Women Managers in American Popular Culture by Rubinstein, Emanuela Barasch;

Short description:

This book explores various portrayals of women managers in American culture from the late 1960s to the present. This interdisciplinary volume will be of interest to scholars and students in cultural studies, gender studies, American studies, and cinema studies, as well as those in economics, management, and business schools.

Long description:

This book explores various portrayals of women managers in American culture from the late 1960s to the present.

An analysis of iconic films and works of fiction and nonfiction reveals how the image of the woman manager has evolved over time, reflecting shifting societal attitudes. In early depictions, she is an extreme outlier: her life revolves entirely around work, she rejects family life, and she is often hypersexualized. In the 1980s, a decade marked by the rise of feminist ideals, she emerged as a realistic character, grappling with challenges that still impact women in management today. Yet this progression was short-lived. At the close of the 20th century and into the early 21st century, chauvinistic tropes resurfaced, once again casting her in a negative light. Contemporary portrayals of the female executive position her as part of a rapidly shifting social landscape. She is but one element in an emerging social construct.

The study of the woman manager is pertinent to the humanities and the social sciences, bridging these disciplines. This interdisciplinary volume will be of interest to scholars and students in cultural studies, gender studies, American studies, and cinema studies, as well as those in economics, management, and business schools.

“How did women managers go from futuristic fantasies like Rand’s Dagny Taggart to modern moguls personified by Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly? Barasch Rubinstein traces this evolution through American books and films, providing fresh insights into the major economic and social change of the postwar period.”  

- Casey B. Mulligan, Professor of Economics, University of Chicago, USA 

“The book offers a compelling exploration of how gender, leadership, and power dynamics are portrayed in American culture. Both general readers and social scientists will find it invaluable for understanding how cultural narratives shape societal expectations of women and leadership. With rich, thought-provoking insights, this work is essential reading for anyone interested in gender studies, organizational behavior, and media analysis.  As you immerse yourself in Barasch Rubinstein’s writing, you’ll be inspired to read and watch — or reread and rewatch — the books and movies it examines, viewing them through a fresh lens.” 

- Ruixue Jia, Professor of Economics at the School of Global Policy and Strategy, UC San Diego, USA 

“The evolution of the female manager through fiction starting with the powerful Dagny Taggart of Atlas Shrugged through the more nuanced and modern Jules of The Intern reflects how dramatically our society has changed over the last sixty years.  While the opportunities are more plentiful and more varied in today’s world, the woman executive stills faces greater challenges than her male counterpart.  Any woman in a male dominated industry would find this a very thought provoking read. And the men might learn something too!” 

- Janet Clark, former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Marathon Oil, USA

Table of Contents:

Introduction 

I. Inventing a Woman Manager

1. A Hypothetical Woman Manager: Atlas Shrugged, 1957

2. A Masculine Woman Manager: Network, 1976

II. A Real-Life Woman Manager

3. A Mother and a Manager: Baby Boom, 1987

4. Climbing the Social Ladder: Working Girl, 1988

III. The Setback: A Negative Portrayal of Women Managers

5. The Manipulative Woman Manager: Disclosure, 1994

6. A Vicious Woman Manager: The Devil Wears Prada, 2006

IV. A Woman Manager in a Changing World

7. New Gender Roles: The Intern, 2015

8. The Price of Success: Lean In, 2013

Conclusion     

Index