Expert: Mel - 7/5/2008

Question
Hi. I am writing a paper on strong feminist characters in popular television shows. My question is, in your opinion do you think Shannon Doherty's character was a feminist? If so, can you provide an example or two that illustrates this?

Thanks.

Jenn

Answer
Hi Jenn,

I'm a bit on the fence about whether to call Brenda a feminist or not, but I know that she would consider herself one.  The very idea of what constitutes feminism is, in many ways, subjective, and Brenda's character takes on some shifts throughout the series.  There are contradictions everywhere and I'm trying not to write a paper here myself, LOL.  

A few things that pop out at me for the pro-Feminist argument are the following:

-She grants herself permission to break up with a guy (Dylan) if she feels their sexual relationship is moving too fast. ("Beach Blanket Brandon", 2.01)
-She doesn't buy into the myth that 'father knows best'.  
-While working at a boutique, she defends the use of her saleswoman tactics on their friends by declaring to Brandon, "I'm sorry that everybody is put off by the idea of an independent woman trying to take an aggressive posture in pursuit of a specific goal.  ... Which is to have my own car so I never have to depend on you for a ride to school again." ("Fire and Ice", 2.19)
-Brenda's very outspoken/determined during the protests for condom distribution/safe sex pamphlets in school. ("Everybody's Talkin' Bout It", 2.21)
-In Paris, as they both miss their boyfriends, Brenda gives Donna a speech about the "dependent woman syndrome". ("Too Little, Too Late", 3.03)
-Although she's not fighting for women's rights, just her own, Brenda at least feels that she's as deserving to go to a private college as her twin brother. ("Highwire", 3.09)
-She drags Donna to a self-defense class. ("Dead End", 3.21)
-Tony Miller is granted permission to take Bren to Prom but is made aware, early on, that he's to expect nothing in terms of romance. ("A Night to Remember", 3.27)
-Brenda ultimately rejects Stuart's condescending attitude when he puts her down in an attempt to save face with his father, and shows signs that she wouldn't be alright as his trophy wife had they gone through with the marriage ("Well, what about my career?"), something I always felt Stuart was hinting at.  ("Addicted to Love", 4.21 and "And I Did It My Way", 4.10).
-She refuses to take her clothes off for the sake of art in the stage production of, "The Mask of Melancholy" (though this might qualify as one of the borderline examples out there). ("Emily", 4.13)
-Along with the other girls in the cast, she takes a course on "Feminist Perspectives In Cultural Anthropology" her freshman year of college, taught by Lucinda Nicholson, whom she respects.  Margaret Mead is one of those discussed. ("The Labors of Love", 4.19 to "A Pig Is A Boy Is A Dog", 4.23)  
-In the hippie episode, all characters have very purposefully similar alter-egos represented by what Brenda imagines in Wendy's diary, and her character is back in the late 60's, politically involved, and "fighting for the right to exist" in her own home. ("The Time Has Come Today", 4.25)
-Considering that she'd go to an animal rights protest and stand to be arrested for breaking into a University lab ("Cuffs and Links", 4.24), it stands to reason that she'd be equally involved for an issue that affected her more directly, such as women's rights. Overall, she's a strong woman.

And the basics for an argument in opposition:

-In the Brenda-Kelly-Dylan love triangle, S3, she passively waits for Dylan to decide who he wants to date.  Plus, he's already cheated on her.
-Although Dylan helps all his friends when they're in trouble, he has the reputation of "coming to Brenda's rescue" (Palm Springs with Stuart, jail after the animal rights bust).  Scenes dedicated to her pining for him follow.  
-All of Brenda's protests towards her father can be attributed to typical (if not less than admirable) teenage rebellion, not feminism.
-Brenda takes cheap shots at other women's sexuality the moment she feels threatened (Emily, "Wildfire", 2.08; Kelly, "Rebel With A Cause"/"Wild Horses", 3.13/3.14).  Or, she slaps them (Andrea, "Pass/Not Pass", 2.06), barring a more general insult ("I am still Maggie the Cat and you still have nothing", to Laura, a fellow competitor for the lead in the play, "Acting Out", 4.28).  Too often, someone is being basely insulted as Brenda takes an aggressive stance towards a goal, be that she's rightfully scorned or not.  I don't see the impressive politics in that.  
-And on an economic front, Brenda signs a prenuptial agreement for Stuart in "Otherwise Engaged", 4.09, if you think that's applicable.  

Thanks for the question!

All the best,

Mel