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Pop Culture Is Finally Coming Around… Sort Of

Let me be clear as I start this article, Hollywood trails society. Anime — doubly so. In my estimation, TV is finally catching up to reality.

I come from a background of two decades working on and building, highly diverse analytics teams. While the gender splits weren’t always 50–50, I managed a few teams where I was the only Y-chromosome bearer in the room.

But as an analyst, I have also seen the numbers. Much of Silicon Valley is 80–20 or worse. Even the Boston-DC corridor is at best 60–40. Things are not even and there is a lot of reason to believe they may never be. Even now, not all the new trends are helping to close the gap… perhaps though, Hollywood finally is… perhaps?

Mary & Susan of Johnny Test

From cartoons to movies, anime to sitcoms, more and more female scientists and analysts are appearing. Johnny Test, a kid’s cartoon which first aired in 2005, featured his scientist twin sisters Mary & Susan. Kid’s cartoons may have been the first to come around. Focus groups have a way of forcing things.

It is interesting to note that while the stereotype of only male scientists was finally being torn down, the stereotype of “smart people” wearing glasses seems to have grown. It is as if writers are only prepared to assault one stereotype at a time.

When Voltron relaunched in 2016, we were introduced to Katie Holt. She is Voltron’s resident gamer, scientist, and intellectual. Only, to join the space academy, Katie had to become Pidge Gunderson. This involved a hair cut and of course some glasses.

The series was quick to let Katie out of hiding, part way through season one, but it is unclear how much of her ‘alt’ appearance is now free choice verse old habits (hers or the writers). She still goes by Pidge, although that was her childhood nickname.

Big Bang Theory was in it’s third season before Bernadette Rostenkowski’s character was added in 2009. Her character fits many of the appearance stereotypes that Hollywood seems to have some real issues shaking. But her character has also been widely lauded as one of the better role models for female scientists.

Melissa Rauch, the actress who plays her, has also been cast as the voice of Harley Quinn. I have written about that incomprehensible character before. For those who may be unfamiliar, Harley is a mad genius scientist herself.

A few years earlier — 2003, a much less stereotypical Abby Sciuto appeared on NCIS. Well honestly, perhaps the Goth thing was just a different stereotype, but they managed to avoid blonde hair and glasses. But Hollywood has other things to trip over…

The character of Felicity Smoak from CW’s Arrow has dabbled in both stereotypes. And like Abby Sciuto and other action/drama female scientist characters, her current story line is being overwhelmed by her sense of “helplessness”.

As a man, I can’t speak to whether this “helpless” story line is realistic, helpful, or whatever. Perhaps it makes these characters relate-able? I don’t claim to have the right perspective. As an analyst, it annoys me and I have seen it way too often. These stories reinforce the concept that might beats bright. To me, it is another stereotype that Hollywood is reinforcing — even while making progress on others.

Finally, while Blindspot, a Corsair’s favorite, has seen better days, it is hard not to like the character of Patterson. I am not sure why every super scientist is also a super hacker and super analyst — but she is. She also avoided the glasses. She has not avoided the “helpless” plot line, but her character at least fell back on being smarter than everyone.

Patterson joins Pidge in one other emerging stereotype. It is once again one that annoys me as an analyst, though I do recognize its reality. The show has featured several comic moments where the team rolls their eyes while Patterson is explaining how she determined something. They have cut her off and used her counter part Rich.com to “cut to the chase”.

This same comic take has been used on Voltron and I suspect many other shows. I can’t watch them all, nor would I want to. Here is the rub. While I have certainly been in situations myself, where I have asked other analysts to cut to the punchline, these shows do not feature rambling characters. It is honestly more that Hollywood is belittling the brainy stuff. The winner is the folks looking to go punch something in the face or fire a gun. You can start playing the macho card, but on Blindspot the fist is just as likely to be owned by a lady.

Hollywood is learning… slowly. Eventually they may catch-up. But likely, society will have created parity without them. Regardless, as a leader, an employer, a husband, and a father (my wife and daughter are very stereotypical — blonde hair, glasses, and brilliant), I am happy that these characters are finally more prevalent. Thanks for reading. Share your comments below.

Not to be left out:

For those thinking — “hey, he skipped Aech!”. Guilty — but no worries. Aech is first up in our newest series.

For those who wanted to see Bulma: