Hunter Roberts Film and Culture 1070

Tootsie, 1982, is a film about a struggling actor names Michael Dorsey, Who is a very talented actor but essentially is destroying his own career because, is very critical of himself. His agent cant find anymore work for him because of his outlook on his own work. Once he finds out that he can no longer find any work Michael creates a female alter ego of himself named, Dorothy Michael s. He ends up scoring some work as Dorothy when eventually he is offered a long term job on a television show. Things start to blow up in Michaels face when he falls in love with his female cast mate, who still thinks that he is Dorothy. When Michael reveals himself to his cast mates on a nationally televised show it causes drama. The director (Sydney Pollack) emphasizes how sexism, and gender roles correlate to men and women are treated differently in the workplace. This films is set in the early 1980s. This time is said to be the end of second wave feminism stage in the womens liberation movement. The movement was based on the outline of women should be treated as equals to men and not as a lower person in society and in the workplace. Michael, who is a talented actor is introduced in the film as a teacher teaching a class on acting. He seems to be paying attention to every little detail of his students then it cuts to him on stage auditioning for a variety of different roles. Every role he auditions for he is told that he is either too old, young, short, etc. Even though he is a man the producers or the critics tend to focus on his flaws. He never does land a role from his auditions. . Sandy, she is introduced at Michael party, but does not speak much until after when she is very emotional about a role that she Is auditioning for. As a woman in the acting world you would expect Sandy to be very independent, strong, and confident in her work. Instead, she asks for help from Michael. Showing a weaker more vulnerable side of her. Even when Michael asks her what roll she is playing she screams a Woman! implying that she isnt even confident enough in her ability to play a

roll essentially as herself. . She doesnt believe in herself. The issue of women being lesser is very prominent in Sandy due to the fact that she believes that she needs that extra push from a man just to give her the confidence she needs. Sandy is even called a doormat by Michael, which sends her over the edge and allows her to be that angry woman that she needs to be. Gender issues tend to stand out more than any other issue in this film. This is emphasized when Dorothy Michaels is introduced. She is Michael Dorseys alter ego created in order to see if he can land a role. The tides seem to turn, this so called great actor that is a male cant land any roles. This shining star that is who everyone is looking up to decides that he isnt good enough to do it as a male. Interestingly, Michael Dorsey is not ever told he cannot read the script due to his looks. Sexism immediately is shown when he transforms himself. The director, without even knowing how good of an actress Dorothy is, immediately denies Dorothy due to the fact that she doesnt match the physical type he is looking for. Even in the film it is said that masculine women are ugly and that they are not good enough. Julie character is introduced in the scene In the film women are portrayed as a lesser breed like they can be walked all over without any second thought. Even in the film the director speaks for Julie when she is asked if she wants a bagel. Even Julie introduces herself as the office slut because she was put in that role. A term that isnt usually used by women a loosely at as she uses it to describe her character. The sexist director treats women as if they are dumb and as if they are just props. When he is talking Dorothy through her scene he has to physically drag her around the set and walk her through what she will be doing. As if he assumes that she doesnt have the mental capacity to do it herself. Then when Dorothy goes to speak up as he is walking away he slams the door in her face showing that he thinks he is better than her and her opinion isnt worth his time or attention. Then when Dorothy doesnt follow the script and does what she wants. He tells her that she did good but, The next time that she wants to change his script that she better run it by him first. Michael even points out the fact to his

friend that the director is condescending by calling Dorothy sweetheart and points out that the director doesnt even know Dorothy's name. Julie even describes the director as being the man who can give her the worst possible time. Other men in the film are condescending towards Dorothy, due to the fact that she is a woman. The actor that plays Dr Brewster is one of them. He looks forward to every kissing scene that he is in and even after the scene in which Dorothy denies the kiss. He grabs her and kisses her anyways. He has no respect for Dorothy. At one point in the show he shows up at Michael house looking for Dorothy. He is in love with how assertive Dorothy is. While he is at Michaels house he tries to advance on Dorothy and tells her that sex will be just fine. Showing how he thinks that Dorothy as a woman can just be used to get what he wants. To satisfy his needs. Women in the film look up to Dorothy as being a strong woman. They thank her for being on the show saying that ever since she showed up that things have been so much better on the show because of her advice. This implies that before she was there they were treated worse. Even lines in the film relate to the issue even though they are kind of underlying lines that arent noticeable. Like when they are filming and Dorothy's character says that the Doctor needs to stop looking at her just as a woman but to look at her as a person instead. A discussion between Dorothy and Julies characters in the film is based on how its complicated to be a woman in the 80's. Saying that they are wishing that men could be more straight up with them and show them affection without beating around the bush. Dorothy tells the actor playing the woman who was beat by her husband that she shouldnt go to a shelter to escape a male that beats her. Michael is voicing his opinions on the set of the show about the stuff he has learned since he starting dressing up as Dorothy. When he is talking to his agent he is trying to show that he has many things to tell women and the agent says that they wont listen because he is a man. Yet, at the party he is condescending towards Sandy telling her to stand up straight and be presentable and he totally forgets about her when he realizes that the director is stepping out on Julie

and he sees his opportunity to make a move on her using the line that she wanted to hear. When it blows up in his face he has a realization that he is being a pig just like the other men in her life. The irony of Michaels role in the film is that when he is playing Dorothy he thinks that he can knows how to treat women and knows how they feel. He thinks as himself as learning from it and being the perfect man. Yet, he totally forgets about his relationship with sandy and he ends up treating her like how the director and john have been treating Dorothy. Dorothy finally decides to stand up for herself when the director calls her tootsie and she blows up saying that she has a name too, and that the director should respect that and be considerate enough to remember her name. A turning point in the film focusing on the issue is before and during the live taping of the soap opera. Julie is telling Dorothy that she appreciates her for all she has done and taught her to stand up for herself and that she is grateful for her, but she cant see her anymore because she feels as if she is leading Dorothy on because she thinks that Dorothy is a lesbian. During the live taping of the scene Michael decides to reveal himself as being Dorothy. He starts by going off script and is making everyone freak out. Then he is saying that he is proud of being a women. Showing that he is realizing this sexist workplace he is in and starts showing people who he really is. Tootsie, is a fine example of what its like to be a man or a woman in a workplace and how they are treated. It shows how Gender roles and sexism correlate with how men and women are treated differently in the workplace.

BIBLIOGRAPHY http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC28folder/Tootsie.html http://www.marxists.org/glossary/events/w/o.htm America On Film Written by Harry M. Benshoff and Sean Griffen

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084805/?ref_=sr_1