Since seeing Harriet and Hugo go toe to toe I’ve kind of been thinking back to previous series and it’s clicked in my brain that all the contestants I can remember who have hidden their careers so far have been women (Maddy, Leanne, Lisa, Harriet, Amanda). Who have all also had careers in “intimidating” or stereotypically male fields. I mean you could argue maybe acting isn’t “stereotypically male” anymore but it certainly has been.
And I also want to specifically contrast this with how often male contestants weaponise their careers to give themselves more credibility too (Tom, Hugo, Reece, etc) and use them to throw weight around. The comparison between Harriet and Hugo is especially striking because they have the same role, and both viewed it in completely different ways. Harriet saw it as a liability and Hugo saw it as leverage.
This isn’t to say there haven’t been women who have weaponised aspects of their careers to give themselves more credibility (that policewoman from series 1 who got murdered immediately, the psychic, I believe Ellie to some extent?) or male contestants who have been specifically targeted for their careers (Amos and Kas, both doctors—and there was definitely a racial element to Kas being singled out at the round table), but it is a pattern and I am finding it v interesting.
(Haven’t watched all of series 4 rn—I am up to the secret traitor reveal, so don’t leave spoilers past there just yet haha)
