As a proud feminist, I have to say it’s been great to see so many TV shows making big steps in the right direction for female representation.
Gone are the damsels in distress and the over-dramatic “crying girls” who sit on the sidelines.
Women on TV these days get shit stuff done. Plain and simple.
They are leaders and doctors and assassins, they fall in love and have families, they go a little crazy sometimes, and they're not afraid to kick some ass. Basically, they just spend their time being intense, complex human beings, which has, sadly, not always been the case for female characterization on television.
These are some of the shows that are letting their feminist flag fly, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.
First up is the post-apocalyptic drama that stole all our hearts this year. It's been lauded as one of the most feminist shows on TV and for good reason. Not only does Clarke Griffin have no time for love triangle shenanigans, the rest of the female cast shines with empowerment too. They are doctors, warriors, mechanics, leaders, and every other job under the sun. Weaker sex? Puh-lease.
Gratuitous sex scenes are often a pretty big turnoff for me, but not on Masters of Sex. Every love scene has a real purpose in the overall plot instead of just pointlessly throwing some bump and grind into the mix (looking at you Game of Thrones). Plus, Virginia is just as integral to the research as Bill at this point. Gotta love that!
Olivia. Freaking. Pope. This woman has been through hell, and yet she still commands a room without lifting a finger. Olivia draws her strength from smarts and logic and a whole lot of thinking on her feet. When caught in a love triangle? Oliva chooses herself because she's a boss. She could probably run the country and do her nails at the same time.
On a male dominated show like Arrow, you might think female characterization would suffer a little bit. Nope. Felicity Smoak is 100% in charge of her life, and she doesn't take crap from anyone. Laurel and Thea also blossomed this year, getting in on the hero business with some karate of their own. Arrow is not afraid to show that there are many types of strong women, from kick-butt to cutthroat to wicked smart. Feminism is a buffet, and Arrow is taking a plate from every tray.
I love a good comeback story, and Alicia served us just that when she decided to return to her litigation career after her husband's antics landed him in prison. Over the years, she's proven time and again that she is much, much more than just a "good wife." She's a powerful attorney, an amazing mother, and basically a fantastic human being.
There's no doubt Emily Thorne is the perfect embodiment of a strong woman who kicks ass, but you can't forget about characters like Victoria Grayson or Margaux Lemarchal. These women almost never throw a punch, choosing instead to gain the upper hand in more devious ways. Under the table alliances and manipulative mind games can achieve the same end as a roundhouse kick when used properly, as all the women on Revenge have come to learn.
Does a show still pass the Bechdel Test if it's the same actress talking to herself over and over again? Eh... I'll allow it. From Sarah to Cosima to Rachel to Allison, each of these girls are strong, smart, witty, and unbelievably cunning. A fully-formed character, all her own. Tatianna Maslany deserves an Emmy for these roles, that's for sure.
I am constantly blown away by Teen Wolf's ability to leave the teen drama behind and focus on the strength of its female characters right along with their male counterparts. Bitchy "you stole my boyfriend" fights? Who has the time when werewolf assassins are on the loose! Kira and Malia can certainly hold their own in a fight, and Lydia consistently proves that a good mind is sometimes the best weapon of all. Don't even get me started on Mama McCall.
The female staff of Seattle Grace (or Mercy West or Grey Sloane Memorial... whatever that hospital is named these days) know how to be both sexy and smart. Meredith and her band of brilliant minds juggle the many gorgeous men in their lives along with seriously demanding work schedules. Take a look at the hospital's department heads, and you might notice that there are more women in positions of power than men these days. Represent!
You wouldn't think the 1960s advertising world would be a good place to find feminism, but that just means you probably haven't met Peggy Olson. She is leading the charge for her era, using her brains and creativity to make strides in her career. This girl isn't afraid to make demands, get her hands a little dirty, or walk away from the table completely. A career-woman if I ever saw one.
OITNB flies the feminist flag, the diversity flag, the LGBT flag, and pretty much any and every flag that makes me proud to be a viewer. The inmates of Litchfield Prison are equal parts hilarious and dangerous, and even their indulgence in female nudity feels organic within the parameters of the show. This is a story about real women, with all their rough edges and dirty mouths. You gotta love that!
If I ever meet Viola Davis in person, I will probably just sink to the floor and bow down. Annalise Keating owns the court room, and she takes no shit from any man or woman. Alternatively, we've seen some incredibly vulnerable and out of control moments from her. There's not just one Annalise, there are many that come out to play depending on which dilemma she needs to solve that day. She's a totally three-dimensional character, as all women on TV should be.
From the very first episode, Elizabeth McCord is seen juggling her kids, her husband, her new job, and hostage negotiations in the Middle East. Because she's just awesome that way. Madam Secretary is pretty mainstream as far as feminism goes (a fearless female leader, proving that she can be soft and mothering as well as tough as nails and authoritative) but it's feminism nonetheless!
With somewhere around 50% of marriages ending in divorce these days, you'd think there would be more representation of it on television. Girlfriends' Guide gives us a cast of women who are raising a family as the sole breadwinner, suddenly wading through the life that comes after your happily ever after implodes, and they're doing it remarkably well. Which sometimes means a massive meltdown.
I know I rag on Game of Thrones for all the gratuitous female nudity, but it does have its strong points in other areas. Cersei Lannister is the most frightening woman on the planet, perhaps only matched by Margaery Tyrell and her wiley political smarts. The list goes on with showstoppers like Daenerys, Brienne, Arya, and even Sansa, who might seem like a mouse, but has definitely got some fire under that red hair.
Oftentimes in presidential dramas, you see the power hungry female politician characterized as the devil incarnate. It's a little on the nose, and something I absolutely hate to see on TV. Veep skirts that issue entirely, humanizing and sympathizing with Selina, who has to push and struggle and sometimes yell to get her voice heard in a male-dominated government.
Looking for a show that makes you question why there aren't a dozen more female super heroes? Peggy Carter is the perfect woman for the job. Despite many of her male coworkers trying relegate her to a glorified secretary position, Peggy shines in the field and out of it. On top of that, she was given the origin story that's typically reserved for male superheroes: after their picture-perfect love interest dies, the lead character must drag themselves out of mourning to save the world and become the hero they were always meant to be!
Did we miss any other fabulous shows that rock the feminist agenda? Tell us about it in comments below!