Women of SF

[lyssie]

So, again, there's muttering running about considering women in SF and the fact that they're rather marginalized (read: boring), and so it's easier to not write the women because well, they're not interesting.

I wrote a rant a while back, regarding women being held to a higher standard. I still say it's true.

Not long after that rant, I also posted a list of the women I could think of, off the top of my head. Sadly, this did not result in an explosion of brand-new fic regarding the women of SF. This saddens me.

I have now updated the list, a bit. And would appreciate suggestions to add to it. I think I may add Anime to it, and possibly comics. Hrm.

Alien Nation: Susan Francisco, Emily Francisco, Cathy Frankel
Andromeda: Andromeda/Rommie, Beka, Trance (1 and 2), Doyle
Babylon Alien Nation: Susan Francisco, Emily Francisco, Cathy Frankel
Andromeda: Andromeda/Rommie, Beka, Trance (1 and 2), Doyle
Babylon Five: Susan Ivanova, Talia Winters, Lyta Alexander, Delenn, Na'toth, Elizabeth Lochley, Anna Sheridan, Laurel Takashima, Timov
Babylon Five: Crusade: Dureena, Dr. Sarah Chambers
Battlestar Galactica: 2003: Lt. Starbuck (Kara Thrace), Lt. Boomer (Sharon Valerii, and there are TWO), Six (Gods know how many of her), President Laura Roslin, Petty Officer Anastasia Dualla, Specialist Crewman Cally, Ellen Tigh, Priestess Elosha, Racetrack (Margaret Edmonson), Admiral Nelena Cain, Selix, Layne Ishay, Kat (Louanne Katraine), D'Anna Biers
Battlestar Galactica (Old Skool): Athena, Serena, Cassiopea, Sheba
Blake's 7: Jenna Stannis, Cally, Dayna Mellanby, Soolin, Servalan/Sleer, Giron, Sinofar, Avalon, Dr. Plaxson, Chenie
Buffy/Angel: Buffy, Willow, Cordelia, Tara, Kennedy, Dawn, other assorted Mary Sue slayers, Faith, Illyria, Fred, Jenny Calendar, Kate Lockley, Lilah Morgan, Anya, Joyce Summers, Kendra, Amy, Jasmine, Evil!Willow, Drusilla, Glory, Darla...
Buck Rogers: Wilma Deering
Captain Scarlet (Gerry Anderson): Destiny, Symphony, Harmony and Melody
Cleopatra 2525 (were there guys on this show? I know one of the chicks went on to be Zoe on Firefly): Cleopatra, Helen, Sarge(Rose).
Cowboy Bebop: Ed, Faye Valentine, Julia
Dead Like Me: Georgia Lass, Roxie Harvey, Betty Rhomer, Daisy Adair, Joy Lass, Reggie Lass, Delores Herbig
Doctor Who (I believe the women have actually outnumbered the men as companions. Possibly for the T&A factor): Susan, Barbara, Vicki, Dodo, Polly, Victoria Waterfield, Katarina, Sara Kingdom, Zoe Herriot, Liz Shaw, Jo Grant, Sarah Jane Smith, Leela, Romana 1, Romana 2, Nyssa, Tegan Jovanka, Peri Brown, Melanie Bush, Ace, Doris, Grace, Rose, (they squeak in, damnit, from the novels) Benny and Roz. Oh. And Morgaine.
Earth: Final Conflict: Lili Marquette, Renee Palmer, Dr. Julianne Belman
Earth 2: Devon Adair, Julia Heller, Bess Martin, True Danziger, Denner, Magus, Eben Singe
Farscape: Aeryn Sun, Chiana, Zhaan, ServalanCommandant Grayza, Noranti, Sikozu, Jool, Guests: Furlow, Eidelon priestess, every woman from Look at the Princess, Henta, Lorell, Xhallax Sun, Olivia Crichton, John's mother, the female pilot...
Firefly -- Zoe, Kaywinnith Lee Frye, River Tam, Inara, Mrs. Reynolds.
FLCL: Haruko Haruhara, Mamimi, and Kitsurubami
Forever Knight: Natalie Lambert, Captain Amanda Cohen, Janette, Tracy Vetter, Urs, Divia
Friday: the 13th: the Series - Micki Foster
Fullmetal Alchemist: Riza Hawkeye, Maria Ross, Winry Rockbell, Lust, Gracia Hughes
Ghost in the Shell - Stand Alone Complex: The Major
Hellsing: Integra Hellsing, Seras Victoria, Wolfe Heinkel, Yumi/Yumie, Rip Van Winkle
Hercules/Xena: Xena, Gabrielle, Callisto
Highlander: Amanda, Tessa, Anne, Cassandra, Alexa, movie: Heather, Rachel, Brenda Wyatt
Hitchiker's Guide (books and movie): Trillian
Lois & Clark: Lois Lane, Cat Grant
Lost in Space: Maureen Robinson, Judy Robinson, Penny Robinson
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Rei and Asuka
Other Superman permutations: (Superboy, Smallville) Lana Lang, Chloe, Martha Kent
Poltergeist: The Legacy - Alex Moreau, Rachel Corrigan, Kat Corrigan, Kristin Adams, Megan Torrance.
Read or Die: The Paper and Miss Deep
Reboot: Dot Matrix, Mouse, Hexadecimal, AndrAIa, Princess Bula, Dixon Green, Daemon
Red Dwarf: the real Kochanski, the fake Kochanski, the second Holly
Roswell: Tess, Isabel, Liz, Maria
SG-1: Sam Carter, Janet Frasier, Guests: Ishta, Shau'nac, Drey'auc, all the Amazons, Tollan lady (who I hate, but was a DAMN good leader), Elizabeth Weir, Cassandra Frasier, Sha're, Catherine Langford, Gairwyn (of Cimmeria), RepliCarter, TinMan!Carter, TBFTGOG!AU!Carter, POV!AU!Carter, Rosha, Garshaw/Yosuuf, Anise/Freya, Jennifer Hailey, Dr. Brightman, Heimdall (well, Teryl Rothery did the voice, so...), Laira, Kynthia, Kendra, Ke'ra, Oma Desala, Nirrti, Bast, Morrigan, Amersatu (Japanese Goa'uld), Hathor, Merrin, the Pangaran archaeologist from Cure, Vala Mal Doran, Dr. Lam
SG: Atlantis: Teyla, Dr. Weir, Guests: Chaya, the chick from Cure, um Poisoning the Well, Kate Heightmeyer, Sora, Allina, Dr. Lindsey Novak, Dr. Katie Brown, Lt. Laura Cadman
Sliders: Wade Welles, Maggie Beckett, Dr. Diana Davis
Space:1999: Doctor Helena Russell, Sandra Benes, Maya
Space Above And Beyond: Shane Vansen, Vanessa Damphouse, Chig, Kelly Anne Winslow
Star Cops: Pal Kenzy, Anna Shoun
Star Trek: Uhura, Nurse Chappel, Yeoman Rand, Amanda Grayson, Edith Keiler, Dr. Gillian Taylor, Lt. Saavik
ST: TNG: Tasha Yar, Beverly Crusher, Deanna Troi, Ro Laren, Guinan
ST: DS9: Kira Nerys, Jadzia Dax, Ezri Dax, Keiko O'Brien, Kai Opaka, Kai Wynn, Cassidy Yates
ST: Voyager: Janeway, B'elanna (sp?), Seven of Nine, Kes, Naomi Wildman
ST: Enterprise: T'Pol, Hoshi, Amanda Cole, T'Les, T'Pau, Talas, Captain Erika Hernandez
the Survivors: There were quite a few women on this (it's a Terry Nation post-apocalyptic Britain thing), but I've never seen it.
Trigun: Millie Thompson, Meryl Strife
Tru Calling: Tru Davies
VR5: Sydney Bloom
X-Files: Dana Scully, Monica Reyes, Mrs. Scully, Mrs. Skinner, Diana Fowley, Skinner's secretary, Marita Covarrubias



