Sometimes you have to fake it til’ you make it!

Working Girl exposes only a fraction, of the reality, of what it really cost to make your way up the social chain in America. In the film, two social class are represented, the working class and the upper class business professionals. The main character Tess is of the working class and her super objective is to become a professional business women. Her class was revealed by the way she dress (style of clothes, jewelry, make-up, and hair), her friends, how she talked, employment history, and educational institution. What I love most is about Tess character is her ambition, her determination to accelerate in life. She was confident in the direction in which was going in life. She made the decision not to be pigeonholed or weighed down with the life that society “suggested” for her. It was very clear in the when Tess told Cyn that, she was taking her own direction in effort to trying to make her life better -- “I am not going to spend the rest of my life working my ass off getting nowhere just because I followed rules that I didn’t set up.” One of the things that I pointed out in this in particular scene was the attitude that Cyn had towards some of Tess career decisions life style changes. Cyn played the supportive role but in this scene she was a little unsure about Tess’s vision in life. She even said to her, “Sometimes I sing and dance around the house in my underwear—doesn’t make me Madonna—never will.” I felt that that statement was a direct blow at Tess overall life objective, suggesting that Tess was trying to be something that “she’s not.” It attitude is often times common for friends and family members see you stepping outside of traditional boundaries, going after something that has never been done before. There was a young woman from Kentucky, In People Like Us, who went through the same thing with her family after she made the decision to move to Washington D.C to following her dreams come becoming a writer. She talks about the rejection that she suffers from her family because she chose to live beyond the social class that she was raised.

Name dropping and fashion were other things that I saw in the film working to mimic the lifestyles of the rich and successful. While Tess is stripping Katherine ski boots, she is giving her the details about her hotel room. When Katherine finds out that is it’s a first floor room she is light-weight disgusted, she goes, “Did you give them my name?” I thought it was funny because upper class people go far the penthouse suite; an expensive and comfortable top floor room, or something exclusive and secluded. Whereas, middle class people and especially lower class people go for the most affordable/cheapest, the one closest to the exit so it’s not too much of a hassle transporting luggage. Throughout Tess transition from rags to riches she really began to adopt the look of a successful business woman. When she walked into her first business meeting with bulk accordion folder with the rubber around it, I felt really bad for her because in that atmosphere, it just screams poor. I never realized how something as simple as not carrying a briefcase to business meeting, gives of a look of inadequacy, a lack there of. :-/ High fashion tailored clothing are a part of the upper class wardrobe and the accessories that help fit the part, especially amongst the business professional. Upper class professional women have a classy, very elegant, timeless look. The film revealed that some women have no as to what a timeless look, looks like until they are confronted or taught, like Tess. However, I think Tess was full of class to begin with. She at least faked it until she made it.

In this class the discussion of rather or not, class means money or is it a state of mine comes up a lot. Based on this movie has your opinion changed or has it stayed the same? Is class achievable?