Feminist Critique

The television series Sherlock is the retelling of a classic story as it would happen in today’s society. It is important to discuss the role of gender in Sherlock because of its focus on present-day culture; this new take on old adventures can provide insight to current views of gender. The series is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books featuring Sherlock Holmes, a detective, and his assistant, Dr. John Watson. Sherlock and John unfold perplexing mysteries and crimes the police are unable to solve. Sherlock is a feminist work; it sends messages of gender equality by challenging the traditional roles of its characters.

Many of the main characters in Sherlock reflect gender stereotypes. Irene Adler can be seen as a seductress. She manipulates people with her sexual power for personal gain; she has the government on its knees with compromising pictures. Ms. Hudson, old and alone, is seemingly the stereotypical old maid. Mary Watson is, in many regards, the typical wife and mother in the ways that she takes care of her husband, John. She is responsible and level-headed, and takes care of the household. However, the series eventually reveals these characters to be different from their stereotypical roles. Irene Adler turns out to be homosexual, as she herself admits to John. Her role in the plot greatly involves her manipulation not of a man but of an important woman in the government with her sexual power. Ms. Hudson has a wild past, complete with a husband that ran a drug cartel; she is not the innocent, sweet old lady that the series portrays her as initially. Mary Watson turns out to be a former assassin; she led a dark dangerous past. These characters challenge the stereotypes by showing that women are different from the labels we put on them, and that each person is different. Sherlock disproves men’s stereotypes as well as women’s. Sherlock Holmes is not the stereotypical male hero. He fights crime, but not with physical strength. He uses his mind. His character sends the message that men do not have to be the typical “tough guy” to be powerful and strong; men do not have to be physically strong and violent to be respected and impressive. Sherlock is also different from the typical main male character in that he has no love interest. The show emphasizes Sherlock’s complete lack of interest in sexual relations with both women and men, which shows that men are not always focused on and driven by sexual desire.

Sherlock defines and defies gender stereotypes. It is part of a larger cultural feminist movement that works to break down these stereotypes to prove that each person is an individual and that women and men are not the way we define them. Incorporating feminism in works such as Sherlock helps to push gender equality for everyone. One group should not have power over another.