Space Pioneers: Astrofeminism & Femme Fatales
Presentation Type
Panel
Abstract
Outer Space Inspired Media & Cultural Analysis
Role models inform culture, culture informs identity and reflects societal values. Has American space popular culture between 1940 - 1980 shaped the talent pool, priorities and policy that we within the space sector today? Media is one of the most important factors influencing our values. Women and girls are 51 percent of the population, yet entertainment media is bereft of female characters, with a ratio of approximately 3:1 male character to female characters since the 1940’s (Geena Davis Institute on Media, 2020). To establish a cultural framework and inform how unconscious bias may have influenced the individuals with foundational power in the American space sector, I individually examined (n=3,216) examples of American space inspired media created between 1940 – 1980.
Findings: After analyzing space-inspired cultural examples created between 1940 – 1980 (n=1,446), the repeated theme that women are to be groomed as objects of male subjectivity was identified. The historical messaging within American space-inspired popular culture is clear: boys grow up to be men who conquer planets and fly rocket ships while girls grow up to be women who, at best, are objectified by men and rescued from violence.
Not one space-inspired toy created between 1940 – 1965 (n=1,070) came to light during the analysis. Rather than encourage young girls to imagine a healthy, powerful future as an equal and valued contributor within the space sector, gendered toys reinforced the idea that girls focus on improving their appearance and look forward to motherhood and domestic responsibilities. Messaging through play to Western girls in the 1950’s through the 1980’s prepared them for a life emphasizing beauty, service and domesticity. Girls were encouraged to be mindful of their appearance and dutifully provide care for others.
Keywords
feminism, aerospace, gender, popular culture, astrofeminism, history
COinS
Space Pioneers: Astrofeminism & Femme Fatales
Outer Space Inspired Media & Cultural Analysis
Role models inform culture, culture informs identity and reflects societal values. Has American space popular culture between 1940 - 1980 shaped the talent pool, priorities and policy that we within the space sector today? Media is one of the most important factors influencing our values. Women and girls are 51 percent of the population, yet entertainment media is bereft of female characters, with a ratio of approximately 3:1 male character to female characters since the 1940’s (Geena Davis Institute on Media, 2020). To establish a cultural framework and inform how unconscious bias may have influenced the individuals with foundational power in the American space sector, I individually examined (n=3,216) examples of American space inspired media created between 1940 – 1980.
Findings: After analyzing space-inspired cultural examples created between 1940 – 1980 (n=1,446), the repeated theme that women are to be groomed as objects of male subjectivity was identified. The historical messaging within American space-inspired popular culture is clear: boys grow up to be men who conquer planets and fly rocket ships while girls grow up to be women who, at best, are objectified by men and rescued from violence.
Not one space-inspired toy created between 1940 – 1965 (n=1,070) came to light during the analysis. Rather than encourage young girls to imagine a healthy, powerful future as an equal and valued contributor within the space sector, gendered toys reinforced the idea that girls focus on improving their appearance and look forward to motherhood and domestic responsibilities. Messaging through play to Western girls in the 1950’s through the 1980’s prepared them for a life emphasizing beauty, service and domesticity. Girls were encouraged to be mindful of their appearance and dutifully provide care for others.