The
concept of recent sci-fi movie Transcendence
– what if a human’s brain becomes an A.I.? – fascinated me, and I enjoyed the film. What bothers me is that despite one of the two main characters being a woman, Dr.
Evelyn Caster, I can’t remember, in the entire movie, any woman speaking
one-on-one with any other woman. About anything.
I understand men outnumber women in the hard sciences, but Evelyn has not a single woman friend to support her in a crisis? I also understand that writers can’t throw in scenes solely to show a character has friends. Yet, somehow, men in the movie talk to one another, not only to women. It wouldn't be so bad if Transcendence were unique. But in so many action, sci-fi, and suspense movies, and often TV shows as well, women interact primarily, if not exclusively, with men. Even in romance movies, where women are shown as having female friends, the only topic the women typically discuss with each other is men. I can’t help wondering whether film and television writers and directors truly believe this is how women’s lives work.
I understand men outnumber women in the hard sciences, but Evelyn has not a single woman friend to support her in a crisis? I also understand that writers can’t throw in scenes solely to show a character has friends. Yet, somehow, men in the movie talk to one another, not only to women. It wouldn't be so bad if Transcendence were unique. But in so many action, sci-fi, and suspense movies, and often TV shows as well, women interact primarily, if not exclusively, with men. Even in romance movies, where women are shown as having female friends, the only topic the women typically discuss with each other is men. I can’t help wondering whether film and television writers and directors truly believe this is how women’s lives work.
Women
colleagues have played a pivotal role in my life. Soon after I became a
lawyer, I had a case opposite a woman attorney who also had just started practicing law. Each time we appeared in court, we waited our turn among about thirty other lawyers – nearly all men.
The opposing attorney and I argued vigorously in court, but before and after we talked about being lawyers, our law schools, and where to find
good pantsuits (most stores sold only skirt suits at the time). We ran into
each other at professional events after the case was over and eventually became
friends. Ten years later, I stood up at her wedding. Other women attorneys generously shared information about finances, hiring staff, and computers when I started my own law practice.
Men,
too, have been wonderful mentors and colleagues to me, and I owe several a
great debt. So my point is not that women are better friends and mentors to
women than men are. My point is that women are
friends and advisers to one another. If I saw more stories like Extant that portrayed women as the real
people we are, with professional and personal relationships with one another that
are as strong and varied as men’s are, I would go to movies and watch
television a lot more. I suspect a lot of other women would to.
In my writing life, too, women have been wonderful advisers and friends. Through social media, I met New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster, who invited me to join a thriller book launch she organized and gave me marketing advice. Through Melissa, I met Chicago-area horror author Carrie Green. Carrie and I had a blast presenting a panel at Chicago Comic Con called Girls Gone Gore. (The title was Carrie’s idea – mine was much less exciting – Women Writing Horror.)
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