Title : Sexist 50s film warns of 'problems' of working with women
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Sexist 50s film warns of 'problems' of working with women
- A 1959 US public service film about working women has been unearthed
- The short film reveals the blatant sexism of the era towards female employees
- The men in the film are seen speaking to female colleagues as their inferiors
- One man berates his male boss for employing a female, saying 'I wanted a man'
There may still be a long way to come before the battle against sexism is entirely won...but a public information film from the 1950s reveals just how treacherous the workplace once was for women.
The 1959 film warns men about the problems of working with women; advising them on how to handle 'difficult' new female employees.
The black-and-white film, The Trouble with Women, was produced for plant supervisors in America and shows the sexual prejudice that was commonplace less than sixty years ago and the obstacles women encountered entering the office.
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'I asked for a man!' A pair of male employees are seen arguing about the decision to take on a woman in their workplace
Misguided: The 1959 public service film was designed to educate men about the problems women bring to the workplace
The excruciating six-minute video discusses issues including 'marriage, absenteeism and personality problems'.
The misogynistic film also gives advice on how to handle disobedient, lazy and negligent female employees - who just want to get married so they can leave work.
'The Trouble with Women' includes outrageous lines such as 'I remember the good old days when there were all men in my department and we didn't have these problems' and dialogue like 'What's wrong with her?' 'Well she's a woman isn't she?'
The film begins with factory foreman, Mr Bradshaw - more commonly known as 'Brad' - walking up to a female employee called Betty and immediately scolding her for not doing her job correctly. Brad then meets his new bearing inspector and appears noticeably upset when he sees that his new employee is unfortunately another woman.
Not so good old days: The sexist video sees many men alluding to male-only offices
Dominance: The excruciating six-minute video is awash with examples of men belittling women
Brad immediately storms into his boss' office and confronts him angrily about why his new bearings inspector is a female.
He shouts at his manager Walt: 'Ok now Walt, you've had your little joke. Give her to somebody else! I ask for a man'
Walt argues that his new female employee might be work out if Brad 'treats' her correctly, but Brad declares that the underlying problem is her sex. He says: 'I work with them Mister - I know what happens!'
Then Brad gives another example to prove how problematic and ineffective women workers are - and that they all tend to be 'blushing brides' who give up work soon after arriving and neglect to give him notice.
The post-war video reflects the arrival of more women in employment, something that some men clearly had trouble dealing with
Key character 'Brad' in the film is the biggest misogynist as he struggles to deal with a more diverse working environment
Brad also complains that women are work-shy, lazy and always absent. He says:
'The biggest problem of all is absenteeism among women employees. I remember the good old days when there were all men in my department and we didn't have these problems.'
However, Walt reasons that Brad should just deal with the issue because with the recent employment of women workers, their factory has a bigger production output than with just male staff.
He also says that unfortunately 'there isn't a man available' when it comes to filling in certain job positions.
Sort it out, Brad: There is a mildly positive note as the film ends, with Brad forced to consider changing his outdated ways...
Brad learns that he will have to change his attitude and has to get used to the new situation.
As Walt says 'It's pretty much up to you.' In the final scene, we see Brad sit down next to his latest female employee, Dolly, and look humorously perplexed as to how to deal with her.
Before World War II, few women followed careers. Most jobs for women were 'traditional' roles such as nursing, secretarial or caring jobs.
It was only when millions of men joined the armed forces that women took on an active role in World War II. They took on many paid jobs which had previously had been held by men and women started working in factories.
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