Oil and Water: Did Battlestar Gallactica Change the Relationship Between Feminism and Sci-fi?

2009’s Battlestar Gallactica has been both criticized and praised for its treatment of gender in the series. By bravely choosing to address the issue of gender depiction, the show’s creators opened themselves to feminist critique. Many have praised the series for it’s bold decision to cast the tough and masculine Starbuck as a female. Further, both males and females hold leadership positions, both addressed as “sir”, and they freely punch each other in the face as equals. However, critics find flaws in the creators’ attempt to render a gender-blind world. Rape is a frequent subject throughout the series and women are pretty much always the victims. To give the series credit, I don’t feel they treat the subject lightly. It does seem unjust to see powerful women reduced to the sole role of victim but the magnitude of trauma and horror of the act are addressed. In a world where the word “rape” is tossed around while playing video games or disregarded as a reality, the value of Battlestar’s sensitivity should be recognized. However, the complaint that men do not suffer the same victimization is legitimate and a worthy criticism.

Another complaint is the frequency of sequences depicting naked Cylon women being reborn into a vat of goo while Cylon men are spared the embarrassment. I think it should also be noted that there is a fair variety of Cylon men in terms of age and body-type while Cylon women are pretty much all young, thin, and commercially attractive (think Ellen Tigh and Six versus Saul Tigh and Cavil… just seems unbalanced on the whole).

Not that I think such criticisms should be overlooked or disregarded, but Battlestar cannot be denied credit for taking a monumental step in sci-fi and television. The series challenged traditional gender roles by empowering female characters and straying from the confines of the frequently over-masculinized roles of men. Not only that, but they made a point to make clear that they were aiming to overcome the sexism of the past and present. Literal, bold decisions like making Roslin president and Starbuck female coupled with Kara and Lee going all out in the boxing ring says to everyone, “I am feminist and it’s on purpose.”

Frequently in sci-fi we see power-house lead females who run around kicking ass and outsmarting their enemies. However, it is too often coupled with “pause-worthy scenes” that over sexualize the woman and ultimately objectify our once hero. It just makes the whole thing seem like a fetish scam. I felt this way after seeing the Sigourney Weaver underwear scene in Alien. I don’t think that sexuality has no place in these movies and series, but in such depictions there is an inauthenticity because the depiction is not cohesive with the character or any themes of the film that were not already chauvinistic in nature. For a feminist, such a scene disengages me with the story and I am left with a feeling of mistrust for the once compelling narrative. I think feminist viewers of Battlestar felt that same sense of betrayal after viewing the female Cylon goo scenes.

Progress cannot be denied but perhaps a feminist sci-fi world cannot be fully realized until some essential truths are recognized. Critics often feel that the cause behind sci-fi’s lack of feminism is that it is made by men for men. Firstly, the female audience that exists now needs to be recognized. Additionally, more females need to take part in directing and writing to lend a more authentic perspective. This vision may not be too far off on the horizon. More and more fantasy and sci-fi movies and novels are entering main stream pop-culture and are being directly aimed to appeal to females. Additionally, there are more powerful lead females dictated by more female writers and directors. There is hope yet for a feminist sci-fi future.

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