PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Local mother Kate Greenberg expressed concern that the romantic comedy films enjoyed by her daughter Naomi, 13, might be giving her dangerously unrealistic media career standards, sources report.
“She came home from school yesterday talking about how she couldn’t wait to be an editor of a fashion magazine by age 30, like in that Jennifer Garner rom-com I watched with her last weekend,” Greenberg said, adding that Naomi has begged her for Chanel boots like the ones Anne Hathaway wears in The Devil Wears Prada. “I had to sit her down and explain that even if she does manage to snag a job writing for a reasonably respectable website or magazine in her 20s, she’ll probably have to spend many years working her way up to editor, and also probably won’t arrive every morning to her two closest co-workers sitting on her desk, drinking coffee and faithfully waiting to hear about the latest happenings in her love life.”
Greenberg was unsure how early to start the conversation with her daughter about how every woman’s media career is beautiful, not just the kind that Hollywood presents as the norm.
“She keeps talking about how when she’s a successful reporter for a glossy monthly, she can’t wait to spend half a year researching a single story and giving it the in-depth treatment it deserves,” Greenberg said, noting that assignments like that barely exist anymore, let alone as part of a stable writing job that can support rent for a one-bedroom apartment with a dishwasher. “I think it’s great to aspire to that — I’m just worried that those movies are planting the seeds for lasting insecurities when her first few years trying to make it as a journalist in New York City don’t immediately land her her own Sunday column.”
Greenberg’s concerns have been echoed by sources in the psychological community. Dr. Alexa Roberts of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology told reporters that romantic comedies can instill harmful career image issues in teens who haven’t yet developed the self-confidence to love whatever media job they end up landing.
“These films portray cushy editor or staff writer roles as the only possible options to achieve happiness, when in reality many women enjoy fulfilling media careers as sponsored content creators, SEO experts, or the authors of those ‘Everything Wrong With ‘Matrix: Resurrections’-type articles,” said Dr. Roberts, adding that seeing just a single Vanessa Hudgens-type protagonist churning out Marvel explainers could do wonders for young women’s mental health. “It’s so important that our girls see their future careers represented in all manner of rom-coms, chick flicks, and date movies.”
At press time, Naomi was mentally preparing to fall in love with the handsome-yet-workaholic architect she hoped to profile for her first major feature.