'What Will People Think?' and 'Climbing in Heels' star women trying to make it big
In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, two authors discuss their novels about women navigating professional challenges in entertainment. Sarah Hamdan's "What Will People Think?" follows Mia Elmas, a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian balancing her career ambitions with family expectations, while weaving in her grandmother's parallel story of pursuing love in 1940s Jaffa.
The episode also explores Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas's novel "Climbing in Heels," which depicts three female secretaries working at a Hollywood talent agency in the 1980s. Based on the author's experiences, the story reveals how women dealt with workplace sexism and harassment while pursuing their career goals in the entertainment industry, including the informal networks they developed to protect one another.
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1-Page Summary
Representation and Stereotypes of Minority Women in Entertainment
Sarah Hamdan's novel "What Will People Think?" breaks new ground in entertainment by featuring Mia Elmas, a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian. Through Mia's character, Hamdan crafts a narrative that focuses on love, family, and identity rather than the typical political or religious themes often associated with Palestinian characters. The novel shows how comedy becomes Mia's vehicle for authentic self-expression and challenging cultural stereotypes.
Women's Challenges and Trade-Offs in Unconventional Careers
Hamdan's novel weaves together two compelling narratives: Mia's secret life as a comedian and her grandmother Zaina's hidden love story from 1940s Jaffa. Through these parallel stories, the novel explores how women across generations navigate the complex balance between pursuing their dreams and meeting family expectations. The narrative shows both women grappling with the emotional and social trade-offs required when choosing unconventional paths that diverge from cultural norms.
Sexism, Power, and Harassment in the Workplace
Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas's novel "Climbing In Heels" depicts the harsh realities faced by women in the 1980s entertainment industry. Drawing from her personal experiences, Goldsmith-Thomas tells the story of three female secretaries in a Hollywood talent agency, revealing the prevalent sexism and harassment of the era. The novel explores how women dealt with being labeled as "sexitaries" while trying to advance their careers, and details the "whisper network" that warned about predatory behavior from powerful men. Through her characters, Goldsmith-Thomas illustrates how women had to carefully navigate power dynamics while pursuing their ambitions in a male-dominated industry.
1-Page Summary
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Actionables
- You can explore your own family's generational stories by starting a journal where you document conversations with older relatives about their life experiences. This can help you understand the trade-offs they made and how these have shaped your family's dynamics and expectations. For example, ask your grandparents about their youth, the dreams they pursued, and the societal norms they encountered, then reflect on how these narratives compare to your own life choices.
- Create a personal blog or vlog series that delves into the challenges you face in your career or personal aspirations, especially if they go against conventional paths. Use this platform to share your journey, the obstacles you've overcome, and the stereotypes you're challenging. This not only serves as a form of self-expression but also connects you with others who might be navigating similar experiences.
- Initiate a book club with friends or colleagues that focuses on novels and stories about women from different eras and cultures, discussing how the characters navigate societal expectations and personal ambitions. This can provide a broader perspective on the commonalities and differences in women's experiences across time and place, and inspire conversations about how to support each other in your own pursuits.
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Representation and Stereotypes of Minority Women in Entertainment
Sarah Hamdan’s novel "What Will People Think?" is introduced as an innovative work that challenges typical stereotypes in entertainment by focusing on a Palestinian-American woman comedian.
Novel "What Will People Think?" Challenges Stereotypes By Focusing On Palestinian-American Woman Comedian
Sarah Hamdan Writes About a Palestinian-American Woman's Focus on Love, Family, and Identity, Not Religion, Politics, or Conflict
Sarah Hamdan's novel "What Will People Think?" introduces readers to Mia Elmas, a Palestinian-American woman navigating her life in a way that's often not depicted in mainstream media. Hamdan aims to tell a meaningful story about Mia, portraying her as an American with Palestinian roots who is messy, funny, and authentic. By doing so, she strives to present a narrative centered on joy, showcasing Mia as a multifaceted character not confined by the political or religious undertones that often accompany portrayals of her heritage.
Comedian Protagonist Confronts Stereotypes, Expresses Authentic Self
Hamdan utilizes the art of comedy as a mode of expression for Mia Elmas. The novel illustrates how comedy serves as a vehicle for Mia to confront cultural stereotypes and express her authentic self. As a stand-up comedian in New York City, Mia finds the stage to be a place wh ...
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Representation and Stereotypes of Minority Women in Entertainment
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can write a short story or create a character that embodies traits not typically associated with their background to challenge stereotypes. For example, if you're interested in writing, craft a narrative around a character who defies societal expectations in a unique way, such as a ballet-dancing truck driver or a tattoo artist who loves classical music. This exercise can help you explore and understand the complexity of individuals beyond stereotypes.
