“Strong Female Characters” An Analytical Look at Representation in Moffat-Era Doctor Who

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.