Gender Inequality In Shonda Rhimes 'Scandal'

Scandal, created by author Shonda Rhimes, follows the life of professional ‘fixer’, Olivia Pope, and her band of friends. This group of talented individuals make problems disappear before the public even catches wind. In a city where reputation is everything (Washington D.C)- corruption, scandals, affairs, and cover ups run rampant. Olivia and her team of “gladiators in suits” make it their job to help those in need of a reputation redemption. Running damage control for those around them, the cast finds themselves struggling with both professional and personal problems. As Olivia and her team struggle to keep the pieces of their lives’ together, life keeps getting in the way. Some of the biggest issues the cast faces are those having to

This unjustified difference in treatment has to do directly with the double standard for women and men. For example, when a white house employee, Amanda Tanner, says she had an affair with the president, her accusation is brushed aside because of the fact that she is a woman that is just looking to gain monetary compensation for her fictional story. From the first episode this double standard and the stereotype that women are dishonest is shown. Also, in the episode Like Father, Like Daughter (Season 4 Episode 4), the president’s daughter has a sex tape of her with two men leaked, it is mentioned that if she was a man “they’d be giving [her] a high-five and pats on the back”. Instead, because of her gender she is called a slut due to her promiscuity. This idea of a double standard continues on in the episode It’s Good to Be Kink (Season 4 Episode 16), in which a friend of Abby comments that people judge woman off who they choose to date, and trivial concepts like fashion instead of intelligence or the content of their

The majority of the issues surrounding the team involves sexual scandals, and the issues that are presented by sexual preference. Despite the advancements of the rights of gay people over the last few decades, there still are few television shows place a homophobic character in a position of power. In Scandal, the president's chief of staff, Cyrus, is gay and eventually ends up marrying a local reporter and adopting a child. The tv show shows the homophobic attitudes of many politicians, and the need for people to hide their sexual orientation sometimes to ensure it does not affect their professional life. This is the case for Cyrus as he is scared to tell the president of his preference because he believes it will negatively affect the administration. Another element of the need for conformity to thrive in society is the fact that for a while Cyrus is married to a woman as a cover. He even begs his wife not to leave him when she discovers he is gay, fearing that it will ruin his reputation. With the majority of the cast being heterosexual, there is discrimination, as only three of the characters in the show represent the gay community. To make matters worse, these characters are portrayed as manipulative,emotional, and power