Branches Book

BRANCHES

Miana Smith

MODERN FEMINIST EVOLUTION THROUGH TELEVISION PROGRAM “PARKS

AND RECREATION”: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

“To fight the inequality of Ron’s boys-only wilderness group, Leslie takes her girls-only troop, the Pawnee Goddesses, on an adventure weekend” – the Netflix description of Parks and Recreation, episode 4, season 4

“I stand by my decision to avoid salad and other disgusting things.”

– Leslie Knope

In these two phrases, we find the basis of a modern commentary on feminism. Modern media reflects societal movements; it stands to reason that the television program “Parks and Recreation,” intentionally or not, could embody various modern feminist trends. The show follows the various misadventures of small-town Pawnee’s Parks and Recreation department, centering on idealist government employee Leslie Knope as she navigates the bureaucracy. In season four of the series, Leslie Knope embarks on a campaign to become a city councilmember. Her interactions with the Pawnee people during this season provide a model of modern feminist dynamics. The “Pawnee Rangers” episode illustrates the evolution of feminism through the differing views of Leslie and her troop: their interactions demonstrate the key transition from the idea of women’s rights to gender equality. The issues still faced by women, as well as competing feminist ideologies, are then allowed to fully manifest during Leslie’s city council public debate. The resolution of each of these conflicts demonstrates a diplomatic approach towards allowing feminism to evolve, and argues that it is the core ideals, and not their physical manifestations, that matter the most towards the success of a movement. The dynamic between Leslie and her troop represents the current state of feminism; there are many differing ideals within feminism that must be balanced and prioritized to maintain unity. The episode “Pawnee Rangers” centers on Leslie Knope’s desire to prove that her all-girls troop is better than the all-boys troop of Ron Swanson, her boss, during a weekend trip to a nearby lake. The episode opens with Leslie explaining the existence of her troop, the Pawnee Goddesses. Leslie explains, “Five years ago, a plucky fifth grader wanted to join the Pawnee Rangers, but their executive council said

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