Anna McAuliffe

English 101

Phillips 

18 April 2016

The Office(al) take on diversity

The Office is an American comedy television series that draws comedic references to historical and cultural contexts in almost every episode. For example, in the second episode of the series, "Diversity Day", the show utilizes humor to draw attention to problems concerning diversity in society. Whether the diversity is present in the workplace, exemplified through The Office, or applied to general social interaction, the show uses its platform to create awareness for certain challenges that exist concerning minorities. In "Diversity Day", characters and themes are used to portray obstacles of cultural diversification such as unequal employment in managerial positions, the use of the N-word and other forms of discrimination, and stereotyping in an office setting while being delivered in a comedic fashion. 

Modern workplaces may seem desegregated when every corporation's advertisement presents a smiling, well-diversified group of people, but minorities are still underrepresented in leadership roles. In The Office, there are characters that represent different minorities. For instance, there is Oscar Martinez who is Mexican, Stanley Hudson who is African American, and there is Kelly Kapoor who is Indian. These characters represent the diversification present in society. Michael Scott is their white boss; he represents the ignorance and obstacles in the way of minorities. Minorities account for about thirty-four percent of America's total work force, yet only twenty percent of those minority workers have management level positions (Bouie). In The Office, all minority employees' work under Michael Scott who is the branch manager therefore exemplifying a real world situation in which minorities are well represented among the workforce, but rarely in charge. Additionally, at the cooperate level of Dunder Mifflin all the representatives are white as well. Although America's workplace has formally been integrated, data still supports the idea that minorities are not receiving equal opportunity in respect to white collar professions. Twenty- four percent of working minorities hold white collar professions (Bouie). Very few minorities hold white collar jobs and the few that do are still mistreated due to their ethnicity. Oscar, Stanley, and Kelly are all representations of minorities that have acquired white- collar professions, and the challenges they face on a day to day basis at work represent the challenges minorities face in the American workforce. The non- white characters on the show help represent the insensitivity that occurs and impedes success for workers who are minorities. Specifically, in "Diversity Day", there is a meeting being held to support Dunder Mifflin's mandated diversity. The mandate is an important reminder to coworkers and especially Michael to treat all races equally in the workplace. The meeting is a great step forward to making diversity happen rather than just talking about wanting it to happen. The reason behind the meeting to remind everyone to respect diversity is due to Michael's lack of sensitivity. Michael often draws attention to the minority workers in racist ways. He is ignorant in how to conduct himself in a social setting without offending anyone. For example, when the African American man leading the seminar introduces himself as Mr. Brown, Michael says laughingly, "Ah! Oh, all right. Okay, first test. I will not call you that" (Novak). Michael assumes Mr. Brown is not his real name and then continues to make everyone else feel uncomfortable by his lack of sensitivity to other races. For instance,  "Microaggressions are subtle forms of discrimination, often unintentional and unconscious, which send negative and denigrating messages to various individuals and groups" (Nadal). Michael was unaware that he was acting insensitively based on race, but that does not change the fact that he was still behaving offensively. When Michael offends the group and embarrasses himself, it shows viewers who share similar offensive views towards minorities how uncomfortable and embarrassed you look treating people discriminatorily. The way for complete diversity in the workplace is to eliminate these microaggressions. Minorities will always feel discriminated against until the small acts of racism end. The first step towards equal opportunity in the workplace is taking away the small acts of discrimination, so the workplace will be a less hostile place for all workers which will lead to a more comfortable environment that supports minorities to attain leadership positions. 

Another topic brought up in "Diversity Day" deals with the appropriate way to interact with the opposite race versus interacting within the same race. In modern society there are certain social ques appropriate in certain situations. The use of the N- word is very controversial, but in some scenarios it is allowed. For example, the use of the "N-word" has become commonly used among young African Americans; "it is the ultimate insult- a word that has tormented generations of African Americans. Yet over time, it has become a popular term of endearment by the descendants of the very people who once had to endure it" (Price). It is almost unbelievable that a word that was once used to degrade a race, and can still be used in that manner today, is acceptable for use between the same people it is used to degrade. However, it does seem acceptable for most black people to use this word casually between each other. On the other hand, it is completely inappropriate for a white person to use this word ever and especially with black company. The use of the N- word is just one example of a double standard for certain ways races have to respect each other. To use the N- word around an African American is insulting and very disrespectful. For example, in The Office, Michael says, "How come Chris Rock can do a routine, and everybody finds it hilarious and ground breaking. Then I go and do the exact same routine  -- same comedic timing -- and people file a complaint to corporate? Is it because I'm White, and Chris is Black" (Novak). Michael has not completely come to realize yet that even in a joking manor those jokes based on race can really offend minorities. Jokes around the workplace may be seen as just that, jokes, by some people, but those at the expense of the punch line may find it extremely offensive. Even if the joke is not towards ones race, people can be just as offended by the insensitivity. Michael's impersonation of Chris Rock represents the cultural insensitivity that still exists in society today. The show is using humor through Michael's ignorance to take a pretty serious topic and make it seem lighter.

