What Is Tina Ffey's Theory
Tina Fey “Bossypants” Tina Fey has been known for her hilarity and comedic genius in the entertainment business. Most famous for her time as a writer on Saturday Night Live and her award winning show 30 Rock, she has attributed to the entertainment with comedy that not many can match. To see her life on television and now in a dagger sharp, witty book, the readers can see the history that made her the successful comedian that she is. Bossypants goes throughout Fey’s awkward childhood to her time as Sarah Palin on SNL. Throughout the book we get a clear picture of what Fey’s mind could possibly look like, although we will really never know. Her freedom to be herself, the “bossy pants”, (which she considers herself to be) makes for an interesting story, or rather, an interesting life. Erikson’s Theory states many stages in human development, but I want to focus on one in particular, Generativity vs. Stagnation. This theory
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comes after the stage of intimacy vs. isolation and focuses on an adult being productive but in a caring way. Erikson’s theory refers to generativity as a “pervading sense of stagnation and personal impoverishment” (Erikson, 1963, p.267). Through generativity adulthood can be more focused on parenthood and employment. Erikson suggests through this theory that adults need children just as much as children need adults. With generativity adults feel a need to create a legacy. Tina Fey shows this theory in a unique way throughout her autobiography. She discusses her youth in which we see the intimate vs. isolation theory play out, but as her employment becomes a key factor in her life we watch this generative stage play out. Fey discusses when she was pregnant with her first child. She was not working for SNL anymore and working on a new show she was writing called 30 Rock. As a reader of the book it is obvious that Fey has a hard time juggling her job and her family life. I say that now, but as you go through the book, you can see that Fey in fact has somehow figured it out. Her parenting techniques may be a bit different and her daughter may be exposed to more, but she still is able to take care of her children and have her work life as well. She depicts Generativity vs. Stagnation very much throughout the book because she shows the productivity that she achieves through both her employment and her parenting. Tina Fey is an intelligent woman, although she may have something different to say about her own intelligence. She may not be a “Harvard Boy” but she has the intellect to unknowingly understand development. When it comes to parenting she knows that nurture is the most important thing for her daughter. In the appropriately named chapter “ There’s A Drunk Midget In My House”, she discusses the hardships of not being able to breastfeed and how inadequate she felt. Breast-feeding for most women is known to be one of the most amazing experiences with their child. It bonds the mother and child and creates a closeness that a mother cannot give up. Fey is acting out the positive acts to generativity without even knowing it. According to child welfare, “People can solve this crisis (generativity) by having and nurturing children” (childwelfare.gov) Nurturing your child is not only good for the child but for the parent as well. Fey naturally wants to nurture her daughter and displays this in the act of raising her. Breastfeeding has been said to be the healthiest act for a mother to do for their child as the most nutrients come from it. Fey had issues doing that because of reasons left unexplained, but she did what she could and still was able to give her daughter the nurturing she needed.
One chapter that stands out is called “Juggle This.” It is solely focused on juggling the home and work life. Fey is the billboard mom for juggling her work and home life. From still helping with SNL and creating her own show, there doesn’t seem to be much room for raising a child, but she was prepared for the challenge. One night she had gone home and was reading a story with her 4-year-old daughter who had gotten a book from the library. The books title was, My Working Mom. The summary of the book is simple; a “witch mom” works, and loves her work, and is unable to make it to her daughters play. At the end of the book the mom makes it to the play, but the daughter still has a hard time with her working mother. In the chapter Fey expresses the hurt of seeing her daughter reading this book. She loves her daughter and wants her to know she is cared for. Not getting the amount of time a normal stay at home mother would get with their child is never easy. She expressed this hurt to her daughter, “I told her that I didn’t like it that the mommy in the book was a witch. That it hurt my feelings. And she looked at me matter-of-factly and said, ‘Mommy. I can’t read. I thought it was a Halloween book.” (Bossypants, 2011-04-05). She had misread her daughter, but through this situation happening she realized the want for her daughter, or rather the need to have her daughter.
Fey discusses the need for her family when discussing having a nanny. “I JUST WANT TO BE WITH MY KID. That’s what it comes down to, really. The best days are the ones where you pass the babysitter in the elevator, all smiles, and your apartment contains no one but your family when you walk in the door.” (Bossypants, 2011-04-05) According to her, the best day is coming home to just her family. She values her family more than anything and clearly states the care that she wants to provide, and with that care, strives to provide. Adult development does not just include just employment or just parenthood; it can be all the aspects in one. Although Fey may have a hard time with this, she knows the hardships but tries her best for her work and her family.
