‘All the characters are white’
Female led ‘Doctor Who’ stokes talk about lack of visible minority heroines
“Doctor Who’’ fan Melissa Perez was excited to hear one of her favourite TV series had picked a woman for the leading role.
But she couldn’t deny feeling a little disappointed.
Even though the casting of lauded British actress Jodie Whittaker is widely considered a step in the right direction for the show, Perez points out she’s also another white heroine in a genre that has already embraced many.
“I see people talking about how we’ve come so far and how roles for women have improved so much. And then I look at the examples they give,’’ says Perez, who identifies as Afro-latina.
“All the characters are white — they’re white women.’’
Science fiction and fantasy genres have no boundaries for storytelling and yet racial diversity among female leads is a line few writers or producers have crossed.
Whether it’s Wonder Woman, the cast of “Game of Thrones,’’ the heroines Rey and Jyn in “Star Wars’’ films, or female-led TV series “Van Helsing’’ and “Wynonna Earp,’’ there are plenty of examples that prove visible minorities are widely absent from the list of modern heroines.
“You can have dragons and magic ... but having anyone that’s not white is going too far,’’ Perez adds.
It took 36 seasons and 12 doctors before “Doctor Who’’ creators gave their character — who frequently regenerates into the bodies of new actors — the freedom to emerge with the physical traits of a woman. So it’s not surprising that many female viewers are treading carefully when they criticize or question what’s being perceived as progress.
Ashley Lynch hopes more women will work behind the cameras at the TV series as well. She says it’s encouraging to see Whittaker in the leading role, but if “Doctor Who’’ intends to explore new realms and different character dynamics, it needs more female input.