The 2000s: Favorite Feminist Moments in Television

Ever since I read Susan J. Douglas’ Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female With the Mass Media when I was 17, I have found myself searching in television and film for the nuggets of feminism that women can now find in popular culture. As the ’00 decade concludes, quite a bit of feminist gold that has emerged, even amidst programming that continues to emphasize looks and lack of agency. Below are my top three favorite feminist moments in television this decade. Post your own in the comments!

1. The Fierce Ladies of Sex and the City

The first — and perhaps most controversial — is Sex and the City. The show’s well-documented problems discussing race and class should not be overlooked, but it is important to remember just how revolutionary a show centered on female friendship and sexuality was when it first aired, an argument that Naomi Wolf outlines in The Guardian. Samantha’s lust, for instance, was not punished but celebrated as part of her character throughout the series, and her battle with breast cancer further cemented her resilient personality. The one constant in the show was not men, or even relationships, but four women who share experiences and rely on one another. In my book, that’s an awesome step forward.

2. The Women of The West Wing

The West Wing dealt more directly with the question of women in the workforce. The show has been lauded for its superior writing, acting, and story development, but it also provided a diverse bevy of female role models in positions of power. Press secretary (and later chief of staff) CJ Cregg is the most obvious example, but National Security Advisor Nancy McNally (Anna Deveare Smith) and women’s rights advocate Amy Gardner (Mary-Louise Parker) were among the many strong, complex female characters presented on the show, without judgment by the writers as to the merits of their power. In fact, CJ’s struggles in the male-dominated world of politics were a frequent theme of the show, a topic the writers managed to deal with in a sympathetic way without resorting to tired stereotypes.

3. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on Saturday Night Live

As a hardcore Saturday Night Live junkie, it was thrilling to see the first Weekend Update desk anchored by two incredibly funny women — Amy Poehler and Tina Fey — who were not only talented comediennes, but unafraid to call out misogyny. (This decade also launched the careers of fellow SNL funnywomen Maya Rudolph and Kristin Wiig.) Both Fey and Poehler have moved on to awesomely feminist post-SNL careers — Fey with 30 Rock and Sarah Palin impersonations, Poehler with Parks & Recreation and Smart Girls At The Party — but their joint newsmaking was an SNL first and a great inspiration for women with a sense of humor.

What are YOUR favorite feminist moments from the media this decade?