Podcast Summary
Undervaluing Women's Economic Power and Influence: Women drive a large portion of consumer purchases and contribute significantly to economic value, yet their interests and unpaid labor are often dismissed or delegitimized, undervaluing their true economic power and influence.
Women's economic power and influence are significant, yet often undervalued or dismissed. Despite driving a large portion of consumer purchases and contributing to a substantial amount of economic value, women's interests, particularly those related to entertainment and unpaid domestic labor, are often viewed as unserious or delegitimized. This bias, as discussed in the podcast episode featuring Kate Kennedy, can be observed in various industries and forms of media. For instance, women-dominated fields such as music, radio, and cinema generate substantial economic value, with figures like Barbie, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift contributing half the economic value of the entire National Football League. Additionally, women's unpaid domestic labor, which constitutes a significant portion of global GDP, is often overlooked or undervalued. It's essential to recognize and challenge these biases and acknowledge the true extent of women's economic power and influence.
Women's financial and artistic achievements reached new heights in 2023: Female artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift broke revenue records, women's economic growth was evident, and Gerwig's 'Barbie' showcased women's success, but bias against comedies and women in film industry persisted.
In 2023, women's financial empowerment and artistic achievements reached unprecedented heights. This was reflected in the earnings of female artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, who broke revenue records with their tours and music. Women's economic growth was also evident in their increased workforce participation and earnings. Meanwhile, in the world of entertainment, Greta Gerwig's film "Barbie" showcased the success of women both on and off-screen. However, the lack of recognition for Gerwig and Robbie in the Oscars highlighted the bias against comedies and women in the film industry. Despite this, the financial and artistic achievements of women in 2023 underscored their growing influence and power. For women looking to manage their finances, fee-only financial planning services like Domain Money offer unbiased, actionable advice.
Historical Undervaluation of Female-Driven Media: Despite significant economic contributions, women's media is often overlooked or dismissed, with male critics less likely to review and harsher when they do, rooted in historical trends dating back to the Cold War era.
The media industry, specifically content made for women, contributes significantly to the US economy, with an estimated $10 billion in growth. This equates to approximately 30 cents of the entire $1,000 economy. Despite this economic dominance, historical trends show that female-driven media is often overlooked or dismissed, with male film critics less likely to review such content and being harsher when they do. This devaluation of women's media can be traced back to the 1950s and the Cold War era, where women's roles were tied to domesticity and consumerism. Advertisers targeted women through soap operas, which were excluded from critical commentary. This trend continues today, with women's interests often being ridiculed or sidelined despite their economic viability. A recent observation in the personal finance industry shows that out of 59 cited figures, only 2 were women. This pattern of dismissal is particularly prevalent in fields where men outnumber women.
Women's underrepresentation in media and podcasts: Despite being a majority of medical school students and doctoral degree earners, women are underrepresented and undervalued in media and podcasts. It's crucial to seek out and value women's voices and perspectives.
There is a significant imbalance in the representation of women in various industries, particularly in media and podcasts. Women's voices and perspectives are often underrepresented and undervalued, with men dominating the scene. A study by Elise Lunan revealed that popular podcasters like Sam Harris, Tim Ferriss, Peter Attia, and Andrew Huberman had interviewed relatively few women compared to the total number of episodes they had produced. This trend is not due to a lack of qualified women, as a majority of medical school students and doctoral degree earners are women. The dismissal of women's experiences and beliefs is a broader pathology that often goes unnoticed, with many people, including women, internalizing the preference for male authority. However, there are women in media who are challenging this trend and making significant strides in bringing women's stories to the forefront. Reese Witherspoon is one such example, who started her own production company to produce movies centered around women's stories and sold it for $900 million. Other women like Shonda Rhimes are also making a difference by recognizing the business potential of women's stories. It's important for us to be aware of this imbalance and make a conscious effort to seek out and value women's voices and perspectives.
Recognizing the economic viability of representing diverse women and their stories: Shonda Rhimes' groundbreaking deal with Netflix and her successful shows demonstrated that diversity in casting and writers' rooms leads to larger audiences, more lucrative advertising opportunities, and ultimately, better media.
