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Marcia Clark In The TV Series: OJ Simpson Vs The People

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“Marcia Clark.... Guilty as charged.” In the TV series “OJ Simpson vs The People”, a recreation of the OJ Simpson murder trial of 1994, the media, the lawyers, and the judge criticize the prosecutor, Marcia Clark, for her identity as a woman rather than her skill as a lawyer. Looking through a feminist lense, it is evident that women are constantly scrutinized for their appearance and behaviors differently than men. In the trial of OJ Simpson, the word “guilty” would presumably be attributed to a verdict towards OJ, but instead the media came to their own guilty verdict for Marcia Clark. On a talkshow from the news, style expert Dolly Sugarman claims, “Well, what we see with Marcia Clark is frump incarnate. Guilty as charged.” Rather than focusing on the Simpson case, or on Clark’s skill as a lawyer, the media dissects her image. The occurrence of the media scrutinizing a woman for her …show more content…

With her long days at trial, Marcia faces the repercussion of less time at home, which she is criticized for from her husband. At the end of a day of trial, Marcia states to the court, “I cannot go late tonight.” As the judge asks why she cannot go late, she explains, “I have to take care of my kids.” The idea that the woman has to be the parent who takes care of the children comes into play, as her ex husband becomes frustrated at times when he has to take care of the kids because his wife is working. Women are told to be the parent that stays home with the child, and when they don't they are criticised. Clark’s ex husband publicly criticises her for the lack of time she spends with her kids, which appears much worse for a woman than it would for a man. Because she did not fit into the perfect female-mother mold, she is condemned. This brings the traditional double standard; men are supposed to work, and women stay at home with the

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