WRITING SKILLS
20 YEARS LATER AND STILL SLAYING
BY JESSICA FAHNER
Article written for the Saint Mary’s Collegian published March 21, 2017
On March 10th Buffy the Vampire Slayer celebrated its 20th anniversary. 20 years ago, in 1997, the underrated show aired its first episode, “Welcome to the Hellmouth.” The show’s success surprised everyone, but it gained a substantial following and even created a spin-off series called Angel. For those of us born at the tail end of the 90s, the significance of this anniversary might be lost on us. Especially since in the last 10 years media has been saturated with cheesy vampire content (thank you Twilight), Buffy can easily be dismissed as another shoddy vampire production. However, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which debuts the petite and seemingly harmless Sarah Michelle Gellar, actually pushes a liberal, feminist agenda.
Over the series’ seven seasons, there are arguably many feminist moments that are interlaced within the fantasy/horror genre. For instance, the show establishes a powerful matriarch of ‘slayers,’ a line of young women who are given the responsibility to protect humankind from demons and the like. Most notably, Buffy is portrayed as a girly and overtly feminine character, characteristics that normally are not associated with power or having authority, but Buffy challenges stereotypes of women portrayed in media. Not only is Buffy part of a powerful and ancient matriarch, she also inherits phenomenal strength. Thus, she is rendered an active female body that disrupts the male public sphere. Buffy patrols dark alleys late at night, a place conventionally reserved for men as it consequently dangerous and uncommon for women to occupy those spaces. As opposed to Buffy being a 'damsel in distress' archetype, she can actively defend herself and save humanity. Although Buffy’s boyfriend sometimes swoops in to save her from time to time, she also rescues him several times as well. In fact, it isn’t just Buffy that exudes feminist power, but all the women in Buffy’s friend group are equally as powerful. The women in Buffy the Vampire Slayer are placed in violent or sexist situations but are not portrayed as weak and helpless. Rather, their reaction is one of power and agency, thus providing a powerful role model for women in times of vulnerability.
Even the final ending of the series has been heralded as the ultimate feminist ending. Buffy and her friends find a way to end the single line of the matriarch, instead, allowing all potential slayers to have power. Thus, all women who have the potential to be the next slayer are granted the slayer’s powers, relieving any one woman from the sole responsibility of being the ‘slayer.’ As a result, all the women share the burden of saving the world from demonic evil. The finale of the show serves as a metaphor; calling women to share the responsibility of feminism and fight for gender equality. A common theme in Buffy is strength in numbers, that working together with other women and allies is the most beneficial way to accomplish a goal.
Since Buffy the Vampire Slayer first aired in 1997, the roles of powerful women on television has increased, such as Orange is the New Black, Good Wife, Scandal, etc. However, it is important to remember how the show was significant for the third wave of feminism. In the midst of a comical and dramatic storyline, it aimed to impact and disrupt traditional gender roles on prime time television. It made important strides in changing the environment of television, for instance, the show aired the first lesbian sex scene that ever occurred on prime time television. Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s 20th anniversary has prompted people to reflect on its impact in the feminist movement and the progress of women in media since 1997. Most notably, the anniversary is a reminder to carry on the third wave of feminism and to remind us how audiences want to see powerful women on the TV screen. After all, how could a low-budget vampire series garner such a cult following? With powerful women, of course.
WHY A GIRL’S TOUCHDOWN IS WORTH MORE THAN A GUY’S
BY JESSICA FAHNER
Article written for the Saint Mary's Collegian, published October 2014
For students who are not on a D1 sports team or do not have time for the commitment of a club sport, Campus Recreation offers a variety of Intramural Sports teams. These include coed basketball, coed soccer, and softball to name a few. This fall, Campus Recreation has offered coed flag football and Saint Mary’s students were excited to get teams together and join in friendly competition with each other.
Camus Recreation has taken steps to ensure that there is equality in Intramural Sports. In order to avoid male dominated teams, there must be a minimum of two or three girls on each team. This requirement works to create equality on the team and promote gender diversity in the games. It also works to encourage more girls to play Intramural Sports, as they will be more likely to be asked to join the team because of the requirement. Likewise, when playing Intramural softball, it is required that the batting order follows an alternating gender pattern; for instance girl-boy-girl-boy. This ensures enough playing time for both male and female payers. It also prevents one gender from dominating the entire game.
This fall, Intramural flag football has also enacted some similar rules to encourage gender equality. At least three girls have to be playing on the field at all times and it is required to have a minimum of three girls on the team. So if a team has the minimum of three girls, the girls must play the entire time. The most notable rule that is meant to establish equality is the scoring system. When a girl scores a touchdown it is worth nine points in comparison to a boy’s seven point touchdown, a two point difference. It is clear that this rule is an attempt to further create equality in the game and there are many benefits to this scoring system. This rule encourages boys to pass the ball more frequently to girls because they will score more points. This also allows for girls to feel as if they are contributing more to the game because they bring in more points. Also the theory is that more girls will be willing to play if they felt equal to the boys and not disadvantaged. However, there are also some drawbacks to the scoring guidelines. For instance, the rule has been manipulated and now girls are wanted on the teams for the benefit of more points. Also, girls are frequently passed to when they are near the touchdown zone. Although the scoring system works to equalize genders, boys are not being rewarded equally for the same amount of work. Boys are doing the same task as the girls and are being rewarded less for their efforts. This brings up the question whether or not there is a large difference between skill and physical ability of the genders that they cannot be considered equal.
Campus Recreation has been very conscious of gender equality in the Intramural Leagues and has taken steps to encourage equality for both genders but do girls really need extra compensation for the game to be considered equal?