Women Managers in American Popular Culture

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.