- Start a personal journal where you reflect on the diverse expressions of love you encounter in your daily life. This could be anything from a kind gesture from a stranger to the support of a friend. By documenting these moments, you'll become more aware of the various forms of love around you and how they connect people from different walks of life.
- Use humor to ...
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Women's Challenges and Trade-Offs in Unconventional Careers
The novel, "What Will People Think?", examines the challenges and trade-offs women face when pursuing careers that fall outside traditional roles. Featuring the interwoven stories of Mia Elmas and her grandmother Zaina, the narrative explores the emotional and social complexities accompanying personal passions, particularly when these are at odds with family and societal expectations.
Novel Explores Generational Tensions and Expectations: Mia's Secret Comedy Career, Grandmother Zaina's Forbidden Love
The protagonist, Mia Elmas, manages a double life as a fact-checker by day and a stand-up comedian by night, hiding her true passions from those closest to her. In a parallel from the past, the novel unveils her grandmother Zaina's diary entries from the 1940s in Jaffa, recording her own concealed saga—a tale of forbidden love.
The Story Explores the Cost Of Following Passions Over Family Approval, Requiring Complex Emotional and Social Trade-Offs
The book deftly narrates how Mia and her grandmother Zaina journey towards the revelation of their secrets to each other. It deals with the concept of coming of age at any life stage and highlights the importance of finding love for oneself beyond the constraints of familial expectations.
Parallel Stories of Mia and Zaina Reveal How Pursuing Unconventional Dreams Challenges Women to Balance Aspirations With Family and Societal Pressures Across Eras
Drawing parallels between the lives of Mia and Zaina, "What Will People Think ...
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Women's Challenges and Trade-Offs in Unconventional Careers
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Clarifications
- When desires conflict with family tradition, emotional trade-offs involve the internal struggle between pursuing personal fulfillment and maintaining familial harmony. These trade-offs can lead to feelings of guilt, disappointment, or isolation as individuals navigate between their own aspirations and the expectations placed upon them by their families. Balancing personal happiness with familial approval can create emotional tension and a sense of conflict, as individuals grapple with the need to assert their own identity while also respecting their family's values and beliefs. This dynamic often requires individuals to make difficult choices that impact both their own well-being and their relationships with their family members.
- Chasing one's dreams while considering familial consent and societal norms involves navigating the internal struggles and external pressures that arise when personal aspirations conflict with expectations from family and society. This conflict can create emotional turmoil as indiv ...
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Sexism, Power, and Harassment in the Workplace
Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas's novel "Climbing In Heels" shines a light on the stark realities of sexism, abuse, and harassment in the 1980s entertainment industry through the experiences of three women in a Hollywood talent agency.
"Climbing In Heels" By Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas Depicts Sexism, Abuse, and Harassment Women Faced In the 1980s Entertainment Industry
The Novel's Depiction of Three Female Secretaries in a Hollywood Talent Agency Reveals the Author's Firsthand Industry Knowledge, Including the "Whisper Network" on Predatory Behavior by Powerful Men
Goldsmith-Thomas uses the character Beanie as an example of the trials faced by women in the 1980s entertainment industry, where there was a blatant disregard for women's ambitions and presence in positions of power. The novel portrays power dynamics, with women being treated as "sexitaries," undermining their qualifications and valued only for their attraction to men. Goldsmith-Thomas pulls from her own experiences, having been warned about the risks of private meetings, such as the propositioned meeting with Bill Cosby. Her story includes a "whisper network" that highlighted the predatory behavior of powerful men.
Novel Spotlights Women Balancing Norms and Ambitions
"Climbing In Heels" is a narrative of friendship, survival, and betrayal. It illustrates the journey of women attempting to rewrite the rules in an industry that didn't recognize them as game players. Goldsmith-Thomas show ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Sexism, Power, and Harassment in the Workplace
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Actionables
- You can start a virtual book club focused on novels that address workplace challenges to foster discussions on personal experiences and strategies for overcoming them. Invite friends or colleagues to read "Climbing In Heels" or similar books, then meet online to share insights and support each other in identifying and combating sexism and harassment in your own workplaces.
- Create a personal "ambition plan" to define and pursue your career goals, regardless of societal expectations. Write down your professional ambitions, the obstacles you might face, and actionable steps to overcome them. This plan will serve as a roadmap to navigate power dynamics and societal pressures, much like the characters in the novel.
- Devel ...
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