 Since Michael cannot seem to help himself when it comes to offending people, the episode remains upbeat which allows the show to talk about hard topics. Comedy is a great way to communicate the critique The Office is making on society.  Watching someone acting discriminatory or insensitive is much clearer to recognize and be repulsed by than if the show had just talked how not to be racist. Since the show is presented in comedic fashion, characters are able to act overly insensitive to show how offensive racism can be. Michael's representation of rude behavior can only be shown through comedy to really emphasize to viewers the consequences of discriminatory actions. Price suggests students should be educated on proper etiquette when associated with a diverse group of people. He says, "In their circles of white friends, some are so comfortable with the N-word because they've grown up on and been nourished by hip-hop. White youths, statistically the largest consumers of hip-hop, then feel that they can use the word among themselves with black and white peers.  ...  But then I hear in that same discussion that many of the black youths are indeed offended by [whites using the N-word]". He notes that some white children have been taught and exposed to the N- word and other forms of discrimination for generations by their parents and family. Discrimination starts at such a young age through exposure from family and the media that it seems to be possible for people like Michael Scott to be so unaware of the consequences to their actions. Michael behaves without respecting other races which represents all the ignorance in society that limits and brings down minorities. Price goes on to say, "And if blacks and whites are together and a white person uses the word, many blacks are ready to fight. So this word comes laden with these complicated and contradictory emotional responses to it." He thinks the way to end discrimination is to first put a stop to ignorance. America's youth should be taught the history and identity attached to the N- word, and maybe that could lead to a generation that values and respects each other. The N- word in this case, represents all other forms of discrimination that creates conflict in the workplace. Once people learn not to be offensive and what they can and cannot say to people, the workplace will welcome diversity and be a better place for it. 

Another form of discrimination brought to light on "Diversity Day" was the role stereotypes play in society. After the seminar leader leaves, Michael decides to host his own meeting on diversity. He hands out cards with a different race, ethnicity, or religion on it and asks the workers to put the cards on their forehead. He then wants his employees to act towards each other in a stereotypical manner that will help each other discover what race, ethnicity, or religion they have on their forehead. Again, this is all done in a comedic manner which makes this controversial situation seem less offensive to watch. Comedy opens the door for creators to portray any situation that supports or exaggerates to get their message across. In this episode, the characters are playing a ridiculous game that is only appropriate because it is a comedy. Comedy can allow characters to behave more creatively to really over exaggerate their behaviors: good or bad. Michael's insensitive behaviors are fully recognized due to him having his employees play a very offensive game and encouraging them to treat people by stereotypes. By over exaggerating Michael's discriminatory beliefs to a comedic and ridiculous extent, it shows people who might share some of their beliefs with Michael that they are in fact ridiculous and unfair. However, the other characters on the show realize what they are doing is wrong and insensitive. The other characters that notice how wrong the game is represent the people who recognize racism and are offended by it. Their reactions to the game speak for people that do not discriminate or let stereotypes influence their opinions on people. For example, when Pam is forced to play she says, "If I have to do this, based on stereotypes that are totally untrue, that I do not agree with, you would maybe not be a very good driver" (Novak). She says this to Dwight, who has the word Asian written on his card. Pam is uncomfortable saying this to Dwight because stereotypes are a form of discrimination which limits people to certain labels. Stereotypes are an unfair way to judge someone or an entire group of people. This activity alone is very insensitive and degrading, but Michael continues to exemplify discrimination by saying, "You'll notice I didn't have anybody be an Arab. I thought that would be too explosive. Uh, no pun intended. But I just thought 'Too soon for Arabs'". Again, Michael speaks without thinking, and he sounds very racist. In September 2001, there were terrorist attacks on the United States by Al Qaeda. Heated discriminated ensued towards Arabs, "After 9/11 Americans continued their harsh views and opinions about any person who resembled the images that they media portrayed as the enemy.  Within days of the attacks every news channel was flashing up images of what the hijackers looked like.  From these images Americans turned their fear and hatred on to anyone who closely resembled these faces" (Jolls).  The events of 9/11 influenced Michael's comment in The Office; the episode was created only four years after the terrorist attack. Michael discriminates with an unfair bias towards Arabs due to a stereotype. Al Qaeda was formed in Arabian countries therefore all Arabian people are susceptible to being held to the discriminatory stereotype: that all Arabs are terrorists. The Arabian people are a very strong example of stereotypes that influence American society, but other races and ethnicities can be as harshly discriminated against. The episode represents all other people in society that also use stereotypes daily to come to conclusions about people they work with. 

The Office is able to touch on controversial issues such as discrimination and diversity due to its light and comedic manner of presentation. Via characters and themes, The Office represents how discrimination in the workplace and the rest of society can challenge the creation of equal opportunity for all races and backgrounds. Minorities may have a significant role in the country's workforce, but few of those positions are manger level or leadership. Removing small forms of racism, discrimination, and the influence of stereotypes in the workplace, is the only way minorities will have a fair shot to gaining a stronger hold in America's economy. 

Works Cited

Bouie, Jamelle. "The Segregated Workplace." The American Prospect 30 Mar. 2011: n. pag.

Print.

Jolls, Heather, Anita Alaverdian, Lindsay Adams, and Roselle Silva. "The View of Muslims and

Arabs in America Before and After September 11th." The View of Muslims and Arabs in America Before and After September 11th. California State University, Northridge, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

Nadal, Kevin L., et al. "A Qualitative Approach To Intersectional Microaggressions:

Understanding Influences Of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality, And Religion." Qualitative Psychology 2.2 (2015): 147-163. PsycARTICLES. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

Novak, B.J. "Diversity Day." The Office. Dir. Ken Kwapis. NBC. 29 Mar. 2005. Television.

Price, Sean. "Straight Talk about the N-word." Teaching Tolerance 2011: n. pag. Web.
