The representation of women in Science Fiction.

Lab in Captain America (Image via Google Images: Find here)

The stereotypes surrounding the abilities of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are linked to the way women perceive their own abilities and the likelihood that they will pursue and maintain a career in these industries. Therefore, limiting the exposure to these stereotypes can be integral to improving the representation of women in STEM. The media plays an integral role in reinforcing or challenging these stereotypes, and I will be discussing the ramifications of the representation of women in science fiction in particular.

In science fiction, women are not only underrepresented, but are significantly less likely to be the main character or to represent a strong female role. The women in this genre more often than not assume a caring or passive role and are less likely to be played as ‘experts’ in their careers than male characters. These factors therefore not only are based around gender stereotypes that exists in society but actually emphasise them, and when repeatedly exposed to these gender stereotypes through media, can lead to ingraining of these expectations in the way women see themselves.

Prometheus (Image via Google Images: Find here)

Furthermore, these stereotypes echo many of the factors that limit women in their everyday lives. Women in the science fiction genre will often occupy lower skilled occupations in the character range and are usually noticeable due to their appearance or sexual attractiveness. This resembles the fact that women are more likely to occupy lower level jobs (this is linked to the way gender stereotypes effect the way women perceive their own potential and is the result of many barriers that limit women in the labour market) and are likely to be considered by their physical appearance before their academic capabilities or skills. Also, in media, the attractiveness of women is often portrayed as linked to their intelligence, with those considered sexually attractive being considered ‘bimbos’ and with intelligent women being portrayed as ‘frumpy’; this has therefore filtered into the everyday lives of women, providing a problematic issue for women with academic goals but being taught from a young age to value their physical appearance.

Dr Susan Calvin, I-Robot (Image via Google Images: Find here)

An excellent example of the trivialisation of women in science fiction is in the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness. Alice Eve played one of two female roles in the film, Dr Carol Marcus a molecular biologist. Even though her position in this role is rare and could be a powerful tool of representation for women in STEM careers, her integrity as a character is undermined by one scene (which for most people is the most memorable scene for her character in the whole film) in which she is shown in her underwear. The scene trivialises her abilities as a scientists and emphasises the importance of her physical appearance over her abilities as a strong female character as well as a women in STEM. This film is not the only example of this in the sic fi genre, the roles of women in these films are often undermined in this way (or by their role being the love interest in the storyline).

Dr Marcus in Star Trek Into Darkness (Image via Google Images: Find here)

The role of media in influencing society and the permeation of stereotypes to audiences means that it could be a tool in increasing the representation of women in STEM. By increasing the representation of women in science fiction, improving the variety of roles for women in these films and monitoring the stereotypes present, there could be potential for providing positive role models for women in STEM and transform sci-fi into a platform that could contribute to increasing the representation of women in STEM on and off screen.