The Walking Dead: Feminist Critique

Warning: Spoilers (up to most current episode)

The Walking Dead is a television show that takes a step outside the way that conventional gender stereotypes are portrayed. This is primarily due to the show's setting--a post-apocalyptic United States plagued with walkers (zombies), cults, factions, and guns. This setting removes the patriarchy that dominated pre-apocalyptic society and places men and women in positions of power. The Walking Dead is a feminist show because it effectively breaks down gender stereotypes by eliminating them from post-apocalyptic society.

One of the first stereotypes that The Walking Dead breaks down is the stereotype that men are tough and machismo. The show does this by showing portraying men as caretakers as much as they are protectors. One of the characters, Judith, is a baby that is introduced in the third season of the show. In a pre-apocalyptic society, the stereotype would be for women to take care of the children. But on this show, men are shown to be caretakers as well. We often see the main character, Rick Grimes, holding or nursing Judith. Later on in the show, the group is split up and Judith is taken care of by another man named Tyreese. Tyreese is shown holding Judith in a baby carrier on his chest. He also looks after two girls while they try to regroup. This shows how women are not by default the "mother/caretaker". This isn't the only way that the show defies male stereotypes. Another stereotype that the show disproves is the stereotype that men are not emotional. The show makes it a point to show scenes where the men in the group are expressing emotions. One example of this is when Rick learns of his wife's death. He breaks down into tears in front of his son Carl. This disproves the "tough guy" stereotype.  A final example of this is more recent (spoiler alert/warning: graphic)--when Glenn loses Noah. Glenn loses all strength in this scene and sits in front the door to the area where Noah was eaten. He sobs and cannot move, he doesn't become the "hero" in the situation.

Another stereotype that The Walking Dead disproves is the stereotype that women are physically weak by nature. In season 3, we meet Michonne. Michonne is a character with a lot of baggage, but she is first seen with two walkers who have their arms and jaws cut off... tied by the neck... leashed to her side. Did I also mention she wields a katana? Anyways, Michonne's character is not submissive in any way, shape, or form. She is clearly very capable of surviving the post-apocalyptic world on her own, and doesn't rely on any man to keep her alive. In fact, we even see the opposite on the show. Glenn relies on Tara to keep to stay alive. Glenn would be dead if it weren't for her. This is an example of how the show demonstrates the strength of women. But the examples don't stop there. In season 4 (warning: graphic), we see Carol take down Terminus (a cannibalistic cult) and rescue the group. She uses guns, explosives, and camouflage to become a very powerful character. The show makes the point that Carol is very powerful, and she uses this to her advantage. When the group reaches another post-apocalyptic town, Carol hides behind the mother stereotype, even labeling herself the group's "den mother". We know this is the fake Carol, but it goes to show how this stereotype is long gone on the show, it remains in the pre-apocalyptic world. A "re-cut" version of an interview with her can be seen here (warning: graphic). But above all, women on the show are given agency through their physically and mental strength.

A final point that The Walking Dead makes is that the post-apocalyptic society is not a patriarchy. It is true that we do see many men in power, like Rick and the Governer, but the show has a considerable amount of women in power. One of the first examples of this is Dawn, a police officer who is in charge of a surviving medical ward. She commands other male police officers and oversees patients and doctors. Dawn particularly disproves the seductress stereotype. Dawn doesn't use sex to gain power, and she is never shown using her sexuality to gain her favors. She gains power through strength and intelligence. Another example of a women in power is Deanna, a former congress woman who is in charge of Alexandria. She is married, but her husband has no political power in the town. Deanna is not submissive, and puts women and men in positions of power. By putting women in positions of power, The Walking Dead critiques the patriarchy that is set up in pre-apocalyptic society.

Many other shows these day take place in societies that are outside of our own. These shows are part of a trend, taking a society that is unlike ours in the sense of gender, and eliminating traditional gender roles by refuting gender stereotypes. Many of these societies may not be actually achievable, but each piece of work is intent on changing the way our current society views gender.