The entertainment industry, particularly television and media, has undergone a significant shift towards recognizing the importance and economic viability of representing diverse women and their stories. Shonda Rhimes, a pioneer in this movement, made history with a groundbreaking deal in 2017 to produce Netflix streaming content exclusively through her production company, Shondaland. This deal, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, paved the way for greater representation of women and their stories in media. Rhimes' work, including shows like "Scandal" with Kerry Washington as the first black female lead in a primetime show in over 40 years, has demonstrated that diversity in casting and writers' rooms leads to larger audiences, more lucrative advertising opportunities, and ultimately, better media. This shift towards recognizing the value of women's interests and stories is a crucial step towards achieving gender equality in media and beyond. The Bechdel test, a simple mechanism for assessing representation of women in media, highlights the need for more nuanced and inclusive storytelling. As we move forward, it's essential to continue interrogating our assumptions about what constitutes "shallow" or "superficial" interests and to challenge internalized misogyny.
Pressure on women to conform to societal norms and shame for enjoying feminine things: Women face societal pressure to conform and shame for enjoying feminine things, such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte, highlighting the need for a more inclusive culture.
Women face unique pressure to conform to societal norms while being shamed for participating in or caring about things that are targeted towards them. This pressure was particularly prominent during the speaker's experience growing up as a millennial, where conformity was seen as a means of social survival, and individuality was not valued. Now, as society has evolved, uniqueness is valued, but women still face ridicule for consuming or enjoying popular, feminine things. This double standard is often rooted in condescension towards women's tastes. An example of this can be seen with the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL), which is Starbucks' most popular seasonal beverage of all time, yet is often ridiculed when women enjoy it. This phenomenon highlights the need to challenge the societal norms that shame women for their tastes and encourage a more inclusive and accepting culture.
Impact of societal perceptions on interests: Societal biases can devalue interests, be it a beverage or career choice, leading to unequal representation and pay. Challenging these biases is essential for equal valuation of all forms of expression and interest.
Societal perceptions and biases can significantly impact the validity and legitimacy of interests, be it in the form of a beloved beverage or a career choice. The Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) serves as an example of how a popular trend can be mocked and questioned simply because it appeals to women. Similarly, occupational segregation and wage stagnation demonstrate how women's entry into certain fields can lead to lower wages and diminished perceived value. This pattern extends to the consumption of media and art, where female joy and interests are often met with derision and dismissal. When young women are taught that their interests don't matter or that their participation makes things less desirable, it reinforces the notion that their contributions are only legitimate if they cater to men. This mindset can influence the types of careers women pursue, the media they consume, and the art they create. Ultimately, it's crucial to recognize and challenge these biases to ensure that all forms of expression and interest are valued equally.
Societal Expectations and Women's Self-Worth: Societal expectations can make it hard for women to trust their own judgment and taste, leading to a perceived need for male approval. It's important to challenge these norms and recognize the validity of all leisure activities.
Young women are often conditioned to seek external validation as a means to build their self-esteem and sense of identity. This reliance on others' opinions for self-worth can make it difficult for women to trust their own judgment and taste, leading to a perceived need for male approval. This issue is deeply rooted in societal expectations and can be seen throughout history, from the dismissal of young women's opinions to the mocking of their interests. The importance of acknowledging the context that makes us feel ashamed and not giving it power is crucial. The goal is to recognize the validity of all leisure activities and to challenge the societal norms that devalue certain interests based on gender. The author's message is to be kind and rewind, looking at things from a different perspective to break free from these limiting beliefs.
Criticisms and Judgments Women Face for Expressing Themselves: Women, especially in professional settings, face criticism and judgment for expressing themselves, often being criticized for their tone, filler words, and taking up too much space, while male counterparts are given more freedom.
