What better way to display the evolution of women in the media then by using the television show Firefly created by Joss Whedon, the brilliant mind that created Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Whedon's debut on the small screen with Buffy brought the image of a butt-kicking teenage girl from the Valley who is the only person strong enough to hold back the forces of Hell. So it seems fitting that his third venture in television drama is a blend of science-fiction and western with gun-toting women, noble courtesans called Companions and a cheerful young woman who can hear the “voice” of machines.
Firefly was conceived after Whedon read a book chronicling the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War as well as one featuring Jewish partisan fighters in World War II (Firefly, n.d.). From there Whedon became fascinated with the idea of following people who fought on the losing side of a war, thus came the short-lived fourteen episode television show. The show chronicles the adventures of a nine member ensemble cast aboard a Firefly-class space ship named Serenity. Set in the year 2517 after the death of the planet Earth (Firefly, n.d.), the crew of Serenity make ends meet by smuggling items throughout the "verse.
Lead by Captain Mal Reynolds a former Independent, or browncoat, sergeant who fought against the Unification of planets and lost along with his second-in-command the gun-toting former browncoat Zoe Alleyna Washburne. Flying Serenity is the geeky and at times timid Hoban “Wash” Washburne, yes he"s Zoe's husband, with the help of the spunky young ship's mechanic Kaywinnit Lee “Kaylee” Frye. If that didn't seem random enough there's the hired muscle in the form of a man named Jayne Cobb, a minister, or as they call them shepherds, Shepherd Book with a mysterious past that grants him extensive knowledge of hand to hand combat and weapons. Offering some class to Serenity is Inara Serra, a Companion described as “the 26th century equivalent of a courtesan [and/]or geisha” (Firefly, n.d.). Rounding out the crew are the fugitive Tam siblings. Dr. Simon Tam is a former trauma surgeon who gave up everything to save his genius little sister River from the Alliance who was playing with her mind.
With such a blend of unique characters in a one of a kind television show it makes it perfect to analyze the evolution of women's roles. For the last forty years in advertising women have been mainly portrayed as either sexual objects or homemakers (Carpenter & Edison, 2005), as if those are the only roles women play. On television women have evolved from being the Mrs. Cleaver and Mrs. Brady to being Wonder Woman, Xena or a Desperate Housewife. None of which is to say that this still isn't an issue for women today. If you dig deep enough into any female role on television today you can find the remnants of the old stereotypes (Consalvo, 2004).
To expound upon this idea that innovation holds a kernel of stereotype, let's begin by examining the women of Firefly. In order to gather all the forthcoming observations viewing the pilot episode began the wheels turning for examining gender roles in the media.
Let's begin with Inara Serra. As explained before she is a Companion, and like in the days of the courtesan they are treated as high class noble women (Firefly, n.d.). All Companions are trained and educated in not only the sensual arts but in the art of conversation as well. They are all part of a respected guild throughout the "verse designed to help each Companion conduct business safely and help them to screen their clients.
All of this differs from the usual stereotypes of what a courtesan would be like. Stuart Hall (1997) defines a stereotype as a meaning fixed to a group of people. Typically a courtesan would play into the idea that women can only use their sex appeal to get what they want (Davidson, 2004). Like in the film Moulin Rouge, in order to gain financing to turn a brothel into a theatre the top courtesan has to sleep with a wealthy duke.
However Inara can be seen as the exception to that idea as well as most Companions. Throughout the course of the pilot episode she can only be seen once trying to change Mal"s mind on a decision by flirting with him. But when that does not work instead of pouting about it she simply threatens to leave Serenity, in essence to take away the respectability the ship gains by Inara's mere presence.
The differences Inara holds go far beyond this one example. After a few shots of the interior of Serenity the viewer can notice the mostly metal and dirty variations of the walls. However the walls of Inara's shuttle are covered in rich colorful fabrics, creating an atmosphere completely separate from the ship itself. Quite often in the course of the pilot Inara is visibly separated from the rest of the crew dressing in a purple gown that speaks of her wealth. All of these things add to the persona of the wealthy business woman that encompasses part of who Inara is.
