#octrek

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Sexism in TOS: Worst Offender, or Progressive in Retrospect in Comparison?

I see a lot of folks claim that TOS was the most sexist of the Star Trek shows by a landslide -- and while I agree that it definitely suffered from the sexism of the times, I also have other perspectives to share to give some food for thought.

I am of course not insinuating that TOS isn't sexist -- it is, but I have to ask folks to consider the breadth and depth of Berman's sexism in his run and ask yourself: Was Gene Roddenberry genuinely more sexist in his storytelling and delivery than Rick Berman?

I'm not telling you to feel one way or the other, but all I ask is that you hear me out and consider some perspectives and make your own balanced assessments. Nobody is obligated to share my opinion, but it means a lot just to have folks hear it and see their thoughts on the subject. So here is what I was originally responding to:

Someone's response to this photo:

"Devil's advocate. This was a part of the popular form of cardio during the production time of TNG. Yes, it was heavily sexualised by men, but so is literally every other way women work out. Men have been caught taking pictures of women while trying to do dead lifts, running on tracks and working on sled machines. They post them online to share too. The fact is, there is no way a woman can be shown working out without it going there. And yeah,t hat includes the combat forms of workout they do in Star Trek. Just look at how Dax dresses when she spars with Worf. Yes, they're dating, but still, same goes when 7 does and any other female.

Aerobics routines like this were made dirty and cringy. This was what women wore then by and large. This is how the workout was done. We make it cringy."

My response to them:

"I respect your take, but I disagree on a few fronts.

The miniskirt was chosen by the TOS female cast, not the male cast, specifically requested by Grace LW and affirmed by Nichelle and Majel who would go on to vehemently defend the miniskirt over the years as comfortable and embraced by them.

Grace said it was comfortable and seen as a symbol of female sexual empowerment during the 60s and thought it would be a progressive garment (and turns out that it was, as it was later adapted and worn by male crew as a skant on TNG) -- FYI those were designed by a gay man and Gene approved them.

This was also supposed to be Spock's TMP outfit:

Literally lingerie.

We saw both Uhura (who saves Kirk in from Marlena Mirror Mirror) and Yeoman Landon (the first to initiate combat with a classic Kirk-esque kick to help the Captain being attacked in The Apple) carry out their combat training in their Starfleet uniforms without ever being made to change into any ridiculous workout gear.

In fact, I'd argue Jim Kirk was sexualized even more than the ladies of the week on the show and I saw his naked body more than anyone else's on a fairly regular basis. He wore red yoga tights while topless in Charlie X while the women wore full length gymnastic suits that covered their entire body. If anything, it went out of its way to avoid sexualizing women practicing fitness in those scenes and instead focused on Kirk.

Gene confessed that he asked to have Shatner filmed in suggestive/provocative ways to "give something to the ladies", so he -- as he said -- liked to "film him walking away" or have him conveniently busting out of his shirts in just about every episode as it were, because Shatner apparently had great assets. LOL

Gene made an effort to at least sexualize both if he was going to sexualize one, and he carried that attitude forward in wanting the m/m and f/f scenes in the background on Risa for TNG. He also insisted that the men and women wear skimpy outfits on THAT TNG planet. You know the one. LOL I mean the dudes even had on less than the women:

Gene also gave permission to K/S shippers to have their conventions back in the 70s when he was asked for permission. Gene and Nimoy felt with all the skimpy outfits they had the ladies wear, why not let the ladies and gay men have their fun, too? It's how we ended up with moments like this:

Yes, those are two people dressed up as Kirk and Spock's penises doing interpretive dance. Gene didn't give two damns. LOL

In my eyes, that was a very progressive take on Gene's part for the 60s. It was actually PARAMOUNT STUDIOS who had the big problem with K/S stories and vehemently tried to shut them down. Gene literally hired slash authors on his payroll and even had several slash stories/writers published in his official Star Trek books (The New Voyages & The New Voyages II).

