Yeah, I think people have gotten so accustomed to the fact that women and minorities have the current rights they do, that they forget it is a very recent development. Star Trek boldly exhibited some progressive values that were highly controversial at the time.
People forget that women’s lib, in the United States, has only existed since the mid-1970s. It could not exist until financial independence was supported by the law. And it’s been a fight against societal inertia the entire way. Further legal battles and laws required.
Star Trek tried, in other ways, but the world wasn’t quite ready for a woman as a first officer. Instead, we got bridge secretary. But. She was black, a main character that wasn’t just there to be pretty or someone’s love interest, and part of the primary bridge staff, which was ahead of the times for the 1960s. Nurses and clerks didn’t upset people either.
Back then, primary “acceptable” jobs for women were teachers, secretaries, and nurses.
I even knew someone who tried to be a pilot in the 1960s. She flew through flight school, no issues. Then, on her last day, doing her last landings with her instructor for the final test, he told her “even if you pass you don’t pass”. She asked why. He flat out told her if she wanted a skilled job, her place was teacher or nurse. So, after she passed, and then was failed by the instructor, she became a nurse. An incredibly sad and bitter nurse. They allowed her in because they assumed she’d fail on her own lack of merit.
This is why we had Nurse Chapel and not First Officer Chapel.
Nancy’s professional difficulties in the 80s, as depicted on Stranger Things. Also a very real thing, trying to push an woman into a secretary role. Go make coffee, Nancy. The 80s were only 40 years ago.
But often the people who make this claim, don't actually believe Star Trek has suddenly become political, and aren't genuine fans. They are invariably far-right entryists, pretending to be fans, who want to use Star Trek to push their far-right ideology.
Fascists rarely argue in good faith. Fascist entryists pretend to be fans of a shows, books, films, games, music, subcultures. They then try to spread their propaganda, grooming often impressionable youth into their far right cult.
Some examples:
skinhead culture used to be heavily entwined with the originally Jamaican rude boy subculture. The far-right so thoroughly infiltrated skinhead culture, that being a skinhead and being a fascist, became synonymous.
4chan and other social media platforms being infiltrated by Stormfront, who used these platforms to normalise far-right ideology under the guise of humour. IRC Andrew Anglin, the former editor of the Daily Stormer, even wrote a helpful manual for his fascist friends.
gamergate, Star Wars fandom, and the men's rights community.
Their attempts may seem laughable, their claims may seem stupid, but do not underestimate fascists. As we have seen over the past decades, they have had great success in pushing fascism back into the mainstream.
I've been using Star Trek as a barometer for "is this person I just met decent at their core?" And ive been learning Klingon to insult the people who fail.
Star Trek has only been political since 1966.
Yeah, I think people have gotten so accustomed to the fact that women and minorities have the current rights they do, that they forget it is a very recent development. Star Trek boldly exhibited some progressive values that were highly controversial at the time.
People forget that women’s lib, in the United States, has only existed since the mid-1970s. It could not exist until financial independence was supported by the law. And it’s been a fight against societal inertia the entire way. Further legal battles and laws required.
Star Trek tried, in other ways, but the world wasn’t quite ready for a woman as a first officer. Instead, we got bridge secretary. But. She was black, a main character that wasn’t just there to be pretty or someone’s love interest, and part of the primary bridge staff, which was ahead of the times for the 1960s. Nurses and clerks didn’t upset people either.
Back then, primary “acceptable” jobs for women were teachers, secretaries, and nurses.
I even knew someone who tried to be a pilot in the 1960s. She flew through flight school, no issues. Then, on her last day, doing her last landings with her instructor for the final test, he told her “even if you pass you don’t pass”. She asked why. He flat out told her if she wanted a skilled job, her place was teacher or nurse. So, after she passed, and then was failed by the instructor, she became a nurse. An incredibly sad and bitter nurse. They allowed her in because they assumed she’d fail on her own lack of merit.
This is why we had Nurse Chapel and not First Officer Chapel.
Nancy’s professional difficulties in the 80s, as depicted on Stranger Things. Also a very real thing, trying to push an woman into a secretary role. Go make coffee, Nancy. The 80s were only 40 years ago.
Which any genuine fan knows.
But often the people who make this claim, don't actually believe Star Trek has suddenly become political, and aren't genuine fans. They are invariably far-right entryists, pretending to be fans, who want to use Star Trek to push their far-right ideology.
Fascists rarely argue in good faith. Fascist entryists pretend to be fans of a shows, books, films, games, music, subcultures. They then try to spread their propaganda, grooming often impressionable youth into their far right cult.
Some examples:
skinhead culture used to be heavily entwined with the originally Jamaican rude boy subculture. The far-right so thoroughly infiltrated skinhead culture, that being a skinhead and being a fascist, became synonymous.
4chan and other social media platforms being infiltrated by Stormfront, who used these platforms to normalise far-right ideology under the guise of humour. IRC Andrew Anglin, the former editor of the Daily Stormer, even wrote a helpful manual for his fascist friends.
gamergate, Star Wars fandom, and the men's rights community.
Their attempts may seem laughable, their claims may seem stupid, but do not underestimate fascists. As we have seen over the past decades, they have had great success in pushing fascism back into the mainstream.
And we love it partly because of that.
I've been using Star Trek as a barometer for "is this person I just met decent at their core?" And ive been learning Klingon to insult the people who fail.
Data backhands Commander Hopkins
“Did I tell you to speak?!”