The girls who waited? Female companions and gender in doctor who

Abstract

Science fiction has the potential to offer something new in terms of gender representation. This does not mean it always delivers on this potential. Amid the hype surrounding the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who (1963-89, 2005-present),1 the longest running science fiction series on television, a slightly critical edge is discernable in the media coverage concerning the casting of the Twelfth Doctor and issues of representation in the series. This paper examines Doctor Who in the broader context of TV drama and changes to the television industry, analysing the series’ gender representation, especially in the 2005 reboot, and focusing largely on the female ‘companions’.