Clip description
This segment addresses secretaries and executives and informs them of their responsibilities in the posting, receipt, sorting and delivery of mail.
Curator’s notes
This clip deals with mail management proficiency. With so much of today’s business communication handled electronically, it’s difficult to imagine the amount of paper that used to flow in and out of, and within large organisations. In the event that paperwork was lost, its replacement was far more difficult and time consuming than pressing a resend button. One lost letter could cause compound delays, so the competent administration and management of mail was of paramount importance to efficient businesses operations.
Jon Finlayson and Rhonda Finlayson play on early 1970s stereotypes of female secretaries and male executives, to get their message across. Even outside these stereotypes, however, it’s very clear that these jobs at the time were extremely gender specific.