Katrin Bauerfeind: This is how your series addresses the issue of sexual harassment

Katrin Bauerfeind
Her series addresses the issue of sexual harassment

The presenter and actress Katrin Bauerfeind (39) is back with her comedy series “Ms. Jordan is the same”. The third season will be available from November 18th exclusively on Joyn PLUS +. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the leading actress speaks about the latest developments in Eva Jordan’s equal opportunities office. Bauerfeind also explains how the series addresses sexual harassment and why society “still struggles” with the topic.

The third season “Ms. Jordan equals” starts. What are the most exciting questions that the series addresses this time around in terms of equality?

Katrin Bauerfeind: “My” office is committed to making cities safer for women. But it’s also about free tampons in public buildings and the question of why the air conditioning systems there always adapt to men. Most important innovation: We have an anti-discrimination officer and this quickly leads to a competitive situation, in the sense of: Who is fighting for the more important issue here. But at the very end, of course, we advocate more humor, because it’s a comedy series.

Did you get a different perspective on the problem after shooting a topic?

Bauerfeind: I am actually on the topic through my book and my stage program, but one is always surprised that we still talk about paying women the same money for the same job, that the proportion of women in management, political offices and in the Media is still low, but high in jobs that are “systemically relevant” but are poorly paid. We try to treat something like that at “Ms. Jordan equals”, and still not lose our sense of humor.

Do you always agree with Ms. Jordan?

Bauerfeind: No. In season 3 she often goes where it hurts, including her. And sometimes she fights unfairly. I often kept my fingers crossed for her that she would come out of one or the other act in a sympathetic way. Eva’s dignity sometimes has a place in a thimble. That was bad to play, but fun to watch.

Philipp comes under suspicion of sexual harassment. How does the series manage to address the topic appropriately?

Bauerfeind: As the “Tatort” does with the subject of murder, or Tom and Jerry with the subject of animal welfare. We’re not a documentary series. We’re a comedy series. If you expect a serious argument from us, you can also order sushi in the pizzeria. We try intelligent entertainment and still deal with relevant topics. That’s what can be expected of us.

How do you think the topic, the suspects and the victims are dealt with in the media?

Bauerfeind: You can tell that society is still struggling and that very old reflexes are still gripping. To change that, you can start by believing women.

A new anti-discrimination officer is stirring up the town hall. What can you reveal about him and how was filming with Malick Bauer?

Bauerfeind: Malick is a super charming colleague who complements our team perfectly. In the series we’re all very jealous, of course, because next to him we seem like old, white people who no longer know exactly why they wanted to get involved while he is fighting the important and real fights.

You recently shared television equality (discrimination) graphics on Instagram that still show wide differences between gender and ethnicity. At which points do you have to work specifically on the TV?

Bauerfeind: Uh, everyone. Name three women who have a personality show or show masters who regularly broadcast their own. In contrast, there are only men who can often moderate from thing to bang. With us, the main cast is 90 percent female and the only man in the equality office is our best feminist. We make sure that we have directors, a balanced relationship between authors and writers and as long as you have to mention this as a specialty, we haven’t made it yet.

What are you missing in the German program?

Bauerfeind: More general store. More young and old people together, like crazy diverse. Then I would say more courage to try things out and less fear of alienating someone.

How do you intend to contribute to this, apart from Ms. Jordan?

Bauerfeind: I’m still doing my late-night talk at ONE, in which I address these topics, and I think we’re doing well with “Ms. Jordan will be the same”. An old friend from home called me after season 1 and said: “That was the funniest thing in a long time and, to be honest, I didn’t know that I was so disadvantaged.” Since then she has been sending me sayings and everything that strikes her on the subject and sometimes cannot believe it herself. I think the best way to reach those who would never read through a non-fiction book about it is with our comedy series. That is precisely why you cannot do without humor when it comes to important topics.

You moderated the German Comedy Award and have been on the air with the info late night “Bauerfeind – Die Show zur Frau” since the end of September. Is acting or moderation your favorite pastime right now?

Bauerfeind: I’ll do everything right from the start. I can do everything! Fun, it’s like having your favorite food: it tastes best when there is something else in between. And similar to eating, I happily switch from favorite activity to favorite activity.

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