Random SF movies (sadly, I don't remember all of the character names)
A Boy And His Dog: Quilla June
Aliens: Ellen Ripley, Lambert, Vasquez, Call, two other marines were women, but I don't recall their names.
Back to the Future: Jennifer, Clara, Lorraine
Bladerunner: Rachael, Pris, Zhora
Contact: Ellie Arroway
the Dark Crystal: Kira
Elektra - Elektra
Event Horizon - Evelyn Starck, Peters
Fifth Element: Leeloo, The Diva
Forbidden Planet: Altaira Morbius
the Handmaid's Tale: Offred, The Wife, Moira
the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Ms. Wilhelmina Murray
Logan's Run: Jessica 6, Holly, Mary 2
Mad Max: Tina Turner
Matrix: Trinity, Niobe, Persephone, Switch, the Oracle, Sati, Zee, Ice, June, Binary
Men in Black: Elle.
Metropolis: Maria, The Robot
Mission to Mars - whatserface who sucked so much ass. Terri Fisher.
Miyazaki princesses
the Night of the Living Dead - Barbara
Red Planet - Cmdr. Kate Bowman (Carrie Ann Moss)
Resident Evil - Alice, Jill, Rain, Angela Ashford
Ringu / The Ring: Sadako Yamamura / Samara Morgan, Rachel Keller / Reiko Asakawa, Anna Morgan / Shizuko Yamamura
Snow Crash - Y. T.
Spider-Man: Mary-Jane Watson, Aunt May
Star Wars: Princess Leia. Amidala, Mon Mothma
Starship Troopers: Private Dizzy Flores, Pilot Cadet Carmen Ibanez, Captain Deladier (small part), Sky Marshall Tehat Maru (small part)
Strange Days - Mace
Superman: Lois Lane
Supernova - Kaela Evers (Angela Bassett, who would omfg so rock as Storm)
Tank Girl: Tank Girl, Jet Girl, Sub Girl, Sam
Terminator: Sarah Connor
Time Machine: Weena
Virus - Kelly Foster, Nadia Vinogradiya
X-Men: Jean Grey, Rogue, Mystique, Storm (die, Halle, DIE)
Judi Dench (just because)
2010 - had a couple of Russian women, including Helen Mirren


