Articles & Essays

Howard University Human & Civil Rights Law Review, Spring 2025

Mary B. Trevor & Cynthia Bemis Abrams, Power Plays: Women and Progressive Television Battle Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment in the Twentieth Century

This law review article delves into the evolution of sexual harassment laws and cultural perceptions from the twentieth century, focusing on the interplay between legal advancements and media representation. It sheds light on how legal frameworks and cultural narratives have shaped the understanding and handling of sexual harassment, particularly through the lens of quid pro quo harassment.

The article parallels this material with analyses of prime-time television shows that brought stories about sexual harassment to twentieth-century viewers. Twenty-two episodes, originally airing between 1967 and 1999 and still available for viewing today, reflected the rapid changes in the country, its workplaces, and its academic institutions as more women entered the workplace or attended college. These episodes, often part of highly regarded series, depicted typical quid pro quo stories recognized in the era (i.e., a powerful white man and a subordinate or student white woman) and their consequences. In the stories, told from the woman’s perspective, a man in a power position (supervisor or professor) demands intimacy from a woman employee in exchange for improved job status or to avoid demotion or job loss, or from a woman student in exchange for a good grade.

Legal Developments

The article begins by exploring critical legal milestones, such as:

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: This landmark legislation prohibited employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, laying the groundwork for recognizing sexual harassment as a form of discrimination.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972: This pivotal amendment extended protections to educational programs, prohibiting sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program that receives federal money.

Significant case law interpreting these statutes played a crucial role in shaping the legal landscape, with feminist activists and scholars contributing to the development of legal theories that recognized sexual harassment as sexual discrimination. The article also emphasizes the significant, yet often overlooked, contributions of women of color in advancing legal and cultural attitudes towards sexual harassment.

Media Representation

In parallel, the article analyzes twenty-two prime-time television episodes from 1967 to 1999. These shows depicted stories of quid pro quo harassment, typically involving a powerful white man and a subordinate or student white woman. These narratives were instrumental in bringing the issue to public consciousness, reflecting societal changes as more women entered workplaces and educational institutions.

Conclusion

By examining the 32-year period from 1967 to 1999, the article offers a comprehensive view of the cultural and legal evolution surrounding sexual harassment. It highlights both the recognized and unheralded agents of change, demonstrating how legal and cultural narratives have worked in tandem to address sexual harassment, ultimately contributing to a broader understanding and more robust policies.

Coming Soon from Bloomsbury Press

Co-written by Mary B. Trevor, this chapter within a book about Susan Harris, the genius show runner behind TV series Soap, Empty Nest and The Golden Girls, delves into the significant impact of the The Golden Girls episode "Adult Education." The article focuses on the four main characters’ discussions on workplace and educational sexual harassment. The episode presents a quid pro quo harassment scenario where Blanche, a central character, is propositioned by her professor in exchange for a better grade.

Comparative Analysis

Narrative and Empowerment

Through the work of writers James Berg and Stan Zimmerman, under the guidance of TV producer Susan Harris, the episode reassures adult women returning to education that they possess tools to combat harassment: legal recourse and personal confidence.

Overall, this academic exploration situates The Golden Girls within the gender and media studies framework, illustrating how popular media can serve as a powerful lens for understanding and influencing gender dynamics and legal rights

Professional woman with short hair and glasses

Mary B. Trevor

Co-Author

Mary is a long-time friend who collaborated with Cynthia in early stages of developing the book, but along the way led the writing and editing of the Howard University Human and Civil Rights Law Review Article. Mary is an emerita professor of law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, MN, a freelance editor, and a writer.

Mary