Michael Scott of the U.S. version of TV series The Office it's really a masterwork of character! A satire on the hypocrisy of corporate America and its struggle to rid politically incorrect attitudes of corporate life. Struggle which is indeed just a game of appearances and somewhat doomed to failure.
Michael Scott is so typical white Christian, a member of the dominant class in American society, and this self-made man: despite the lack of education, he managed to climb on his own after successive levels until the managerial chair. He lacks the qualifications and obedience, to again and again shows off the ignorance and dyletanctwem, but you can not deny him of good intentions. If you want to be perceived as a modern manager, is trying to establish informal relationships with employees and implement a well-appreciated "novelties" such as tolerance, diversity management and the principle of inclusion. But how hard he tried to adjust to corporate guidelines cents, his prejudices are so deeply embedded in the identity that will always find a way to get out into the light, for example in the form of a seemingly innocent comment or abusive sexist joke.
This clearly shows the sad truth (which she wrote Carol Lee Bacchi, among others) that policies aimed only at eliminating discriminatory attitudes is practically pointless. It should rather focus on the real source of these behaviors, and thus the system of power relations (as in the company and at home), which indirectly supports these behaviors and produces. Michael Scott after getting a reprimand for discrimination against women can and will bite the next time the language, but opinions about women and their place will not change. Just that, look around around after his office, and finds confirmation of his views: see because inefficient (because I tired of full-time work at home), excluded from informal relationships women in typically female positions such as receptionists.
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Michael Scott from The Office is a truly terrific character and one of my favorite lately. His character was as conveived s satire of the hypocrisy of corporate America and its Struggles To Eliminate its deeply sexist and racist Attitudes, but only for the sake of Appearances (Which makes the struggle a rather losing battle).
Michael Scott is a typical white Christian/WASP and a self-made man also! He worked hard to make up for the lack of college degree and managed to climb up the corporational ladder and become manager of the branch. He surely lacks proper education and respect from the staff, often shows off his ignorance and lack of competence, but one can see that his intentions are good. He's also longing to be perceived as a modern manager who keeps up with time and its 'inventions' such as tolerance, diversity and inclusion principle. But however hard he tries to put into praxis all the guidelines from the corporate headquarters, his prejudice is so deeply engrained that it always finds a way to come out, be it through a sexist comment or a disgraceful joke
This clearly confirms the sad truth (see e.g. Carol Lee Bacchi) that policies aimed merely at eliminating discriminating attitudes of individuals (e.g. employers) are foredoomed to failure. What should be done is to focus on the very source of those attitudes, that is, the system of power relations (both in the workplace and at home) which indirectly creates and sustains those discriminating actions. If Michael Scott gets given a reprimand for discriminating women in the workplace, he might think twice before making a sexist comment in the future, but he won't change his mind about women and their role. One look around the office is enough for him to once again support his views on females and their traits. For all he will see is women who are uneffective (tired of working full-time at home), Excluded from informal social relations and working on typicaly female positions, dry as That of a receptionist.
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