Random other shows which are almost SciFi:
the A-Team: Amy
Alias: Sydney Bristow, Nadia, Lauren Reed, Francie, Irina Derevko
the Avengers: Cathy Gale, Emma Peel, Tara King, Purdey (from the New Avengers)
Brisco County, JR: Dixie Cousins
CSI: Catherine, Sara, Calleigh, Megan Donner, Yelina Salos, Alexx Woods, Stella Bonasera, Aidan Burn (CSI NY), Sophia Curtis, Mia
Dark Justice: Kelly Cochrane, Tara MacDonald (Carrie Anne-Moss may beat out Zoe...), Cat Duran, Sam Collins
F/X: The Series: Angie, Mira, Carrie Ann Moss's character from the first season...
House: Dr. Cameron, Dr. Cuddy
Jack of All Trades: the British spy, Jack's female partner--Emilia Smythe Rothschild
Law and Order: Alex Eames, Carolyn Barek, Dr. Elizabeth Rodgers, Olivia Benson, Lt. Anita Van Buren, ADA Alex Borgia, ADA Abbie Carmichael, ADA Claire Kincaid, ADA Jamie Ross, Dr. Elizabeth Olivet, ADA Serena Southerlyn, DA Nora Lewin, ADA Alex Cabot, Det. Monique Jefferies, ADA Casey Novak, ME Melinda Warner, Capt. Judith Siper, Linda Davies, Judge Lena Petrovsky
Lost: Kate, Claire, Shannon, Sun
Murder in Suburbia: Scribbs and Ash
NCIS: Kate Todd, Abby Sciuto, Ziva David, Director Jen Shepard
the Pretender: Miss Parker, Mrs. Parker
Prime Suspect: Jane Tennyson
Profiler: Sam Waters, Rachel Burke, Grace Alvarez, Angel Brown, Chloe Waters, Congresswoman Karen Archer (Erin Gray's second role on the list)
Randall & Hopkirk (deceased): Jean Hopkirk, Jenny
Red Cap: Jo McDonagh, Neve, Harriet Frost, Maddy
Second Sight: Catherine Tully, DC Holt
Sherlock Holmes: Mrs. Hudson
Touching Evil: Susan Taylor (can I please grow up to be her?)
Without a Trace: Sam Spade, Vivian Johnson

The Prisoner:
Number Two (Dance of the Dead)
Number Two (Many Happy Returns)
Number Two (the one disguised as the Polish maid in the election episode)
Nadia
The Girl Who Was Death
(Okay, they're sort of guests, but everyone but McGoohan was a guest on that show.)

Comments

[waterdaughter.livejournal.com]

Niobe, Persephone, and Switch (the blonde killed in the first one) are more Matrix women. Oh, and the Oracle, Sati...Zee (Link's wife, I think). Ooo, and Sub Girl from Tank Girl. ;)

Oh! Londo's wives in Babylon 5. :) Just guests, but still. Timov rocked.

[reddirtcowboy.livejournal.com]

Mon Mothma, leader of the Rebel Alliance!

[samy.livejournal.com]

If you'll do comics, there'll be literally thousands of characters, so I'd advise against trying to catalogue them...

Maybe because I do most of my fiction consumption in comics form, I don't really run into any bias. There is a *crapload* of good female characters in comics. Maybe not as the title characters of solo titles, other than Wonder Woman and the occasional She-Hulk, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, considering that the longer you have a title of your own, the less the character can change and develop anymore. I've always been a fan of the bit characters, because you can actually *do* stuff with them.

[lytarules.livejournal.com]

Judy Dench sorta fits because of the Bond movies, wherein the gadgets are sorta SciFi.

And is Xena sorta SciFi? Fantasy is often lumped together with SciFi.