I feel I saw Uhura and women in TOS engaged in more physical combat/altercations defending themselves that Troi or Bev were shown holding their own.

In fact, Kirk used to get furious when someone would "dress up" his female crew members without their consent (Trelane episode, Shore Leave episode) because like his male crew members, he wanted them to be treated professionally and to also have his male crew act professionally.

Berman brought some of his own personal biases into Star Trek that in some ways regressed it. While TOS had blatant sexism and was called on it time and again, that show was made in the 60s -- a solid 21 years before TNG. We as a modern audience understood why some of it was cringe/sexist due to the time period -- look at any other media coming out in the 60s and Star Trek was miles ahead of what other shows were doing.

Compare that to Berman who was churning sexist stuff out when women like Starbuck and Scully were simultaneously on screen on other programs airing, and we had already had Sigourney Weaver and other strong women in Holywood playing respectful roles.

In my eyes, there was no need of the sexism seen in TNG but especially VOY and ENT. There was no excuse for it when other shows were writing women far better and a number of those weren't even set in the future like Trek was, making it age even faster due to having those dated perspectives frequently highlighted.

In the Center Seat documentary as well as "The Fifty Year Mission" book you will find cast members, writers and other studio alumni who attest to this. Some discussions from "The Fifty Year Mission":

"First, Berman was supposed to have been a real sleaze ball . . . According to Terry Farrel, he would go on constantly about how her breasts weren't big enough, how she should do something about it, and how his secretary was a good example to follow as she had huge breasts. She even had to have fittings to get larger bras, and that was all done at his behest.

Later Berman and Braga developed a name for Jeri Ryan's character prior Seven of Nine. They originally called the character "perineum" which if you look it up it is the area between the anus and the scrotum. Later they floated the name "6 of 9". I mean, what does it tell you about where these two were coming from in the development of this character if they had names like that put forward in all seriousness for her?"

Gene Roddenberry also had some of his own more progressive ideas for TNG cut or watered down by Berman. Roddenberry agreed TNG should have homosexual relationships and representation at a con in the 80s and insisted on it in a meeting with his writers -- something Berman later would not honor. Gene wanted the AIDS episode, showing m/m and f/f in the Riza scenes -- these were some of Roddenberry's requests to include in TNG that Berman later stonewalled.

Berman's era was sadly dated by his own misogynist bias, IMO, to the point that it can somewhat hurt the shows he worked on through his cringe egoism and blatant disrespect toward his female cast.

There is a reason why Gene could keep female actresses working with him and Berman had a revolving door of women that he couldn't seem to keep working for him -- he was abhorrent to women, on and off set. Gene wasn't perfect at all, he had a lot of issues himself -- but Berman was a whole other level. Just look at what he did to poor Jolene Blalock, Marina Sirtis and his toxic commenting on her body weight which exacerbated her struggles with eating disorders, or how he treated and talked to Terry Farrell.

Anyway, just some food for thought. I'm not saying anyone is wrong regarding a take like that, but there are a variety of ways to look at this. Gene Roddenberry isn't a saint by any means, but it definitely bothers me how folks will tote the Berman era as if it were the lesser of two evils or the more progressive depiction of women when I felt there were far more concerning portrayals of women in his era with far less justification.

(P.S: I don't event want to go near the sheer amount of "creepy old dude/villain preys on innocent/naïve/scared young woman or little girl" stories there were in Berman's era, either. But that's a whole other can of worms I can write about in a part 2.)

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I was crunching some numbers about TOS with other fans re: the twelve ships that originally launched during Kirk's era as Captain of the Enterprise for that first five year mission.

It made me really appreciate the TOS crew and the wild frontier era that they managed to survive -- not only survive, but became the staple and measure of success for the Starfleet that took shape after them.

Folks forget that Kirk's crew were one of the few of the original 12 Starships launched that actually returned from their assigned mission with some semblance of crew and ship intact.

