The last few years saw some great strides forward for various realms of equality, but more recently, a setback has left many feeling down about the state of gender equality. So, in an effort to remain optimistic about not just the world at large, but the world of art, here are five female leaders who knew how to get it done.
Yeah, we realize that we’re a little late for International Women’s Day, but… better late than never?
Buffy Summers – Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The titular heroine of Joss Whedon’s seminal show, Buffy was a direct response to Whedon’s desire to see the female victims in horror movies turn around and turn the tables on their attacker. What this subversive impulse brought us was an upbeat, funny teenager with the weight of the world placed squarely on her shoulders. Though she initially tried to escape her destiny, Buffy quickly rose to the challenge of being a strong leader in a world that saw her as little more than a girl. From preppy cheerleader to fearless general, Buffy grew up before our eyes, and helped buck the stereotype that beautiful girls need saving.
Laura Roslin – Battlestar Galactica: After the apocalyptic Cylon attack on the Colonies, Roslin remains the highest ranking surviving member of the Presidential line of succession, and is sworn in as President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol. What makes Roslin so different to many of the women in power often seen in the media is that she didn’t have a clear political ambition. This unwanted ascension to the mantle of leader saw her grappling with her own instincts and qualities to reach her one goal: the survival of humanity.
Ellen Ripley – Aliens: After surviving the horror movie that was Alien, Ripley reluctantly joins a mission to investigate another potential infiltration. The second film in the franchise departs significantly from its predecessor, largely doing away with the horror motifs to contrast them with a war theme, casting Ripley as what many have hailed the first true action heroine. She continually comes up against male voices who seek to silence her, and is forced, in the end, to take matters into her own hands – once again for the good of all.
Leslie Knope – Parks and Recreation: In the everyday world of small town government, it might be difficult for some to imagine anyone kicking ass, but those people have clearly not encountered the sheer force of nature that is Pawnee’s Leslie Knope. From childhood, Leslie wanted to serve her country, and we see her doing that every single day. Despite her setbacks, including the small-minded town in which she lives, Leslie fights on to make the world better. What makes Leslie so special (well, one of the things), is her friendship with her boss, the hyper-masculine, anti-government Ron Swanson. Though their views stand at direct opposition, Leslie and Ron are always able to work together and remain friends – an optimistic model for how all leaders should behave.
Katniss Everdeen – The Hunger Games: Possibly the most influential heroine in recent memory, Katniss’ journey from peasant on society’s outer rim to revolutionary leader began when she volunteered as tribute for The Hunger Games to spare her younger sister from the same fate. As the world watched, Katniss defied the odds, and teamed up with her childhood admirer, Peta, to win the deadly competition. By subverting the ruling class’s expectations of her, Katniss became a marked woman – singled out for elimination by the government, and forced into a second Hunger Games. This act galvanized not only Katniss’ resolve, but thrust her into the spotlight as the face of a resistance movement to bring about revolution.