Our cultural experiences and interests are shaped by external influences, and women, in particular, face criticism and judgment for expressing themselves and their passions. This is especially true in professional settings where women are often expected to conform to certain norms and standards. The speaker, as a cultural commentator and media creator, has faced such challenges throughout her career. Despite the progress made in broader cultural conversations, misogynistic tendencies persist in private spaces and workplaces. Women are often criticized for their tone, filler words, and taking up too much space, while male counterparts are given more freedom. The speaker's career choices, such as being a solo host and talking for long periods, are intentional efforts to combat these norms and create content that resonates with her audience.
Validation through commercial success: Pop culture shapes beliefs and values, and it's crucial to critically engage with it, acknowledging its influence and significance, rather than dismissing it.
The validation and serious recognition of creative pursuits often come only after they have achieved commercial success. Kate, a podcast host, shares her experience of being dismissed or criticized for her work until it gained popularity. This dynamic is particularly prevalent in the realm of art and entertainment, where the commercial success often lends credibility and legitimacy. However, it's essential to engage in meaningful conversations about these popular cultural phenomena, as they carry significant influence and can shape our beliefs and values, whether we realize it or not. For instance, the portrayal of women in media, such as the character Topanga in Boy Meets World, can perpetuate problematic stereotypes and messaging. Therefore, it's crucial to critically examine and engage with pop culture, acknowledging its influence and significance, rather than dismissing it.
The harmful portrayal of women in sitcoms: Stereotypes and manipulative laugh tracks in sitcoms can negatively impact young girls' perception of their worth and feminist beliefs
The portrayal of women in media, particularly in sitcoms of the past, can be harmful due to the use of manipulative laugh tracks and stereotypes. The speaker argues that even if there is diversity in casting, if the writers are not from the community they are representing, the characters may not be accurately portrayed. This can lead young viewers, especially girls, to learn that their feminist beliefs are not valuable or desirable. The speaker recalls her own experiences of disliking certain female characters, like Jessie Spano from Saved by the Bell, not because of anything they did, but because of how the audience and male characters reacted to them. The laugh track reinforced negative stereotypes and taught the speaker to prioritize others' comfort over her own beliefs. This pattern of socialization can have long-term effects on how women view themselves and their worth in negotiations and other areas of life.
Media's Impact on Perception and Representation: Media reinforces stereotypes and has real economic consequences, particularly in underrepresentation or misrepresentation of women in podcasts and literature.
Pop culture and media, including podcasts, have a significant impact on how people perceive and group each other. Stereotypes, which can be reinforced through media, have real economic consequences. For instance, there's a clear imbalance in male-dominated media platforms, like podcasts, where women are often underrepresented or misrepresented. This can be seen in the way women are interviewed or the topics they're allowed to discuss. This imbalance can be frustrating and reinforce assumptions of authority. For example, women authors may be shelved in self-help sections while men are shelved in leadership sections. It's important to have conversations about these issues, especially in mass media formats, to promote equality and representation. The domination of male-hosted podcasts serves to reinforce these assumptions, and it's crucial for producers and audiences to be aware of this imbalance and advocate for more inclusive representation.
Importance of being curious, observant, and open-minded: Listening to the Be There in 5 podcast with Kate Kennedy offers valuable insights on culture and the importance of being observant and open-minded in various aspects of life.
Being aware of small details and observing connections between seemingly unrelated things can lead to valuable insights. This was highlighted during a conversation with Kate Kennedy, host of the Be There in 5 podcast, who shared her experiences as a podcaster in a predominantly male space and her thoughtful observations on culture. Kate's podcast is a must-listen for those who enjoy thought-provoking discussions and deep dives into various topics. If you're a fan of the Money with Katie show, you'll surely enjoy Kate's podcast as well. We highly recommend checking it out and will include a link in our show notes. Overall, this conversation emphasized the importance of being curious, observant, and open-minded in our daily lives. Tune in next week for another insightful episode of the Money with Katie show. Our show is produced by Morning Brew, with Henna Velez and Katie Gadditasan as producers, Nick Torres handling audio engineering and sound design, Devin Emery serving as chief content officer, and Kate Brandt providing fact checking.
