to spend hours at retail stores to find an outfit that is never good enough. Jack Trainer reinforces the female struggle when he says “You're the first woman I've seen at one of these damn things that dresses like a woman, not like a woman thinks a man would dress if he was a woman” (Working Girl, 1988). There are some many problems with this quote because society expects women to dress professionally, yet she is not appealing to the naked eye. If a woman dresses in a way that accents her body, she is viewed as promiscuous.
At the same time, Tess struggles in her career because she is a member of the working class. Tess knows that she does not stand a chance against elite men because they don’t give women or the working class an opportunity to prove themselves. I am not surprised that Katherine steals Tess's idea because the business world is full of snakes. The upper class is willing to take advantage of the working class in order to improve their wealth and status without competition. Katherine does the same thing to Tess by stealing her idea because she knows she can get away with it. Tess, on the other hand, is barred by her economic status and would look like a fool if she presented her idea as Katherine’s assistant.
According to the film, the only way for someone of Tess’s status to be acknowledged is to embrace the snobbish upper class mentality by bending the rules. Tess emphasizes this on two occasions when she says, “I'm not gonna spend the rest of my life working my ass off and getting nowhere just because I followed rules that I had nothing to do with setting up” and “you can bend the rules plenty once you get to the top, but not while you're trying to get there. And if you're someone like me, you can't get there without bending the rules” (Working Girl, 1988). Having the courage to adopt this practice is Tess’s only way into the next class because it demonstrates that she is bold enough to do whatever it takes to get to the top. This leads me to conclude that working class women must be willing to lie and cheat the system, but it does not require taking advantage of others to get there.
Some of Tess’s actions are unethical to say the least, but stealing Katherine’s identity is the only way to get a job she deserves. Tess does not pre-meditate this idea on her own either, she is simply following the advice that Katherine had given her and it is only a matter of time before Katherine gets a taste of her own medicine. Katherine literally says, “Tess, you know, you don’t get anywhere in this world by waiting for what you want to come to you. You make it happen. Watch me, Tess. Learn from me…” (Working Girl, 1988). I think Tess is easily justified in her actions because it was her idea in the first place and she is conforming to the sexist and cruel views of the business world of her time. Throughout the film, it is evident that there is a lack of female executives. It is rare to see one female executive, let alone two. It is not surprising that Katherine takes advantage of Tess in order to suppress her competition. This relates to the theory of “survival of the fittest” that Thomas Chiarella mentioned in the film’s podcast because it is only bold women who are willing to take risks that will be able to make it in the business world.
Perhaps Katherine’s advice is her way of mocking working class women for being so naive because women like Tess don’t stand a chance against powerful high-class business men and women. Katherine is a perfect example of the upper class taking advantage of the working class again and again. Katherine also seems to criticize the corporate world’s expectations and treatment of women. For instance, a woman must dress a certain way or else she looks like she is sleeping her way to the top. A woman should not read too much either because she begins to think for herself and it is bad for a woman to use her brain. These aforementioned phrases, reflect that “you make it happen” is easier said than done because the business world is constructed by rich men who exclude women and separate themselves from the working class.
I can relate to the challenges that Tess faces in her attempts to be taken seriously, such as in my appearance and being a woman. Throughout my high school and college experience so far, I have felt that people don’t take me as seriously because I look younger than most people my age. I’ve struggled with people questioning how old I am or people calling me innocent because I always follow the rules. Because of this, I feel that I have to pretend to be someone I’m not by wearing certain clothes or makeup in order to make myself appear older and more mature. One moment in the film that resonated with me was the scene when Tess takes Katherine’s advice to heart and begins her transformation immediately by removing some of her eye makeup and jewelry. The biggest shift in Tess’s character occurs when Cyn (Joan Cusack) cuts off Tess’s hair. This scene plays a vital role in her transformation, especially when the camera focuses on the freshly cut clumps of hair on the floor, and then dissolves into the over-the-shoulder shot of Tess’s reflection in the mirror, revealing her new haircut. Clearly, the business world is critical of women and prohibits female mobility in this line of employment because of the ridiculous standards expected of women. Women not only need to wear makeup and dress nicely, but women also need a serious haircut because it is disadvantageous to look young and youthful in the frigid business world. Tess’s decision to cut her hair symbolizes her cutting ties with her youth and working class days, yet even when she does meet society’s expectations, she is oppressed by the sexist ideology of the male dominated field.
This scene means a lot to me because I did the same thing to my hair last year. For as long as I can remember, I always had long hair, but last year I felt I needed a change. During spring break I told my mom I was going to just chop it all off. After some debate, we agreed that I would cut it to my shoulders so if I didn’t like it, my hair would grow back faster. Not going to lie, I cringed a little when I heard the sound of the cutting scissors reverberate in my ear. The first thing my hairdresser said to me was “Oh my goodness, you look so much older.” I agreed with her, but the change felt wrong because I didn’t feel like my youthful, happy self anymore. I felt more like an adult, but I knew I wasn’t ready to completely let go of my youth. Today, my hair is almost the same length as it was before, but I still remember what it felt like to pretend to be someone I’m not. I should embrace the fact that I am a child at heart, rather than trying to hide it. Like Tess, my youthful appearance will be one of my biggest disadvantages while applying for jobs because businesses do not want to hire someone who looks so young, but I shouldn’t have to change who I am just to fit the typical mold of a working woman. Looking younger doesn’t mean I am not as smart or as hard working as everyone else, but I agree with Tess, women like me don’t stand a chance in the real world without bending some of the rules.
Overall, the film suggests that all Tess needs to do is to take matters into her own hands, otherwise people will take advantage of her. At the beginning of the film, Katherine tells Tess that she needs to have confidence to go after she wants because nothing will be handed to her. While this is true, the expectations of the business world in the 1980’s and today still maintains a sexist ideology that prevents female mobility. Despite the years of social progress, women still struggle with being paid less than men, miss out on big promotions reserved for men, and face sexual harassment from their male coworkers or boss. Women are just as capable of being successful in business, so it is unfortunate that women have to be cautious of everything they do or else they are mocked and scrutinized by the broken system. Also, women struggle to go after what they want because society forces women to conform to the status quo. If women are not willing to conform to these expectations, it will be impossible to be viewed equally in previously male dominated fields. Therefore, society preaches to women that it is a matter of being bold and standing out that will empower them to “make it happen” (Working Girl, 1988).
Works Cited
Nichols, Mike. “Working Girl Film Script.” Awesome Movie Scripts and Screenplays, 20 Dec.
Nichols, Mike. Director. Working Girl, 20th Century Fox, 20 Dec. 1988,
Comments
Post a Comment