Female astronauts and environmental devastation

What is it about?

This article argues that current environmental concerns, such as Global Warming, are linked to female bodies in representations of failed motherhood. Increasing examples of female astronauts in film and television are a progressive example of how gender politics is slowly becoming more balanced, but nevertheless such women are either barren, grieving a lost child, or give birth to monstrous spawn.

Featured Image

Photo by Niketh Vellanki on Unsplash

Photo by Niketh Vellanki on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Little writing has been done to link themes of environmental catastrophe to representations of gender and race within the context of film and television. Representations of female astronauts are significant because they suggest an alternative mode of representation that is beyond essential gender characteristics, but yet are always tied back to their procreative function and indicate an underlying anxiety about the loss of gender roles.