Mere days ago, Wonder Woman was being praised for taking charge in a franchise otherwise known for its strong male characters. So?why hasn’t the 13th Time Lord been met with similar regard
In a Real Business article, Regina Moran, VP and head of industry consulting and software solutions at Fujitsu, wrote: ?Whilst young boys have grown up alongside the likes of Superman and Batman, in previous years, TV and film have infamously failed to provide a suitable equivalent for girls and young women.
?With the arrival of Wonder Woman, Katniss from the Hunger Games trilogy and Alicia Florrick from the Good Wife series to name a few shining a beacon of hope for women across the globe, we re definitely making strides in the right direction.”
But even this good news was clouded by what Moran deemed “a sensitive topic of conversation” the gender pay gap. She explained:?A misinformed tweet saw talkAbout Gal Gadot’s $300,000 pay cheque spiral out of control. Without proper verification, the news of Wonder Woman’s wagescompared to her Man of Steel counterpart Henry Cavill’s whooping $14m package broke the internet.”
It’s this very gap that was focused on by those who managed to?wrap their heads around the fact thatthe Time Lord was now a woman?” Broadchurch actress Jodie Whittaker. Many thought the recent BBC report revealing staff earning over £150,000 had a part to play in the decision.
Well they’ll be saving money on the new Doctor Who if this list is anything to go by #BBCpay
” Sean Collinson (@happyhippysean) July 19, 2017
Given the mixed reaction of fans, we canvassed the business landscape to see whether or not Whittaker’s appointment, or the surrounding conversation, had been received as a reminder on equality.
Hannah Patel, director?of commercial developmentAt?Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
“Just because they select a female Dr Who which, by the way I think is a gimmick to increase ratings does it mean that all the women who are paid less than their male counterparts, also suddenly get a pay rise No. Indeed, it was?’news’?that she was getting equal pay. It shouldn?t be.
“So it sends a message that people can be appeased easily with some strategic representation in prominent roles, but sadly it looks like equality is, and will continue to be, too expensive for large businesses.
“So although it will remain on top of the PR agenda, it’s still not, and won’t really be, at the top of most businesses commercial agenda for a long time.”
Kate Gardner, partner and specialist in employment and HR at Clarke Willmott
“Whittaker starring as the first female Time Lord has triggered numerous comments, both negative and positive. While it is important for this conversation to be happening on a national scale it can be said that those criticising the appointment of a female doctor are just like the directors of FTSE100 companies who are fighting to keep the glass ceiling in place.
“There are several ongoing debates when it comes to equality in employment including whether there should be positive discrimination in the workplace to appoint more female senior executives. But perhaps it is more relevant to look at all employers current legal obligations in relation to the appointment of women and equal rights for their workforce.
“Staff have a right not to be treated less favourably because of their sex. Sex discrimination legislation has been with us since 1974. More recently the Equality Act 2010 brought together all UK anti-discrimination laws. Notoriously complex, these regulations include ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ discrimination. Both are unlawful. Direct discrimination can be obvious, for example a policy not to appoint a female partner, director (or Time Lord).
“Indirect discrimination is less so, for example, following a policy that adversely affects more women then men, such as a rule that all directors have to be six feet tall; this is a criteria that more men than women can meet. So beware policies that may reflect an underlying culture of male superiority.”
Continue reading for more opinion on Whittaker as Time Lord
Mandi Walls, technical community manager, EMEA at”Chef Software
?Honestly, I think it’s great the 13th Time Lord is female. In the context of any organisation, it’s important to see diversity in leadership roles. It creates an environment for greater diversity of input and experience as well as being inspiring to underrepresented workers.
“Embracing inclusivity makes your workplace more attractive to a wider range of people, thus expanding the potential pool of talent you have to call on.
“While Doctor Who has featured a variety of diverse companions, I’m looking forward to seeing the new Doctor having her own adventures as the central character. If the series can feature a lesbian Victorian lizard woman, surely the Doctor regenerating as a woman isn’t so farfetched ?
Amy Shaw, senior digital PR executive at Curated Digital
“It shows the common uncertainty in office culture to having a woman take over from a man. This casting decision sends a huge message about gender equality as it helps to level the playing field for young girls. I, personally, am so happy that young girls now have representation on screen which will encourage them to believe that they can do what they please.
“These messages are often seeded at a young age, and can be nurtured throughout their lives so that when they do enter the workforce they don’t feel judged due to their gender, or if they do they are able to stand up for themselves. Equality conversations need to start happening at a young age if there is any hope for changing the way our society works and the way it views women. By allowing young girls to see a heroine on screen it opens up the dialogue for these conversations.
“Girls will now be growing up with more opportunities as boys. They will have seen an all-female cast as Ghostbusters where the token Hollywood ‘dumb blonde’ was played by Thor star Chris Hemsworth. They will have seen the recent Star Wars films where female protagonists led the way. They will have sung along to Disney’s Moana and Frozen. They will have seen the first female super hero in Wonder Woman and finally, they will see their first female Time Lord.
“There is still a long way to go where female representation in entertainment is concerned, but if the Jodie Whittaker announcement has done anything, it’s made me feel that finally, we may be getting somewhere.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAhChdgGtHA
Rebecca Bull, founder of My HR Hub
“I?was personally surprised that”I wasActually surprised by Whittaker being announced as Doctor Who’s 13th Time Lord. I think we have all been indoctrinated to think that Dr Who is a male figure. How refreshing for us all, a great move by the BBC.
“Whittaker has been reported in the media as saying: ‘It feels completely overwhelming, as a feminist, as a woman, as an actor, as a human, as someone who wants to continually push themselves and challenge themselves, and not be boxed in by what you’re told you can and can’t be.’
“This is a great accolade for both male and female generations, showing that equality is working towards the norm in society. There are some professions that still create a sexist environment, however, these are now the minority. All over the world we have strong female leaders, the appointment of Whittaker in the iconic Dr Who role is another strong step forwards to banishing sexism in the workplace.”
Arlene Harris, freelance journalist writing for the Irish Times
?I don’t see why campaigners feel the need for ‘gender equality’ here. Surely it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility for someone to write an entirely different screenplay where the hero of the hour is female. It strikes me as petty and pointless and undermines the equality argument as there are far bigger issues to be addressed.
“It isn’t just?Doctor?Who?that people are up in arms about; apparently there is inequality at play in the James Bond creative headquarters. Despite the fact that Ian Fleming invented the’storyline, based on a fictional, but very much male, secret service spy, and both his books and subsequent films are still as popular now as they were 60 years ago, many people are calling for the next super sleuth to be a woman, called Jane Bond.
“We are living in very uncertain times and with some of the worlds” most powerful leaders possessing a questionable attitude towards women, it’s time we stopped focusing on fantasy figures and put more effort into promoting and supporting real live women.”