A lot of information was gathered and established during that exploratory time -- the reason the TOS crew findings are often mentioned in TNG onward is largely due to them being among the lucky few crew who made it back to share their findings during that time.

This benefited every crew afterward who built upon their findings as they revised based on experiences. Things that happened in that time were addressed in regulation later as a lesson learned.

Regarding the 12 ships:

- The Immunity Syndrome (USS Intrepid)

- The Doomsday Machine (USS Constellation)

- The Tholian Web (USS Defiant).

Considering only 12 flagships were in the OG launch during Kirk's time, that is a solid 1/4 of the ships and crews that never made it back.

But those aren't even the ones that were partially destroyed with casualties, or all of the ships where 100% of the ship and crew did not return. There are more:

- The Excaliber was crippled and lost all hands in The Ultimate Computer, and severe damage was dealt to the Lexington, Potemkin, and Hood.

- The Exeter lost almost all hands in The Omega Glory.

So that's 8 of the 12 ships/crews that were launched circa Kirk's Enterprise 5 year mission that were either entirely destroyed, or severely damaged.

When you consider those odds and how so many extraordinarily capable and well trained crews never made it back, it makes the original series crew all the more remarkable.

Not only did they return with the flagship and crew relatively intact, but they literally became the standard on which Starfleet measured and trained others moving forward.

TLDR: They're kind of a big deal.

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Can we take a moment to talk about the fact that 

Lieutenant Uhura is the first non-Vulcan character to learn how to play the Vulcan lute?

Star Trek TOS: Deleted scene from “Elaan of Troyius” 03x13 and a feature from the song “Beyond Antaris” in the episode “Conscience of the King” 01x23:

The first clip depicts a deleted scene of Mr. Spock discussing the Vulcan lyre with Lieutenant Uhura, who expresses a curiosity in the instrument and an interest in learning it. 

Spock reveals that no non-Vulcan individual had yet mastered playing the instrument. (It is a shame we were robbed of this scene in the canon; what a gem!)

The second clip shows Lieutenant Uhura performing the song “Beyond Antaris” upon the Vulcan lyre, proving she is the first non-Vulcan individual to master the instrument:

“In a 2008 interview, Nichelle Nichols said: “I created a relationship between Uhura and Spock as being her mentor, and the person she looked up to. Uhura was the only one who could play the Vulcan lyre and the only one who had the audacity to sing a song teasing Spock. 

. . .Uhura is the only non-Vulcan shown playing an instrument of this type." [x] Snippets taken from "Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault"

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Could not resist. These were 50% off at the card shop.

(Seriously though, no Boanz up in the shop? TF?)

Icons.

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"I recall Jim's face lit up, like the sun." - Spock's Autobiography

Screencaps by TrekCore

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Edited a bit BC this can apply well beyond straight guys or women:

Me with my elvish Vulcan space prince:

(I feel so seen)

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Update from my birthday:

The people in my life clearly get me.🤣

This shirt:

K/S earrings (wore these to work today and my Trekkie coworkers lost their minds):

And this TOS-Themed VHS turned lamp + speaker:

I feel so seen by the people I love.

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Spock Canonically Trying and Failing to Stop Thinking About Jim Kirk: A Series (brought to you by Gene Roddenberry)

Spock *Dramatically*: Jim! Goodbye my . . . my t'hy'la. This is the last time I will permit myself to think of you or even your name again.*Arm flung over eyes for brooding effect*

A FEW PAGES LATER

Spock: *Thinking* But what was it that Jim Kirk had once said?

Vulcan elder: Yo SPOCK. Stop thinking about your human boyfriend. We've been over this. Stop making us call you out like this.

Spock: Oops👀Right right right shit, don't think about Jim - yup, supposed to be completing Kolinahr -

LATER THAT NOVEL

Vulcan elders: . . . Dude. Seriously? Your human boyfriend is still living in there, rent free. Like he is all up in your headspace, you dudes are legit mind bonded. Congratulations. You own a human.

