Why do we see so few working class women portrayed?

[Hello_Kitty]

I mean anywhere. In movies, on TV, even in the news and magazines all I ever see are women who have "made it". That is, that small percentage of women who have ascended to executive positions in business or hold powerful political offices. And of course celebrities in music, acting, or modeling. The only other portrayal of women is that of wife and mother, which does represent a lot of women but what about the majority of working women who are in pink and blue collar jobs? Waiting tables, secretarial work, teaching, driving trucks, and the numerous other non-glamorous types of employment that most of us really do.

I swear if I see one more movie where the female protagonist is a (hot looking, natch) high-powered, power suit wearing, go-getter snapping orders on a cell phone I'm going to scream! Likewise, I'm tired of seeing news profiles and articles only about highly successful real-life women. Don't get me wrong, that's great, but the impression it gives is that ordinary women don't count or don't even exist.

I suppose they are trying to reflect the advances made by women in society, but frankly, most women haven't made those advances as evidenced by statistics. I think it serves to undermine arguments about continuing inequality. How can guys believe there is a glass ceiling when they see so many portrayals of women in management? It creates this dissonance in peoples' minds. And most Americans watch so much TV and other forms of media that there is often a blurring between that and reality as we all know.

I started a thread about perfectionism before but I wasn't sure where I was going with it. I'm just thinking about this stuff a lot lately and was feeling like a loser because I'm in my 30s and haven't made a big splash with my life and it seemed like every other woman my age had her shit together complete with a great job, gorgeous home, and fulfilling personal life. Then I realized that I wasn't thinking about the actual women I know, this came straight from the media. Any thoughts on this?