“ The topic of working moms is a tap dance recital in a minefield. It is less dangerous to draw a cartoon of Allah French-kissing Uncle Sam— which let me make it very clear I HAVE NOT DONE— than it is to speak honestly about this topic. I will start by saying that I have once or twice been offered a “mother of the year” award by working-mom groups or a mommy magazine, and I always decline.” (Bossypants, 2011-04-05). By saying this she is willingly expressing that she is not the perfect mom that the topic is difficult for her, but the underlying message is that she is trying. In Erikson’s 7th stage, it is expressed that holding a purpose for your child and simply being there productively with love is enough. Fey may not have all the answers but she is trying. She wants to leave a legacy for her child, and have something for her daughter to see when she is gone. This is of good mindset, but not always easy in parenthood, having the ability to do both.
About Psychology states that the stage of generativity vs.
stagnation is, “People in this stage are focused on nurturing or creating things that will outlast them. Feeling useful and contributing to society are important at this stage.” (Psychology, About.com) Fey is a strong women. She is very well known for speaking her mind, and not caring what anyone else thinks. This dynamic woman will do anything and believes that she is right, but with admit to her own mishaps. Her ability to juggle employment and her home life has its flaws, but with Erikson’s stage it is permitted. Fey, although she may not always get to be with her child, still seeks for her child’s love, and enjoys her time with her. Throughout the book we get little snippets of Feys daughter at work with her, allowing for the two paths to cross. Even though it may be unconventional, Fey’s work has also come home; a writing room set up in the living room and the baby monitor on the laptop. She wants both employment and a loving family. And if Tina Fey wants it, she will get
it.
With a successful television show, a best selling novel, many successful films, and a loving family of 4, I would say that Tina Fey the “bossy pants” of show business has succeeded in Erikson’s 7th stage. The act of this stage comes natural to her, to love everything she has and taking pride in each thing she does. She will leave a legacy for her children and for the world as well. Her influence in the worldly issues, personal qualms, and many more will never be forgotten and she will continue to leave an even bigger legacy as time goes on. Fey says, “Do your thing and don 't care if they like it.” I believe she lived by this quote. She knows what is good for her and for her family, and although she is in the limelight, she will not let the critics tell her she is wrong. Tina Fey is the true bossy pants, and proud to be it.
Bibliography
Berger, Kathleen S. Invitation to the Lifespan. N.p.: Worth Pub, 2013. Print.
“Bossypants (Fey)." Bossypants. Lit Lovers, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
Cherry, Kendra. "Generativity Versus Stagnation - Psychology Definition of the
Week." About.com Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013
"National Child Abuse Prevention Month." The Six Protective Factors. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
Fey, Tina. Bossypants. New York: Little, Brown and, 2011. Print.
"Tina Fey Reveals All." Tina Fey Reveals All. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
"Tina Fey Quotes." Tina Fey Quotes (Author of Bossypants). N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
comes after the stage of intimacy vs. isolation and focuses on an adult being productive but in a caring way. Erikson’s theory refers to generativity as a “pervading sense of stagnation and personal impoverishment” (Erikson, 1963, p.267). Through generativity adulthood can be more focused on parenthood and employment. Erikson suggests through this theory that adults need children just as much as children need adults. With generativity adults feel a need to create a legacy. Tina Fey shows this theory in a unique way throughout her autobiography. She discusses her youth in which we see the intimate vs. isolation theory play out, but as her employment becomes a key factor in her life we watch this generative stage play out. Fey discusses when she was pregnant with her first child. She was not working for SNL anymore and working on a new show she was writing called 30 Rock. As a reader of the book it is obvious that Fey has a hard time juggling her job and her family life. I say that now, but as you go through the book, you can see that Fey in fact has somehow figured it out. Her parenting techniques may be a bit different and her daughter may be exposed to more, but she still is able to take care of her children and have her work life as well. She depicts Generativity vs. Stagnation very much throughout the book because she shows the productivity that she achieves through both her employment and her parenting. Tina Fey is an intelligent woman, although she may have something different to say about her own intelligence. She may not be a “Harvard Boy” but she has the intellect to unknowingly understand development. When it comes to parenting she knows that nurture is the most important thing for her daughter. In the appropriately named chapter “ There’s A Drunk Midget In My House”, she discusses the hardships of not being able to breastfeed and how inadequate she felt. Breast-feeding for most women is known to be one of the most amazing experiences with their child. It bonds the mother and child and creates a closeness that a mother cannot give up. Fey is acting out the positive acts to generativity without even knowing it. According to child welfare, “People can solve this crisis (generativity) by having and nurturing children” (childwelfare.gov) Nurturing your child is not only good for the child but for the parent as well. Fey naturally wants to nurture her daughter and displays this in the act of raising her. Breastfeeding has been said to be the healthiest act for a mother to do for their child as the most nutrients come from it. Fey had issues doing that because of reasons left unexplained, but she did what she could and still was able to give her daughter the nurturing she needed.