Spock: Shit shit shit. OK I swear this is the last time. No take backs.

Vulcan elders: Get on up out of here. Get gone. Damn. Human lovin' ass lineage, the works of them; merciful Surak this family . . .

Later in the novel, on the Enterprise:

So apparently Spock knows this part of the ship as the place officers go when they are dtf and it's this unsaid respected thing that happens on the Enterprise. Canonically.

And it's Spock's favourite part of the ship. Y'know. For "many pleasures".

And then whaddya know, he immediately starts thinking about:

James T Kirk. And whoops, he also dropped a T'hy'la with that. I mean, hol' up:

"The other physiological changes which beset him on entering the bridge were so shocking that they made him scorn himself (👀). . . on the bridge -- Kirk! The mere name made Spock groan inwardly as he remembered what it had cost him to turn away from that welcome. T'hy'la!"🤯☠

My brother in Christ are you kidding me?

Am I expected to brush this off as "just bro things"?

Is this how other people are out here thinking about their best friends? Did I miss the memo?

Because I do not. Inwardly groan while thinking of my bestie as a friend-brother-lover in the make out spot on the Enterprise as people have sex in the background (canonically).

Just as an FYI.

And I need a break to take my inhaler bc I'm wheezing and laughing-

Ok we're back. Ahem.

Spock's favourite part of the ship is also the place people come to get it on. And he immediately starts thinking about Jim Kirk again while he's there, listening to people have sex.

I'm-

(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

LATER THAT NOVEL

Now Kirk and Spock are all unabashed about it.

It's out there, cut it, it's done, pack it up we are done pretending, we are married, we are in love here people, deal with it.

Spock's absolutely feeling himself like:

Fuck yeah, I'm thinking about Jim Kirk. And what? Love is the best thing in the whole damn galaxy and I'm done being mad about it.

Jim: "Let the church say amen."

(I can't believe the man Gene Roddenberry wrote this. Right in front of our faces. Like this book exists? It's canon? How is there even any room for debate anymore? Spock is obsessed with Jim Kirk and vice versa. It is written. WE HAVE RECEIPTS.)

Source: Star Trek The Motion Picture Novel, Gene Roddenberry, Dec. 1979

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Spirk has an official stamp in my country.

They were the only duo/couple that were issued their own stamp together in the series; the rest were either solo, group, or hero/villain shots.

That is all.

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Mom: Want to watch The Wrath of Khan?

Me: Absolutely!

*Me, Mom, my partner, crying on the couch*

Me: Why do we do this to ourselves?

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Jim giving sassy queer energy in I, Mudd:

Screencaps by TrekCore, photo edits by 1Shirt2ShirtRedShirtDeadShirt.

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When you have so many photos of James T. Kirk on your phone that Google makes a memories reel of him and prompts you to tag the photo of your reoccuring beloved family member:

I AM --

Like YES. I have as many photos of James T. Kirk as I do my family members. He's family.

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WIP of a Spock study inspired by some behind the scenes TOS footage. Leonard Nimoy loved lollipops. 🖖💚

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Our little boy, Scotty.

Named after Montgomery Scott, of course, the finest engineer in the fleet.

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Search For Spock: Love, Family and Friendship

“Let me help.”

The City on the Edge of Forever - TOS 01X28 (Source: kirknspock)

Operation: Annihilate!  - TOS 01X29 (Source: kirknspock)

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock is not only an exemplary film about love in the romantic or familial sense, but also the profound capacity of love there is to be found in friendship and found family. 

It is a film that truly encapsulates how powerful IDIC is in practice:

Every single character comes together to achieve their goal, which is ultimately the goal of coming through for a loved one. It is quite simply a story about the power of love in its many forms.

Star Trek III: TSFS is a testimony to loyalty. 

The film has so many beautiful examples and varieties of love in one film; it highlights so perfectly the power of connection and “let me help”. 

IDIC: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

Image sources: Memory Alpha