Star Trek's Sexist Legacy

[Jayson1]

TNG would have a had perfect blend of female personality if Yar had stayed and Ro had been made a serious regular. Strong action types and more caring style caregivers all in the same crew. Much more realistic approach that a crew of all kickass types or non threatening eye candy. Diversity is at it's best when it looks beyond just race and gender and offers up different personality types. Not everyone has to be strong and not everyone has to soft and those who are strong can show a softer side and those who are soft can showcase a inner strength.

I don't have much problem with Troi and Crusher going to do Yoga or whatever because that is something that I am sure many women friends do in real life but it would also be nice to have more scenes also where Worf and Yar are talking about a training fight were Worf is talking about him betting on her to win or Ro and Troi buting heads in "Disaster" on whether or not to divert power to the drive section. Ro wants to take the more pragmatic approach where Troi is thinking more with her heart. That's a good example of using personality differences to create drama.

Jason


Jason

 

[Nerys Myk]

Ro had been made a serious regular

They were serious about it, but the actress wasn't

 

[marlboro]

I mistakenly thought this said "sexiest legacy" and was all set to post some shots of Phlox in the decon chamber and maybe a gif of Neelix getting a footrub.

 

[Lord Garth]

On my Facebook wall, I shared an image of Patrick Stewart and Jeri Ryan on set from Star Trek: Picard. Then someone posted a reply. A really stupid reply and I was tempted to smack him upside the head.

I'm taking out the names, but otherwise, here's what he said: "I have to admit it when I first saw the photo of that girl with Patrick Stewart remember that girl _____ that we met at _____ at first I thought of can look like her"

 

[The Wormhole]

The article makes some rather glaring errors. The cite the urban myth that TOS had to remove Number One because studio suits were uncomfortable with a female authority figure. In fact, they were actually okay with a woman being the ship's second in command, they just wanted her recast because they didn't think it appropriate that the show's female lead be played by someone Roddenberry was sleeping with. Roddenberry in turn removed the character and made up the story about them being uncomfortable with female authority out of spite.

Also, they say Voyager aired on CBS. It in fact aired on UPN.

A few dates are wrong too. They say The Cage was produced in 1965, it was 1964. They said TNG premiered in 1986 when it was in fact 1987.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The article makes some rather glaring errors. The cite the urban myth that TOS had to remove Number One because studio suits were uncomfortable with a female authority figure. In fact, they were actually okay with a woman being the ship's second in command, they just wanted her recast because they didn't think it appropriate that the show's female lead be played by someone Roddenberry was sleeping with. Roddenberry in turn removed the character and made up the story about them being uncomfortable with female authority out of spite.

Also, they talk say Voyager aired on CBS. It in fact aired on UPN.

A few dates are wrong too. They say The Cage was produced in 1965, it was 1964. They said TNG premiered in 1986 when it was in fact 1987.

Research. Facts
Forget it, Jake. It's internet journalism

 

[BillJ]

Star Trek sexist? Next thing you’re going to tell me is that water is wet.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Star Trek sexist? Next thing you’re going to tell me is that water is wet.

Even if Dukat said it?

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Star Trek sexist? Next thing you’re going to tell me is that water is wet.

Wait... water is wet! What the hell?! No way. When did this happen. The whole world is upside down and inside out. Nothing is real anymore. That must mean we are all cake.

 

[Nerys Myk]

 

[The Wormhole]

That must mean we are all cake.

Cellular peptide cake. With mint frosting.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

but it would also be nice to have more scenes also where Worf and Yar are talking about a training fight were Worf is talking about him betting on her to win

I remember reading an article on Denise Crosby where she said that had she had more scenes like that she would've stayed, so by the sounds of it she wasn't after loads of Yar-based episodes but just some fleshing out of the character. It's just a shame this was only written in after her decision to leave had been made and Yar would be dead within a matter of minutes.

They were serious about it, but the actress wasn't

I always find that an odd decision on Michelle Forbes part, who would say 'no' to a regular paycheck on a popular and successful show playing a role that had lots of potential to show her range and abilities?

 

[Jayson1]

Forbes thought she was going to be a movie star. She had already won a daytime Emmy for a soap. I think the only movie people know her from though is Kaliforna were she was nominated for Saturn award. Well bit roles also in Escape from LA and Hunger Games. I think "Love Bites" which she choose over DS9 is seen as a cult hit. At the time I guess it seemed smart. Only by 1996 she would be back to tv with Homicide.