[lytarules.livejournal.com]

Oh, and have I told you lately I love you? *loves*

[swiftangel.livejournal.com]

And if you include animation/puppets.... Gerry Anderson had some kick-ass women in his shows. In Captain Scarlet, the Angels (Destiny, Symphony, Harmony and Melody) were the fighter pilots, without whom all the men (barring Scarlet) would be dead.

[lyssie.livejournal.com]

*snuggles* And, yes, Xena should be on the list. *adds*

[woodface]

You forgot Vala!

[antikythera.livejournal.com]

Bahahah. Judi Dench.

And... Quilla June is about the last person I expected to see on this list. Maybe I have to see the movie. In the novella she didn't do anything for me, and I don't think she was supposed to.

I'll throw a few anime characters into the pool (from s/f titles)...

- Millie Thompson from Trigun, just for being one of the most emotionally honest characters I've ever seen on TV anywhere and for carrying a big-ass gun
- Pretty much any Miyazaki princess (San from Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa from Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind, etc.) because they just kick Disney princesses' butts into next year
- Ed from Cowboy Bebop-- I keep wanting to write about her as a grownup... that would be wacky

And one more to add to your list of random s/f movies: Kira from The Dark Crystal.

Quite frankly, I don't think making a list is going to 'convince' anyone. People who only write about male characters are only interested in male characters. They say female characters aren't interesting, but it means they aren't interested.

I definitely hold female characters to a higher standard, probably because it's bugged me ever since I was a kid that they never got anything good to do. I wanted to watch TV and be able to identify with them as easily as I did with the male heroes.

[timjr.livejournal.com]

Millie! "Muffin! Absolutely muffin!"

I find it amusing you mention Ed, but not Faye. Does Faye get no love?

Other females from sci-fi anime would be

The Major in GitS, obviously
Rei and Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion
Meryl Strife from Trigun
Haruko Haruhara, Mamimi, and Kitsurubami from FLCL
Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop. You could possibly count Julia from the series as well.
The Paper and Miss Deep from Read or Die.

...that's what my brain is coming up with.

[antikythera.livejournal.com]

Yeah, add Faye and Meryl in there too.

I tend to brush off characters who are obviously meant to be eye candy, but Faye and the Major (what's with the standard-issue police lingerie?) definitely have more going for them.

As for Meryl, she struck me as the sort of character who is mainly there to moon over and provide a reflection for the male lead. But again, she can be that and still be more than that, and it's another thing I have to remember to look past.

Julia... meh. She was more of a plot device than anything else, part of the backstory that shaped Spike and his attitude towards women. We knew more about her as a dream figure than as an actual character.

I'm not familiar with the rest of them. I've seen part of FLCL and part of Read or Die. (I really must see more of that last... my brother thinks I should cosplay as The Paper.)

[musicforcylons.livejournal.com]

BSG 2003 - Ishay has a first name?

X-Files - Marita Covarrubias

Roswell - three others that come to mind whose names I can't remember, Maria's Mom, The FBI agent chick who posed as a school teacher, and the chick with the Micheal obsession

Sliders - wasn't there a girl named Quinn?

[dkphoenix.livejournal.com]

Dang. That's quite the list.

The Handmaid's Tale had a whole lot of women in it... all those Aunts, for starters. I'd definitely include Moira, Offred's rebellious friend who wound up in the brothel.

The remake of Night of the Living Dead had a Barbara who kicked some ass, played by Patricia Tallman, who was Lyta on B5.

You remember writing a short short bit a long time ago, where Nikolaos (from Anita Blake) was talking to Drusilla? Well, after reading this list, Nikolaos, Divia, and Claudia (from IWTV) are now whispering to each other in my head...

[lyssie.livejournal.com]

According to the IMDB, she does. Selix still doesn't. Sigh.

Quinn Mallory was the guy, actually.

[musicforcylons.livejournal.com]

How can she have a name when we don't have one for Cally? Unfair Moore, unfair!

Oh. Meep!

[lyssie.livejournal.com]

That movie was kinda scary and very odd. *shudders*

Oo.

HAH. I vaguely do, yes. *eg*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lot49_/]

Wandered in from a link of a link of a link.
Dead Like Me. Georgia Lass, Roxy Harvey
Hellsing. Integra Hellsing, Seras Victoria, Wolfe Heinkel, Yumi/Yumie, Rip Van Winkle
Fullmetal Alchemist. Riza Hawkeye, Maria Ross, Winry Rockbell, Lust, Gracia Hughes
Elektra
And even though it's a novel, Y.T. from Snow Crash

[lyssie.livejournal.com]

Cool. Thanks! I'd forgotten Dead Like Me. Bad me. *fixes*