“Weather Girls” on the Big Screen: Stereotypes, Sex Appeal, and Science

Abstract

Women currently in the broadcasting meteorology field have dealt with—and continue to deal with—restrictive stereotypes based on the public's perception of their physical appearance and intelligence, largely stemming from the “weather girl” stereotype developed in the 1950s. This sexist stereotype is best seen and often exaggerated in cinematic films and television shows; however, the public's ability to distinguish the truthful and fictitious aspects of these stereotypes is important because these stereotypes limit the level of trust established between female weathercasters and viewers while consequently impeding the public response to dangerous weather situations. This study will evaluate the origin of the weather girl stereotype associated with female broadcast meteorologists throughout history and use this information to further understand the representation of women weathercasters in several films and television episodes, in order to determine if the weather girl stereotype is further perpetrated in popular cultural media. The study found that these films and episodes actually serve to diminish the role of female weathercasters by reducing them to nothing more than a weather girl.

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