Women in the Workplace Sitcoms Are a Formidable Genre
"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" CBS
Since the premiere of The Mary Tyler Moore Show women in the workplace sitcoms have become a renowned genre. Before Mary moved to Minneapolis and began working in the newsroom under Lou Grant, she was a domesticated mother and straight man to Dick Van Dyke on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Though she was only twenty-one when she started on that show, she quickly emerged as a prominent comedy talent and shining example to the masses that women could be funny too. On her eponymous show Mary was a career gal who dated, paled around with her neighbors Rhoda and Phyllis, and worked extremely hard to advance through the ranks. She was strong yet still feminine, a balance that was important in keeping America in love with the peppy brunette. Over time the show broached issues such as the pay gap, sources in journalism (through the lens of Watergate), Title IX, and even birth control.
A lot of great sitcoms owe a large debt to Mary Tyler Moore, which helped usher in a family friendly version of feminism. It showed that not only can women be on their own, but that it’s imperative that they do. After the show ended in 1977 no show took the mantle, as MTM was seen as a niche, one-time cultural event. It wasn’t until Murphy Brown aired in 1988, that another show centering on a strong single female career woman swam into the public consciousness. Besides their similar heroines the main similarity between these two sitcoms was that they were funny. While MTM relied mostly on humor surrounding the dating scene of the seventies, and “girl power” rhetoric stemming from female frienship, Murphy Brown was all about having it all. Candice Bergen, already a formidable comic wit, headed this workplace ensemble set at a news show (just like MTM). Besides showcasing female fortitude it was also a show that legitimized and finally personalized single parenting. The second season is the only series to ever receive a perfect score on Metacritic, and Murphy Brown was one of the longest running sitcoms with ten seasons under its belt.
"Murphy Brown" CBS
Since both of these shows have ended, we have miraculously reached an era where we have many shows centering on strong women being in charge in the workplace. Both 30 Rock and Parks and Rec featured single career women who don’t apologize for their success, nor do they bend to cultural norms. Not only are these shows legitimately funny but they also feature the Lou Grant-Mary dynamic. (Liz and Jack on 30 Rock and Leslie and Ron on P&R.) These shows showcase both governmental work and network TV, two environments that often lead to misogyny and obstacles for women. Both shows dealt with these themes in unique and colorful ways, blending humor and political outrage in a smooth, palatable form. Liz often tried to both work constantly and create a family, either through single parent adoption or by having a traditional family, sometimes compromising between these two worlds. Leslie often dealt with modern political travesties, sexist practices, and the difficulties of public service with earnest enthusiasm and creativity, showcasing a woman at the top of her power.
There are many shows in modern times that have showcased strong women in the workplace including Sex and the City, Scrubs, Ugly Betty, and Veep. Whether in the field of PR, law, medicine, print media, or federal politics, the women in these comedies are unapologetic, strong, vivacious, and altogether accomplished. All of them owe a huge debt to MTM, but in themselves they have created an even more incredible vision: the normalization of women in the workplace. The incredibly feminist and world shaping romantic comedy The Mindy Project even had an episode this season that tackled the issues of being a woman of color in the medical field, and the advantages of being a white male. The show also features three dimensional characters, lots of running jokes, and showcases Mindy Kaling, a woman with a fierce sense of self that colors this hilarious show, ending next year with its sixth season.
Modern day women of the world: "Murphy Brown," "30 Rock," "The Mindy Project," "Parks and Rec," and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"
CBS, NBC, Hulu
It’s not just sitcoms that have benefitted from the MTM legacy: Shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Law and Order: SVU, Mad Men, The Closer, Ally McBeal, and Damages also include women who have strength and knowledge over their male coworkers, and live their lives based on their own criteria. This is still a battle we as women rage, to be seen as consummate professionals, as equals to men. While comedies normalize the idea of women having it all, by ingratiating the audience by making them laugh, dramas don’t care if you like these women. They entertain just by being themselves.
In summation, I would just like to point out that the creators of these shows probably weren’t trying to subvert social norms any more than the creators of sitcoms like Cheers and Home Improvement. The core reason for creating a comedy is to make people laugh, and to create something pure and right in a world that constantly values negativity and bedlam. Women on television shouldn’t be a form of grandstanding for feminism, but a normal aspect of our lives. Today we’re much closer to normalcy, with many casts on TV featuring diverse, interesting women from many backgrounds. While the rest of the world burns let’s just appreciate that there will always be women ready to make us laugh and forget our woes.
