The, Parks And Recreation, Leslie Knope, And Feminism Essay

Parks and Recreation, Leslie Knope, and Feminism As a predecessor of NBC’s The Office, Parks and Recreation (or PR for short,) had big shoes to fill. Both shows were created by Greg Daniels and Mike Schur, and at first, PR did not impress many, as its ratings were low. The first season seemed not to have a place, like a show trying to be something it was not, until it found its footing. Feminism was the missing piece of the puzzle. The show went on to become a success- arguably more so than The Office. So what separates the two? PR eventually gave us something The Office never did: real world issues, served up with clever wit. The fictional worlds most television shows take place in, are almost entirely post-feminist. Unlike these sexism-free utopias, PR normalizes feminism, reminding us that it exists and is important; it is the stepping stone we need to further conversations about inequality. While the text of PR is consistently the most obviously empowering aspect of the sh ow, production practices and audience consumption are also rich with evidence of this series’ feminist potential. It’s important to clarify that when I say feminism, I am talking about â€Å"liberal feminism,† or, â€Å"white feminism.† The kind of feminism you see in PR is â€Å"women having a seat at the table,† or â€Å"breaking the glass ceiling† feminism. The show lacks intersectional views and never touches upon racial, class or LGBT issues. Whether or not the use of liberal feminism is problematic or not,Show MoreRelatedLeslie Knope s Privilege And White Feminism Essay1929 Words   |  8 PagesLeslie Knope’s Privilege and White Feminism in Parks And Recreation Parks And Recreation is a work place comedy utilizing dry humor to comment on the current American government system. The main character, Leslie Knope, is a white middle-aged cis-gender female who loves capitalist government, breakfast foods, and strongly believes that if you put in the hard work you can overcome anything. The show succeeds in demonstrating a women in a position of power, climbing through the ranks, and assuminglyRead MoreAnalysis Of Abc s Fice Essay1981 Words   |  8 PagesAs a predecessor of NBC’s The Office, both created by Greg Daniels and Mike Schur, Parks and Recreation (or PR for short) had big shoes to fill. At first, the show did not impress many, and its ratings were low. The first season seemed not to have a place, like a show trying to be something it was not, until it found its footing. Feminism was the missing piece of the puzzle. The show went on to become a success- even more so than The Office. So what separates the two? PR eventually gave us somethingRead MoreBen Wyatt s Wife And Parks And Recreation Essay1729 Words   |  7 Pages â€Å"Ben Wyatt’s wife† and Parks and Recreation In the television series Parks and Recreation, feminism is an underlying theme, it’s a one liner, or it’s in the background. But, in season seven, episode nine- â€Å"Pie-Mary,† feminism, sexism and gender inequality are all front and center. This episode centers around Leslie and Ben (who is running to be a congressman) and their decision to skip the â€Å"Pie-Mary,† a pie baking contest between candidates wives, because their agenda is already so full. The backlashRead MoreModern Feminism Of The Abc, Television Show Park And Recreation Essay1980 Words   |  8 Pages Modern Feminism In the NBC, television show Park and Recreation, â€Å"Pie-Mary†, Ben Knope declares, â€Å"I’m sorry, this whole thing makes me queasy. I love how independent my wife is and because of that I will not let her speak. That came out wrong. The point is, Leslie is a great mother, public servant-all around person. And I am tired of everyone constantly telling her that she is making the wrong choice.† Over a century ago, women embraced their rights and independence as equals to men. Since