Jason

 

[Orphalesion]

[QUOTE="ThreeEdgedSword] the (lack of) f/f or even f/m friendships, and how they are depicted as compared to m/m friendships.
[/QUOTE]

Personally I always found it awkward how Troi/Beverley and Kira/Jadzia were portrayed as close friends by default only because they were the only female main characters.

 

[Jayson1]

But they did have other close friends as well. Beverly and Picard are like lifetime BFF's. Also friends with Nurse Ogawa and tolerated Wesley. Troi was friends with Riker even when they love embers were not their and became friends with Worf. Jadzia was friends with Sisko and Bashir and Quark just as much as Kira. While KIra was also friends with Odo and even Sisko once she felt more comfortable with him being the Emissary.

Jason

 

[somebuddyX]

[QUOTE="ThreeEdgedSword]
Personally I always found it awkward how Troi/Beverley and Kira/Jadzia were portrayed as close friends by default only because they were the only female main characters.

I always thought the DS9 crew did a good job of everyone being mates with everyone else. I remember scenes with Bashir/Kira, Dax/Sisko, Bashir/Dax, Worf/O'Brien, O'Brien/Bashir, Jake/Quark, Nog/O'Brien, Kira/Sisko, Odo/Bashir. I figure the command staff are always going to be hanging out doing stuff together. I loved it when Sisko, Bashir and Dax were called Kira by her given name, you could tell they were good friends

 

[Jayson1]

The DS9 crew were all very friendly but they did form off in cliques. TNG was more like a family but a kind of high society serious family. Like a Sci Fi version of the Royal Tenenbaums.


Jason

 

[ThreeEdgedSword]

I think the DS9 was also much more serious and professional on set.

I don't have much problem with Troi and Crusher going to do Yoga or whatever because that is something that I am sure many women friends do in real life

I agree a wider range of female characters would have been great. Just like they have with male characters.
The problem with the Aerobic (?) scene isn't what they are doing. It is that this is the only "friendship" scene between them, and all they talk about is men, while male friends talk about women, but also about a wide range of other stuff.
Ugh, my keyboard.

 

[Jayson1]

I think the DS9 was also much more serious and professional on set.


I agree a wider range of female characters would have been great. Just like they have with male characters.
The problem with the Aerobic (?) scene isn't what they are doing. It is that this is the only "friendship" scene between them, and all they talk about is men, while male friends talk about women, but also about a wide range of other stuff.
Ugh, my keyboard.

That's true but I believe that was a romance episode in "The Price." You only have like 42 minutes to tell the story and this is years before people like Tarantino,Kevin Smith and Whedon would sort of make non-plot advancement dialogue super popular. TNG was actually better than many shows though at the time in terms of interesting dialogue and Crusher and Troi had those moments as well just not with each other. Crusher teaching Data to dance or giving him parenting advice or talking about what defines life or her giving Picard talking during their breakfast and Troi was actually kind under written but she eventually became a more credible counselor as the seasons and not just "I sense pain" stuff. Jeri Taylor I think did a lot to actually improve how they were written when she joined the show. You can see a improvement in the characters starting in season 4 though I think Crusher was written okay in season 3 for the most part. She just didn't really have any good episodes that year. Transfigurations and High Ground both were bad. Were Troi I think only had one decent episode in Tin Man.


One thing overlooked though is TNG had some amazing Female guest characters even more than any other Trek shows including DS9. Admiral Satie, Ro, Lal, Admiral Nacheuv, Vash, Neela Daren, K'hehler, Guinan, Leah Brahms etc. If someone made a list of the top 20 female guest characters I bet over half of the list would come from TNG. Granted normally this might not mean so much since the regulars are where it counts but for TNG and it's no conflict Roddenberry rules over half of the episodes seem to live or die on how good the guest character is because they are the ones bringing in the conflict for the episodes.

Jason


Jason

 

[Danja]

The problem with the Aerobic (?) scene isn't what they are doing. It is that this is the only "friendship" scene between them, and all they talk about is men, while male friends talk about women, but also about a wide range of other stuff.

That and those cleavage-accentuating tights.

They were so OTT, it was ridiculous!