Judge Judy
"This is a man's world" screams out James Brown over the airways amidst the political turmoil of the 1960's. He croons about the disproportionate responsibilities and opportunities between men and women. In the sixties, as well as recently, women have fought an uphill battle for authoritative positions. And in doing so, some have had to sacrifice public femininity, as well as a degree of civility, in order to open the door for future women leaders. Whether it be blatant or subtle, fighting discrimination is hard. In today's pop-culture a new brand of female assertion has arisen. And with it comes serious implications upon women in or attempting to enter authoritative positions. Reality courtroom shows, through aggressive behavior and outright mocking, damage an already delicate public image of female authority figures, as well as reinforce old stereotypes. An over-compensation for ladylike attributes undermines a judge's authority. A woman's appearance is not relevant to the power she wields or the convictions on which she stands. Rather, it is her civility and dignified character to which a judge remains womanly as well as powerful. "[The woman's] mission is not to enhance the masculine spirit, bu
In the struggle for equality at present, it is time for positive examples and not extremists. The truth about courtroom shows is that they are, in its' most simple form, entertainment. And whether or not the public knows it, entertainment does influence society. Stereotypes are created and broken every year on television. Fifty years ago the United States was portrayed on television as a homogenous society where everyone was raised by June and Ward Cleaver. But according to today's talk shows, you're lucky if you know both your parents' names. Stereotypes can have a huge effect on the culture, and this is why syndicated judges should be aware of what is hurt when their brazen jokes die down. Women have made great strides to break free from the binds of social restriction. Even though equal opportunity is granted to all people, equal results are not t to express the feminine; hers is not to preserve a man-made world, but to create a human world by the infusion of the feminine element into all of it's activities" (Sanger). In Judge Judy's courtroom, vulgarity and arrogant banter are her means of receiving respect. This judge entitled her first book, Don't Pee on my Leg and Tell Me It's Raining. In the courtroom Judge Sheindlin keeps the same mentality as her book would suggest. By bullying those sent before her, Judge Judy assumes a somewhat contemptuous persona. And in turn is counter productive to her gender. A bully can command respect, but should never be a model for others. There doesn't need to be a sacrifice of dignity to demonstrate one's capability. Strong women figureheads such as Madeline Albright and Hillary Clinton may be accused of lacking the pleasing exterior, which shouldn't be mistaken for femininity, they once obtained in their youth. But the manner in which they carry themselves should be an example for which young women should strive. At one time the door needed to be
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1287
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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