Unit C - Blog 19

Media plays a large role in how people perceive women in reverse gender roles. In Thelma and Louise, critics wrote about how women start carrying guns and the world has gone crazy, it is not wonder many men were opposed to women becoming correctional officers at first. However, Britton says now that many contemporary men see women as an asset in the prison. However, they still feel the need to take on more dangerous jobs especially when it comes to violent situations. Some women are happy about this. In the media, men are always depicted as saving women or being the protector. These roles persist in real life and causes many women to feel grateful for a man's protection. While it may upset them that men do not think they can perform the job, they also feel like they need to be thankful for the man's chivalrous act. This is the problem with women claiming gendered roles in their workplace. They cannot advance themselves because they are not able to form social networks with the men who are in charge. If they refuse a man's help at the prison they are isolating themselves but if they do accept their help it is like they are admitting defeat to accepting a more difficult job. Women face the same physical tests that men do and must pass them in order to receive the job at the prison. Therefore they are capable of performing the jobs but because they are never placed in high security areas they are not able to showcase their abilities in order to prove themselves. Without trusting in their skill they will never be able to advance unless they know a "daddy" as Britton mentions.