Is ‘The Morning Show’ Actually a Feminist TV Show? – The Daily Beast

Analysis of ‘The Morning Show’ Season 4 in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Narrative Contradictions and SDG Alignment

A critical analysis of the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, particularly its fourth season, reveals a significant disconnect between its portrayal of female empowerment and the core principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the series features numerous women in positions of power, its narrative focus on interpersonal conflict and betrayal among these characters undermines progress toward key goals, notably SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

SDG 5: Gender Equality and Women’s Leadership

The series presents a narrative that, while appearing to champion women’s leadership, ultimately subverts the objectives of SDG 5, which calls for ensuring women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership. The season’s events suggest that achieving leadership positions does not equate to a sustainable or collaborative power structure, instead depicting a workplace where gender equality is compromised by internal strife.

• Representation of Female Leadership: Season 4 introduces a corporate environment dominated by female executives, including Alex, Stella, and the new network head, Celine. This aligns superficially with SDG Target 5.5 (ensure women’s full participation in leadership).
• Erosion of Solidarity: The narrative regresses from a “girl power” theme to one of “the girls are fighting,” where professional and personal betrayals are rampant. This dynamic counters the spirit of empowerment central to SDG 5.
• Patriarchal Reassertion: The infighting among female leaders creates an opening for a male character, Cory, to manipulate the situation and regain control, illustrating a failure to dismantle discriminatory structures as advocated by SDG 5.

Key Narrative Obstacles to SDG 5:

1. Professional Undermining: The power struggle between Celine and Stella, culminating in blackmail and compromised professional decisions, showcases a failure of collaborative leadership.
2. Lack of Mutual Support: Multiple female characters fail to support Mia’s bid for a promotion, with Alex being absent and Stella ultimately passing her over for a male candidate. This directly contradicts the principle of empowering women in the workplace.
3. Perpetuation of Stereotypes: The constant conflict risks reinforcing the message that women are incapable of effective, collaborative leadership, thereby hindering the broader societal goals of SDG 5.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Workplace Dynamics

The professional environment depicted in the series is characterized by instability, psychological manipulation, and unethical behavior, which is antithetical to the principles of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The goal of promoting safe, secure, and productive working environments is consistently challenged by the characters’ actions.

• Unethical Labor Practices: The use of blackmail by Cory against Stella regarding her personal life to achieve professional ends is a severe violation of a safe and decent work environment (SDG Target 8.8).
• Career vs. Personal Life Conflict: The disagreement between Mia and Chris over work-life balance highlights a relevant workplace issue. However, the narrative treats it as a source of interpersonal conflict rather than exploring structural solutions for decent work that accommodates family responsibilities, a key aspect of inclusive growth under SDG 8.
• Hostile Work Environment: The constant backstabbing, arguments, and lack of trust create a toxic workplace culture that inhibits productivity and employee well-being, failing to meet the standards of “decent work.”

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The series touches upon critical themes related to SDG 16, which aims to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions. The plot involving media integrity, disinformation, and free press is highly relevant to SDG Target 16.10 (ensure public access to information). However, the narrative’s execution distracts from these institutional issues.

• Disinformation and Institutional Trust: Alex’s claim of being the victim of a deep fake video raises timely questions about AI, truth, and the responsibility of news organizations. This directly engages with the challenge of maintaining strong and trusted institutions (the press).
• Failure of Institutional Process: The fact that Alex’s female superiors, Celine and Stella, do not initially believe her claim undermines the principle of “believing women” and demonstrates a breakdown in institutional trust and process.
• Distraction from Core Issues: The report suggests that the audience’s focus is diverted from these crucial discussions about the future of media and truth by the overwhelming emphasis on personal “cat fights,” thereby weakening the narrative’s potential contribution to the discourse surrounding SDG 16.

