Where Have All The Superheroines on TV Gone?

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Wed May 6, 2009 9:24 AM EDT

Article Source: MSN

entertainment, tv, television, battlestar-galactica, doctor-who, bsg, buffy, dollhouse, buffy-the-vampire-slayer, sarah-connor, superherorines

Seeded by vacelts

Not too long ago, teen dramas were jam packed with strong female characters who were high kicking, vampire slaying and wittily disposing of anyone and anything that stood in their way.

But the halcyon days of Buffy and co are long gone. Instead a look at today's schedules introduces us to a new generation of teen idols who shop rather than slay, and are more likely to slip on a pair of Jimmy Choos than wittily dispose of their feelings through prompt, punchy pop culture referencing. Perhaps it's a sign of the times, but where have all the strong women gone?

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6.9

3.6

{"commentId":6908160,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I personally would rather see the female leads kick butt than shop. Bring on more shows like Dollhouse, Buffy, BSG and Sarah Connor.

{"commentId":6908160,"threadId":"571823","contentId":"2781805","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#1 - Wed May 6, 2009 9:48 AM EDT

{"commentId":6987157,"authorDomain":"barkinhound"}

Tex-988483

Ditto. My daughter was lucky enough to come up in the era of strong butt kickin female characters on the tube and in film. Personally, I miss Xena. What better cheese to sit through with ones daughter than scantily clad ass kickin lovely women with slight lesbian overtones. As my daughter sez, "Dad, you are such a lesbian." She means it in a good way and I accept it as such.

Happily the very best strong female characters are alive and well in the novel. I have always directed my daughter towards literature over TV and to her credit she agreed, agrees and is an avid reader.

{"commentId":6987157,"threadId":"571823","contentId":"2781805","authorDomain":"barkinhound"}

2 votes

#1.1 - Sun May 10, 2009 5:07 PM EDT

{"commentId":6995505,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Good point about finding them in literature.

{"commentId":6995505,"threadId":"571823","contentId":"2781805","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Mon May 11, 2009 9:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":6960725,"authorDomain":"divbyzero"}

Division by Zero

These things seem to run in cycles. We had several shows with strong, independent women in the late 60's through the 70's then we seemed to transition in to a phase of women being fashion plates and eye-candy in the 80's. The late 90's brought us back into shows with strong, independent, kick-butt women again. There seems to be a pendulum swinging back and forth between the two. I personally think that the message of shopping, wearing just the right clothes, being seen with just the right people, and finding just the right man is not the right message for our daughters and nieces.

{"commentId":6960725,"threadId":"571823","contentId":"2781805","authorDomain":"divbyzero"}

3 votes

#2 - Fri May 8, 2009 3:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":6986653,"authorDomain":"SuperSaiyan"}

SuperSaiyan

These things seem to run in cycles.

Yeah, that does seem to be the case...

{"commentId":6986653,"threadId":"571823","contentId":"2781805","authorDomain":"SuperSaiyan"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Sun May 10, 2009 4:22 PM EDT

{"commentId":6995550,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I personally think that the message of shopping, wearing just the right clothes, being seen with just the right people, and finding just the right man is not the right message for our daughters and nieces.

I agree. Until the pendalum swings back, guess we'll be watching DVDs.

{"commentId":6995550,"threadId":"571823","contentId":"2781805","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Mon May 11, 2009 9:36 AM EDT

{"commentId":6968669,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

Jared Kardos

Instead a look at today's schedules introduces us to a new generation of teen idols who shop rather than slay, and are more likely to slip on a pair of Jimmy Choos than wittily dispose of their feelings through prompt, punchy pop culture referencing.

Which is one of many reasons why I rarely watch TV at this point. Though, to be fair, Buffy had aplenty of pop-culture referencing--she just did it while kicking the asses of the countless undead horde that were plaguing dear ole' Sunnyville.

{"commentId":6968669,"threadId":"571823","contentId":"2781805","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

3 votes

#3 - Sat May 9, 2009 2:57 AM EDT

{"commentId":6995581,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Yes, she did have some pop culture references. But in contest of what she was doing, it made it funny.

{"commentId":6995581,"threadId":"571823","contentId":"2781805","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#3.1 - Mon May 11, 2009 9:37 AM EDT

{"commentId":7008945,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

Jared Kardos

Touche', sir.

{"commentId":7008945,"threadId":"571823","contentId":"2781805","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

1 vote

#3.2 - Mon May 11, 2009 5:28 PM EDT

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Where Have All The Superheroines on TV Gone?

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