During winter break I was watching “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” on the TV network Pivot when a commercial came on that really got me thinking.
The commercial showed a group of men and women discussing how shows such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Veronica Mars” were amazing because they showed female empowerment and gave audiences a woman to look up to. It then occurred to me how many shows that are currently on air have a strong female lead character.
While there only used to be “Buffy” and “Veronica Mars,” now there are many powerful women on network television. Here are just a few examples:
“Agent Carter”
The first show that came to my mind when thinking about strong female leads is the new mini-series on ABC titled “Agent Carter.” This show features Agent Peggy Carter from the “Captain America” movies. The series focuses on her life after Captain America has died and how she goes on trying to rid the world of the evil. It also shows the contrast between women in the 1940s to now, showing how modern women can do anything they want.
“Scandal”
One of my favorite examples of female empowerment seen on TV would be ABC’s hit show “Scandal,” which is based off of Judy Smith’s life. Smith served during President Bush’s term of office as a press secretary assistant but later became a crisis management expert. Olivia Pope, the Smith-like character, has become more relatable in the last two seasons with family drama and a love triangle, showing even strong women have cracks. I think this show’s success has been due in part to how many people can look at Pope and see similarities to their own lives.
“The Mysteries of Laura”
The last show I feel demonstrates powerful women on TV is NBC’s “The Mysteries of Laura.” This show takes a comical and witty approach to the stereotypes of mothers and female police officers. In one of the episodes, the main character, Laura, is in a situation where the guy believes because she is a women she can’t possibly shoot him with precision. She proves him wrong by hitting him perfectly in the leg. “The Mysteries of Laura” shows a different side of female cops, making Laura and her struggles more relatable.