Conclusion: Misalignment with Sustainable Development Principles

In conclusion, while The Morning Show features a cast led by powerful female characters and addresses contemporary issues, its narrative choices in Season 4 present a problematic vision when analyzed through the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. The relentless infighting and betrayal among women in leadership positions detract from a meaningful exploration of gender equality (SDG 5), create a model of a toxic workplace that opposes the ideals of decent work (SDG 8), and overshadow important themes of institutional integrity (SDG 16). The series inadvertently portrays a scenario where internal division within a demographic prevents collective success and allows patriarchal systems to reassert dominance, thereby failing to model a sustainable path toward equality and strong institutions.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   The article is fundamentally a critique of gender dynamics and representation in the workplace, as portrayed in the TV show “The Morning Show.” It directly addresses issues of female leadership, stereotypes, and the complexities of “girl power.” The analysis revolves around whether the show promotes a feminist message or regresses into a “the girls are fighting” narrative, which is central to the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

   • The text questions if the show is truly “feminist” despite being “stacked with powerful women.”
   • It highlights how the plot centers on “women f-ing over women,” which undermines the portrayal of effective female leadership.
   • The narrative where a male character, Cory, regains power by turning women against each other is described as a “patriarchal… victory,” directly engaging with themes of gender-based power structures.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The article discusses the professional environment of a news network, focusing on promotions, power struggles, and workplace relationships. These themes are connected to SDG 8’s aim to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The article explores a dysfunctional workplace where blackmail and personal vendettas affect professional opportunities.

   • The plot point where Mia is “passed over for a man for head of news” due to internal politics, despite her qualifications, touches upon fair opportunities for promotion.
   • The use of blackmail by Cory to manipulate Stella demonstrates an unethical and non-decent work environment.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   The article touches upon the role and integrity of media institutions. It mentions that the show raises “important points about the free press, free speech, and AI.” These topics are directly related to SDG 16, which includes goals for developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions and ensuring public access to information.

   • The storyline involving a “deep fake” video of Alex questions the nature of “truth” and the reliability of news, which is a critical issue for media institutions.
   • The internal corruption, blackmail, and power grabs depicted within the fictional network illustrate a weak and unaccountable institution, contrary to the principles of SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

     The article directly engages with this target by describing a workplace “stacked with powerful women, most of whom are bosses in some capacity” (Alex, Stella, Celine). However, it critiques the show’s portrayal, suggesting their participation is undermined by infighting and manipulation, which ultimately sends “the message that girls can’t do it as well as boys.” Mia’s being “passed over for a man for head of news” is a direct example of a failure to ensure equal opportunities for leadership.

   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

     The article implies that the show’s narrative reinforces harmful stereotypes that can lead to discrimination. The author worries that the focus on “old-school cat fights” and women who “can’t be successful leaders… because of all of the infighting” perpetuates a discriminatory view that women are unfit for leadership roles, not because of systemic barriers, but because of their own nature.

2. Target under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.

     The article highlights a workplace where career advancement is not based on merit but on manipulation. Cory’s use of blackmail to influence Stella’s decision-making and Mia being denied a promotion she was seemingly qualified for (“a complete reversal of everything she’s been saying about Mia for years”) are examples of an environment that fails to provide decent work and fair opportunities for productive employment.

3. Target under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

     This target is relevant to the article’s mention of the show’s themes of “free press, free speech, and AI.” The plot point where Alex claims a video of her is a “deep fake” and the subsequent disbelief from her female bosses (“What ever happened to ‘believe women?’”) directly addresses the modern challenge of disinformation and its threat to public access to reliable information and the integrity of the news.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for SDG Target 5.5

   • Official Indicator (Implied): Proportion of women in managerial positions (Indicator 5.5.2).

     The article provides qualitative data for this indicator by repeatedly stating that the show’s fictional company is “stacked with powerful women, most of whom are bosses in some capacity,” and naming specific women in top roles like CEO and head of the network. This directly reflects the measurement of female representation in leadership.

   • Unofficial Indicator (Mentioned): The Bechdel Test.

     The article explicitly mentions the Bechdel Test as a metric for female representation in media. It notes that while the show “does pass the Bechdel Test,” this quantitative measure of representation “comes at the cost of the overall message.” This serves as a cultural indicator used in the article to measure not just the presence but the quality of female interaction and agency.

2. Indicator for SDG Target 16.10

   • Implied Indicator: Prevalence of disinformation and public trust in media.

     The article does not name a formal indicator, but the discussion around Alex’s “deep fake” crisis and the question, “if you don’t believe a woman who says AI is twisting ‘the truth,’ then what’s the point of ‘the news’ or ‘truth’ anyway?” implies a concern with the integrity of information. The struggle to discern real from fake content is a measure of the challenge posed by disinformation, which directly impacts public trust in institutions like the press.

Source: thedailybeast.com