Holy hell, the miniskirts. I know it was progressive for its time, women’s lib, etc. But: Female officers bending over console, butt swell hanging out. Almost every episode, over sexualized women needlessly emotional, constantly falling into male arms. Barely clothed, wisps of fabric. Spock saying that Kirk’s alter ego trying to rape his female officer made him interesting.
I’m at episode 14, 1st season. Is the rest of the series like this?
That said, there’s a hard, pure science to it I haven’t seen in later star treks. Can see how people then would find it fascinating. Also gets deep, in a weighty, high drama way.
The pearl clutching with younger folks today, good lord. “My heavens! Those poor women were sexualized!” Yeah, they choose to be sexy as a middle finger to gender roles at the time. Ya know, the exact opposite of conservative Arab culture. “Oh no! Society is forcing them to wear too many clothes!” LOL, FFS y’all, get a grip.
And yes, you nailed it. That sort of attire was verboten in the 50s, simply wasn’t done. Woman started breaking free in the 60s and the miniskirt is a solid example of that. Next people will be wringing their hands over bikinis. Same thing.
SOURCE: My mom was one of those women.
I can honestly see why someone who grew up in an era when women can get away with wearing virtually anything they want but also an era where men viewing women as pieces of meat are rightfully frowned upon would have trouble understanding the Sexual Revolution and its effects on women’s clothing.
Of course, in the context of the show, the miniskirts are more perceived as forced sexuality, since they are the general outfit required of female Federation members. So the idea of choice and self-actualization isn’t really that obvious to see in the setting the show gives off.
To be fair, this was one of the reasons they had male extras wear skirts in TNG. Not TOS, but in I believe the very first episode of TNG we see male extras in skirts.
Those are skants. That’s what the fans call them.
If we saw there were more options, this would not be a concern. But with the 2 more prominent characters they definitely wanted to sex up the show, so there was no chance they would choose to let them have a choice.
Been reading articles on it, while working thru 1st season. You are spot on. The oversexualizing of TOS women is cringe worthy in retrospect. But at the time, Hayes code, puritan morality: women told they can be sexual, was groundbreaking, revolutionary back then. I was born in the 70s, much has changed since then.
This is a good thing. If society is progressing, then every generation should look back and be kinda horrified. Yes it’s because they don’t understand the context, but they will if we teach them.
If they weren’t clutching their pearls to I’d be worried that nothing was changing for the better. If you think the past is great, you’re in a decline.