Fictional Role Models

Many of us see more scientists and engineers in TV and movies than we do in real life.  These images shape our perception of what scientists and engineers look like and how they are supposed to act - even when the plot is wholly unrealistic.

My favorite portrayals of female scientists and engineers in the movies are where it is so natural that you don't realize there is anything weird.  When it seems authentic and believable that the woman you see would be in her position.  Where the woman is a full-fledged member of the team and not there primarily to be someone's love interest or merely to be a token female.  Where the woman is competent and qualified (though not necessarily perfect). Where as the show develops she may encounter some of the sexism that is far too common in technical fields, but where highlighting those kinds of problems is not the reason she is in the show.

Some of my favorite examples of this after the jump.  Post your favorites in the comments.


One of my favorite shows of all time has to be Firefly.  Not only was it a great show all around, they had four very different but very strong females on the show.  Kaylee, the ship's engineer, was simultaneously feminine and insecure and pretty while being brilliant and capable and comfortable getting dirty.  She also reversed a common trope in science portrayals.  Too often in sci fi, women are allowed to tag along because one of the men enjoys their company.  This reinforces the sense that women don't really belong.  Here we saw the opposite - the ship would not fly without Kaylee, and her interest in Simon helped keep him on the ship even as it would have been easier to cut him loose.

A great movie (and book) for this is Contact - Ellie (the character protrayed by Jodie Foster) was dedicated, brilliant, relatable, and believable.  The idea that she would blossom from a kid who liked to play with amateur radio to operating a radio telescope as a career makes sense.  She also defied common stereotypes by using her skills and passion to persuade others, rather than sex or manipulation.  If anything, the love plot line works against her and causes her to doubly prove her worth.

Another great geek portrayed on television was Chloe from 24.  What I like most about that character is that she encounters all of the sexism that those of us in industry run into on a regular basis, but she simply doesn't have time for it.  She's better than everyone else and she just does what she needs to do. Of course, that show was often comically wrong on the technology, so there's that - but Chloe was just fantastic.  Finally, she is able to be extremely close to the male lead in a completely platonic way - despite both of them being single and portrayed with other members of the opposite sex.  This defies the stereotype that if you put a man and woman together for long enough it will eventually turn sexual.

What are your favorite portrayals of female scientists and engineers, past and present?