The new season of Doctor Who, starting Saturday, doesn't use a single female writer. The count is similarly poor for other British science-fiction and fantasy shows – so what's the problem?
On Saturday, Doctor Who returns, kicking off the second part of the seventh series with a James-Bond inspired episode that sees the Doctor and Clara whizzing round London on a motorbike. Which is exciting if you like interesting drama with witty banter and thoughtful concepts. But less exciting if you like interesting dramas that include women on their writing teams.
Because season seven of Doctor Who will feature no female scribes at all. Not in the bombastic dinosaurs and cowboys episodes that aired last year, and not in any of the new episodes we're about to receive. In fact, Doctor Who hasn't aired an episode written by a woman since 2008, 60 episodes ago. There hasn't been a single female-penned episode in the Moffat era, and in all the time since the show was rebooted in 2005 only one, Helen Raynor, has ever written for the show.
Isn't that is a pretty terrible record for a flagship TV programme? It even prompted website Cultbox to put together a list of women they would like to see writing the show, any of whom would be great.
When questioned on the subject last year, Caroline Skinner, the show's recently departed executive producer, said that it was her intention to see more women writing for Doctor Who. But none has emerged. So I asked producer Marcus Wilson about his plans to improve the balance of male and female writers on the show. "Due to schedules and other projects, both male and female writers whom we have wanted to join the team simply haven't been able to," he said. "For us it's about who can write good Doctor Who stories, regardless of gender."
Source: Full Article @ guardian
On Saturday, Doctor Who returns, kicking off the second part of the seventh series with a James-Bond inspired episode that sees the Doctor and Clara whizzing round London on a motorbike. Which is exciting if you like interesting drama with witty banter and thoughtful concepts. But less exciting if you like interesting dramas that include women on their writing teams.
Because season seven of Doctor Who will feature no female scribes at all. Not in the bombastic dinosaurs and cowboys episodes that aired last year, and not in any of the new episodes we're about to receive. In fact, Doctor Who hasn't aired an episode written by a woman since 2008, 60 episodes ago. There hasn't been a single female-penned episode in the Moffat era, and in all the time since the show was rebooted in 2005 only one, Helen Raynor, has ever written for the show.
Isn't that is a pretty terrible record for a flagship TV programme? It even prompted website Cultbox to put together a list of women they would like to see writing the show, any of whom would be great.
When questioned on the subject last year, Caroline Skinner, the show's recently departed executive producer, said that it was her intention to see more women writing for Doctor Who. But none has emerged. So I asked producer Marcus Wilson about his plans to improve the balance of male and female writers on the show. "Due to schedules and other projects, both male and female writers whom we have wanted to join the team simply haven't been able to," he said. "For us it's about who can write good Doctor Who stories, regardless of gender."
Source: Full Article @ guardian
There's not a single woman in the Yankees' starting lineup, either. End the oppression now.
ReplyDeleteIf a talented female writer applied for a job with them I expect they'd be given exactly the same consideration as a male writer also applying... the fact that they currently have all male writers doesn't necessarily indicate sexism any more than if they were all white indicates racism or if they were all British indicates they are all soccer hooligans. I actually find it annoying that people cry sexism or racism or whatever, when it's just a matter of hiring the best.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'd certainly like to see more female writers, both in Doctor Who and throughout sci-fi. However, I'm sure the relative lack of female Doctor Who writers up til now is purely coincidence. If a good one comes forward, they're not going to reject her based on gender.
ReplyDeleteThat is just sad. It's sad that there are shows, where for several seasons are no women among the writers. Apparently it's hard for a woman to get a chance to make it in that genre.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's no wonder that when a woman writes a fantasy or horror book she uses a different name, so most people would think it was written by a man. Like J.K.Rowling (Harry Potter), G.A.Aiken (the Dragon Kin Series) or L.J.Smith (Vampire Diaries), to just name a few of my favorites.
In an ideal world, yes. But it's hard to even get a chance. And the sad truth is, no matter how talented you are or how hard you work, all that count's is connection. Even with no or little talent you can get a job, if you're friend with the producer or the star of the show. And it's also true, that most people think scifi is a domain of male gigs (like my favorite nerds in Big Bang Theory).
ReplyDeleteThe problem with people crying sexism or racism all the time leads to quotas, where they hire based on fulfilling the quota and not necessarily hiring the best applicant. I guess I'm just being naive but my theory is that if you want to get a job, be the best applicant regardless of sex or race and you'll get the job.
ReplyDeleteSorry, not in the world I live in. In my last job I worked 12 hours instead of 8, knowing it won't be paid. I worked as crazy every day, even if I got sick. But I got fired (actually my contract expired and wasn't extended), so a friend of my superior got the job.
ReplyDeleteHere, if you have connections, you barely have to work, and your job is safe. If you don't have connections, it's hard to get a job and even harder to keep it.
But I agree with you. Managers should be interested to hire the best applicant. In best interest for the company. But they hire their relatives and their friends, so no wonder so many companies have problems.
The great problem with this article is that it assumes there are actual jobs to be had. These are 12-13 episode seasons and Moffat writes a third of them himself. Apart from that you have yearly episodes by Gatiss, Chibnall, Roberts and Whithouse, only about 6 of the 39 episodes produced have been done by outside talent - and they were done by Neil Gaiman, Neil Cross and Simon Nye, which aren't random television writers, but very successful and award winning creators themselves.
ReplyDeleteSo where's the room for ANYONE new? Do they fire somebody, or take away an episode from somebody who may only write two every 18 months?