Film & TV

​"Emily in Paris" has been causing quite the stir since its release on Netflix, and not just because of its stylish couture and stunning views of the City of Love. No, the show has also been criticized for its unrealistic portrayal of female careers. But let's be real, who among us hasn't daydreamed about spontaneously jetting off to Paris and landing ourdream job without even speaking the language? While it's fun to live vicariously through the main character, Emily, it's important to remember that the show is just that: a show. So put down the croissant-shaped hat and let's dive into why "Emily in Paris" might not be the best source of career advice (no matter how chic those outfits are).The show portrays the main character, Emily, as effortlessly climbing the career ladder despite having little experience or qualifications. This suggests that career success is easy to achieve, which is not the case in reality. Success in any field requires hard work, dedication, and time. It takes years of education, training, and experience to develop the skills and expertise needed to succeed in a particular field. It also requires persistence, resilience, and a willingness to learn and adapt. Emily's quick and effortless rise to the top gives viewers the wrong impression of what it takes to succeed in the real world.Let’s also keep it real "Emily in Paris" presents a highly idealized and glamorized version of working in the fashion industry. It shows the industry as full of parties, designer clothes, and shallow people, rather than the hard work and competition that are often part of the fashion world. This can give viewers the wrong impression of what it's really like to work in the industry. The fashion industry is known for its very unglamourous cutthroat competition, long hours, and demanding workload. It requires a high level of creativity, innovation, and attention to detail. It is also a field that is constantly changing, requiring professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques. The show's portrayal of the fashion industry as easy and glamorous does a disservice to the hard work and dedication that are required to succeed in this field.The show portrays Emily as constantly surrounded by attractive men who are interested in her, which feeds into the harmful stereotype that a woman's value and worth are tied to her looks rather than her intelligence, talent, or ambition. Source: NetflixThis reinforces the idea that a woman's attractiveness is more important than her professional skills or achievements. It also suggests that a woman's worth is based on her ability to attract and keep a man, rather than on her own merit. This is a harmful and outdated notion that reinforces gender inequality and reinforces harmful gender roles.The show in many instances lacks any meaningful challenges or obstacles for Emily to overcome in her career. She seems to easily breeze through everything without facing any real setbacks or difficulties. This gives the impression that a woman's career will always be easy and straightforward, which is not true. In reality, every career path has its challenges and obstacles. It is normal to face setbacks and failures along the way. It is important to learn from these experiences and to persevere through them in order to achieve success. The show's portrayal of Emily's career as easy and smooth does a disservice to the hard work and resilience that are required to succeed in any field.The show unfortunately also reinforces harmful stereotypes about women in the workplace. It's not hard to notice that Emily is depicted as constantly surrounded by attractive men who are interested in her, suggesting that a woman's worth is tied to her looks and her ability to attract men. This reinforces the idea that a woman's primary value is as a sexual object, rather than as a professional and competent individual. It also suggests that a woman's success is dependent on her ability to attract and keep a man, rather than on her own skills and abilities. This is a harmful and outdated notion that reinforces gender inequality and reinforces harmful gender roles.Source: NetflixDespite these career faux-pas, "Emily in Paris" is thoroughly entertaining, but as far as realistic career advice goes, it's about as helpful as her croissant-shaped hat. While it's fun to watch Emily's whirlwind romance with the city of love, it's important to remember that the show is not a realistic portrayal of the fashion industry or of female careers in general. Instead of taking career tips from Emily, it's better to follow the example of her friend and colleague, who works hard and faces setbacks in her pursuit of success. Or, you could always just enjoy the show for what it is: a bit of escapist fun. Just don't expect to land your dream job in Paris by taking fashion advice from a croissant-loving American with questionable taste in hats.​