Women and Science Fiction

I'm a science fiction fan and a woman. There! I said it. Phew! It feels like such a load off my back. Okay, seriously, I had my doubts about writing an article on women and science fiction, after all scifi doesn't still have these weird, male connotations, does it? These days it's cool to be a girl and a geek.

But after thinking about my own experiences and reading blogs of other female scifi fans, I thought otherwise. I was particular fired up for this article after reading Annalee Newitz's report on io9 that the Sci Fi channel's advertising for Battlestar Galactica had scaled back the spaceships, in order to bring in more female viewers. Is this also the reason why the new Galactica series, Caprica is being described by its creators as a "Dynasty in Space"? Well, I for one would prefer less Melrose Space type drama in Galactica, and more story arc episodes that actually push the plot forward in a meaningful way.

I was raised on a healthy diet of science fiction, thanks in large part to my wonderfully geeky older sister. The idea that science fiction and women don't go together just seems plain wrong to me. My earliest science fiction viewing was V, which, while admittedly a little corny, had the brilliant Faye Grant as both scientist and *leader* of the resistance, Juliet Parish, and Jane Badler as Diana, who let's face it, was essentially the one calling the shots, on those Visitor mother ships.

I grew up with Sigourney Weaver and Linda Hamilton as role models, who not only could get out there and play with the boys, but also outlive the boys. Not to mention the many other women I could give shout outs to such as Claudia Christian inBabylon 5 and Nana Visitor and Terry Farrell in Deep Space Nine- all of which have played characters that have helped influence who I am today. And this is all before Joss Whedon came along to bring us a series about a certain vampire slayer.

So clearly there are many images of strong women associated with science fiction. This is not even including the numerous female writers out there such as Ursula K. Le Guin, Joan D. Vinge and Elizabeth Moon, who have all managed to conquer the science fiction genre. And I can't tell you how many quality genre shows former BBC Controller Julie Gardner has helped to bring about.

Science fiction as a genre has truly shown me what women are capable of. Women can be fighters as well as mothers; they can be world leaders (although growing up in Thatcherism, that one wasn't as much of a shocker); they can be intellectuals; they can be superheroes.

So why do some women steer away from science fiction? Not all women, mind you, but there's definitely a lot out there who only want to talk about Sex and the City, and have trouble accepting that a show like Lost is remotely in the same genre as Star Wars. You tell them you like scifi and they look at you funny.

For a long time, Iwrote for a fashion magazine, so my inner geek was like my alter-ego. It left me hesitant to tell certain people what I was into. Luckily, writing for IGP and trying to get IGP out there to the world has certainly helped me deal with that hesitancy. And the truth is, admitting I like scifi will either show me someone I can bond with on multiple levels, or not, so why not just admit it? As for my reaction from guys... it ranges from becoming firm friends because we like the same shows, to "wow, I thought you were into the Sound of Music". Go figure!

So, yes, tell everyone you know, because as it turns out, women and science fiction do go together. You don't have to pander to get women to like the world you've created. The fact is: quality writing will draw people in. Throwing dynasty-type antics into a series isn't going to draw female viewers in (that's what soap operas are for) and is as blatantly obvious a stunt as creating a female sexbot just to draw male viewers in. But create characters that are interesting (male or female) with equally riveting storylines and trust me, your female viewers will follow.

Shiromi Arserio is the writer and editor of Inter-Galaxy Portal. Check out IGP for all the latest news and reviews from the other side of the Portal.

http://www.igp-scifi.com/

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Women In Science Fiction And Fantasy Break The Mold

Women in science fiction and fantasy films are free from stereotypical restraints often slapped on other female characters. In traditional sitcoms especially, women seem to be thrust into unoriginal character molds, either quirkily manic, the lovable hot girl whom all guys want or a passive aggressive, mean middle-aged mother.

Most female characters seen in science fiction tend to be more complex than that. They usually have complicated romantic storylines, just as in other dramas, and yes, they're often pretty hot, too. However, sci-fi writers tend to give women more credit for their intelligence, empathy and kick-ass abilities than writers of other series do.

The great thing about women in science fiction is the range of personalities that are represented. These women are often operating in outer space, such as the much praised Star Trek heroines Seven of Nine from Star Trek: Voyager and Nyota Uhura, a character that made waves for being part of the first interracial kiss on television.

Storylines set in outer space actually provide a fantastical and fascinating place for a plot to unfold, especially as it relates to women. In addition to the romantic storylines that inevitably come up, living in a limited space such as a space ship and dealing with the unpredictable natures of intergalactic enemies will bring out multiple facets of a character's personality. This gives writers an opportunity to develop interesting, dynamic female roles that go beyond slapstick humor or trivialities.

Of course, there are plenty of sci-fi heroines who have made their mark by kicking butt back on Earth as well.

Sarah Connor, mother to the all-important John Connor in the "Terminator" series, is probably one of the most memorable take-no-prisoner's women in sci-fi history, at least as she appears in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day." Her dedication to keeping her son safe and trying to save the world transform her from a scared damsel in distress into a hardcore femme fatale.

Let's not forget Agent Scully, the "X-Files" heroine who was the ultimate strong woman of the 1990s. As the rational scientist throughout most of the show, who based her beliefs on evidence rather than faith, Scully was a departure from the stereotype that men are rational while women believe solely in what they feel. Gillian Anderson's portrayal of the smart, tough character left a lasting impression on viewers for years to come.

Going further back we have Jaime Sommers, the main character in "The Bionic Woman." Sommers becomes superhuman when she is saved from a skydiving accident by receiving bionic implants. She becomes a CIA operative in exchange for the life-saving implants, an agreement arranged by her boyfriend, "Six Million Dollar Man" Steve Austin. Sommers is an example of the survivor character, who is alive against the odds and now not only has to come to grips with the way her body and entire life has changed, but also has to fend for herself during dangerous undercover operations. She is a complex, interesting character whose storyline and personality traits enhance the show dramatically.

These are but a few of the fascinating female characters with which science fiction shows are populated. The genre continues to push the limits with storytelling and character development, which no doubt means there are more exciting, memorable heroines the world has yet to meet.

Matthew DiConti
Author
Moorpark, CA
http://www.matthewdiconti.com/

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