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“Strong Female Characters” An Analytical Look at Representation in Moffat-Era Doctor Who
Flynn, Nichole
Flynn, Nichole
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Abstract
The current era of Doctor Who, beginning in 2010, under showrunner Steven Moffat has presented a
downward trend in the representation of nuanced female characters, as well as racial and sexual minorities.
This essay will be analyzing the representation and presentation of the three main female companions
under Moffat’s run as showrunner, as well as those few characters of minority sexualities and racial
identities. This discourse will be made through an intersectional feminist perspect ive with a focus on
feminist TV studies, critical race theory, and queer theory. The key concepts to be included are that of
agency, heteronormativity, and the male gaze.
Moffat’s female characters are limited in the roles in which they are allowed to fill. While Russell T.
Davies’ (showrunner from 2005-2009) companions had a range of personal and public conflicts and
issues, Moffat’s companions are shown to only fulfil the “traditional ideal feminine roles [which] has four
dimensions: fulfilling cultural standards of beauty and fashion, performing domestic/family skills, caring
for and satisfying the needs of others, and acquiring male attention .” Each of the three major female
characters created by Moffat are shown to only have agency when fulfilling one of these four dimensions.
Description
This is the published version, made available with the permission of the publisher.
This article was published in the Fall 2015 issue of the Journal of Undergraduate Research
This article was published in the Fall 2015 issue of the Journal of Undergraduate Research
Date
2015-10-01
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University of Kansas