One chapter that stands out is called “Juggle This.” It is solely focused on juggling the home and work life. Fey is the billboard mom for juggling her work and home life. From still helping with SNL and creating her own show, there doesn’t seem to be much room for raising a child, but she was prepared for the challenge. One night she had gone home and was reading a story with her 4-year-old daughter who had gotten a book from the library. The books title was, My Working Mom. The summary of the book is simple; a “witch mom” works, and loves her work, and is unable to make it to her daughters play. At the end of the book the mom makes it to the play, but the daughter still has a hard time with her working mother. In the chapter Fey expresses the hurt of seeing her daughter reading this book. She loves her daughter and wants her to know she is cared for. Not getting the amount of time a normal stay at home mother would get with their child is never easy. She expressed this hurt to her daughter, “I told her that I didn’t like it that the mommy in the book was a witch. That it hurt my feelings. And she looked at me matter-of-factly and said, ‘Mommy. I can’t read. I thought it was a Halloween book.” (Bossypants, 2011-04-05). She had misread her daughter, but through this situation happening she realized the want for her daughter, or rather the need to have her daughter.
Fey discusses the need for her family when discussing having a nanny. “I JUST WANT TO BE WITH MY KID. That’s what it comes down to, really. The best days are the ones where you pass the babysitter in the elevator, all smiles, and your apartment contains no one but your family when you walk in the door.” (Bossypants, 2011-04-05) According to her, the best day is coming home to just her family. She values her family more than anything and clearly states the care that she wants to provide, and with that care, strives to provide. Adult development does not just include just employment or just parenthood; it can be all the aspects in one. Although Fey may have a hard time with this, she knows the hardships but tries her best for her work and her family.
“ The topic of working moms is a tap dance recital in a minefield. It is less dangerous to draw a cartoon of Allah French-kissing Uncle Sam— which let me make it very clear I HAVE NOT DONE— than it is to speak honestly about this topic. I will start by saying that I have once or twice been offered a “mother of the year” award by working-mom groups or a mommy magazine, and I always decline.” (Bossypants, 2011-04-05). By saying this she is willingly expressing that she is not the perfect mom that the topic is difficult for her, but the underlying message is that she is trying. In Erikson’s 7th stage, it is expressed that holding a purpose for your child and simply being there productively with love is enough. Fey may not have all the answers but she is trying. She wants to leave a legacy for her child, and have something for her daughter to see when she is gone. This is of good mindset, but not always easy in parenthood, having the ability to do both.
About Psychology states that the stage of generativity vs.
stagnation is, “People in this stage are focused on nurturing or creating things that will outlast them. Feeling useful and contributing to society are important at this stage.” (Psychology, About.com) Fey is a strong women. She is very well known for speaking her mind, and not caring what anyone else thinks. This dynamic woman will do anything and believes that she is right, but with admit to her own mishaps. Her ability to juggle employment and her home life has its flaws, but with Erikson’s stage it is permitted. Fey, although she may not always get to be with her child, still seeks for her child’s love, and enjoys her time with her. Throughout the book we get little snippets of Feys daughter at work with her, allowing for the two paths to cross. Even though it may be unconventional, Fey’s work has also come home; a writing room set up in the living room and the baby monitor on the laptop. She wants both employment and a loving family. And if Tina Fey wants it, she will get
it.
With a successful television show, a best selling novel, many successful films, and a loving family of 4, I would say that Tina Fey the “bossy pants” of show business has succeeded in Erikson’s 7th stage. The act of this stage comes natural to her, to love everything she has and taking pride in each thing she does. She will leave a legacy for her children and for the world as well. Her influence in the worldly issues, personal qualms, and many more will never be forgotten and she will continue to leave an even bigger legacy as time goes on. Fey says, “Do your thing and don 't care if they like it.” I believe she lived by this quote. She knows what is good for her and for her family, and although she is in the limelight, she will not let the critics tell her she is wrong. Tina Fey is the true bossy pants, and proud to be it.
Bibliography
Berger, Kathleen S. Invitation to the Lifespan. N.p.: Worth Pub, 2013. Print.
“Bossypants (Fey)." Bossypants. Lit Lovers, n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
Cherry, Kendra. "Generativity Versus Stagnation - Psychology Definition of the
Week." About.com Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013
"National Child Abuse Prevention Month." The Six Protective Factors. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.
Fey, Tina. Bossypants. New York: Little, Brown and, 2011. Print.
"Tina Fey Reveals All." Tina Fey Reveals All. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
"Tina Fey Quotes." Tina Fey Quotes (Author of Bossypants). N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.