The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in <i>the Intern</i>

Gertrude Misornu Nartey

doi:doi:10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13

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The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern

Gertrude Misornu Nartey^*

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 2)

Received: 2 January 2025 Accepted: 27 January 2025 Published: 26 March 2025

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the portrayal of work-life balance in the movie The Intern, focusing on the character of Ben Whittaker, played by the iconic Robert De Niro, who takes on the role of a senior intern at a bourgeoning fashion e-commerce company under the leadership of the young, dynamic, and driven chief executive officer (CEO), Jules Ostin, portrayed by the brilliant Anne Hathaway. Two research questions were posed (How is the work/life of Jules Ostin portrayed in The Intern?; How does this portrayal shape conceptualizations of work and life in important ways?”) to understand how this cultural artifact adds to the literature on work-life balance. The analysis reveals that while some representations reinforce the ideal worker norms, others challenge them and suggest that work and life can coexist in balance. However, the role reversal mentoring and power dynamics in the film raise concerns about whether it subtly perpetuates traditional organizational structures and stereotypes. Two themes emerged from the analysis: Normalized Work and Ideal Worker Norms, and Reverse Power Dynamics concerning Gender and Age. The first theme shows how Ben and Jules navigate ideal worker norms. The second theme examines the reversal of power dynamics by age and gender. The film depicts a young woman as CEO and an older man as her intern, normalizing work and reinforcing ideal worker norms. Additionally, Ben’s dressing style visually reinforces societal expectations of an ideal worker, normalizing the work concept.

Published in	Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13
Page(s)	119-125
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Work/Life Intersection, Work/Life Balance, Boundary Negotiations, Power Dynamics, Reverse Role

References

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Nartey, G. M. (2025). The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern. Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(2), 119-125. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13

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Nartey, G. M. The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2025, 13(2), 119-125. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13

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AMA Style

Nartey GM. The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern. Humanit Soc Sci. 2025;13(2):119-125. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13

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@article{10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13,
  author = {Gertrude Misornu Nartey},
  title = {The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {119-125},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20251302.13},
  abstract = {This paper analyzes the portrayal of work-life balance in the movie The Intern, focusing on the character of Ben Whittaker, played by the iconic Robert De Niro, who takes on the role of a senior intern at a bourgeoning fashion e-commerce company under the leadership of the young, dynamic, and driven chief executive officer (CEO), Jules Ostin, portrayed by the brilliant Anne Hathaway. Two research questions were posed (How is the work/life of Jules Ostin portrayed in The Intern?; How does this portrayal shape conceptualizations of work and life in important ways?”) to understand how this cultural artifact adds to the literature on work-life balance. The analysis reveals that while some representations reinforce the ideal worker norms, others challenge them and suggest that work and life can coexist in balance. However, the role reversal mentoring and power dynamics in the film raise concerns about whether it subtly perpetuates traditional organizational structures and stereotypes. Two themes emerged from the analysis: Normalized Work and Ideal Worker Norms, and Reverse Power Dynamics concerning Gender and Age. The first theme shows how Ben and Jules navigate ideal worker norms. The second theme examines the reversal of power dynamics by age and gender. The film depicts a young woman as CEO and an older man as her intern, normalizing work and reinforcing ideal worker norms. Additionally, Ben’s dressing style visually reinforces societal expectations of an ideal worker, normalizing the work concept.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern
AU  - Gertrude Misornu Nartey
Y1  - 2025/03/26
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VL  - 13
IS  - 2
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Author Information

Gertrude Misornu Nartey

Department of Communication, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, United States

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http://orcid.org/0009-0001-5617-1576

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APA Style

Nartey, G. M. (2025). The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern. Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(2), 119-125. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13

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ACS Style

Nartey, G. M. The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2025, 13(2), 119-125. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13

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AMA Style

Nartey GM. The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern. Humanit Soc Sci. 2025;13(2):119-125. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13

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@article{10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13,
  author = {Gertrude Misornu Nartey},
  title = {The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {119-125},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20251302.13},
  abstract = {This paper analyzes the portrayal of work-life balance in the movie The Intern, focusing on the character of Ben Whittaker, played by the iconic Robert De Niro, who takes on the role of a senior intern at a bourgeoning fashion e-commerce company under the leadership of the young, dynamic, and driven chief executive officer (CEO), Jules Ostin, portrayed by the brilliant Anne Hathaway. Two research questions were posed (How is the work/life of Jules Ostin portrayed in The Intern?; How does this portrayal shape conceptualizations of work and life in important ways?”) to understand how this cultural artifact adds to the literature on work-life balance. The analysis reveals that while some representations reinforce the ideal worker norms, others challenge them and suggest that work and life can coexist in balance. However, the role reversal mentoring and power dynamics in the film raise concerns about whether it subtly perpetuates traditional organizational structures and stereotypes. Two themes emerged from the analysis: Normalized Work and Ideal Worker Norms, and Reverse Power Dynamics concerning Gender and Age. The first theme shows how Ben and Jules navigate ideal worker norms. The second theme examines the reversal of power dynamics by age and gender. The film depicts a young woman as CEO and an older man as her intern, normalizing work and reinforcing ideal worker norms. Additionally, Ben’s dressing style visually reinforces societal expectations of an ideal worker, normalizing the work concept.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Negotiations of the Ideal Worker Norm: A Close Analysis of the Work/Life Portrayal in the Intern
AU  - Gertrude Misornu Nartey
Y1  - 2025/03/26
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13
T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
SP  - 119
EP  - 125
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8184
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251302.13
AB  - This paper analyzes the portrayal of work-life balance in the movie The Intern, focusing on the character of Ben Whittaker, played by the iconic Robert De Niro, who takes on the role of a senior intern at a bourgeoning fashion e-commerce company under the leadership of the young, dynamic, and driven chief executive officer (CEO), Jules Ostin, portrayed by the brilliant Anne Hathaway. Two research questions were posed (How is the work/life of Jules Ostin portrayed in The Intern?; How does this portrayal shape conceptualizations of work and life in important ways?”) to understand how this cultural artifact adds to the literature on work-life balance. The analysis reveals that while some representations reinforce the ideal worker norms, others challenge them and suggest that work and life can coexist in balance. However, the role reversal mentoring and power dynamics in the film raise concerns about whether it subtly perpetuates traditional organizational structures and stereotypes. Two themes emerged from the analysis: Normalized Work and Ideal Worker Norms, and Reverse Power Dynamics concerning Gender and Age. The first theme shows how Ben and Jules navigate ideal worker norms. The second theme examines the reversal of power dynamics by age and gender. The film depicts a young woman as CEO and an older man as her intern, normalizing work and reinforcing ideal worker norms. Additionally, Ben’s dressing style visually reinforces societal expectations of an ideal worker, normalizing the work concept.
VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download