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Star Trek’s Women Writers

by JARRAH HODGE

Earlier in September new numbers came out showing women have made teeny, tiny gains in representation behind-the-scenes of TV shows. According to Yahoo! TV:

“In a sign of the incremental growth, women made up 28 percent of creators, producers, directors, writers, editors, and directors of photography working on programs airing on the broadcast networks in 2012-13.”

The positions listed in the quote are what are known as “clout positions” because the people in them are the ones who have the most creative control over what ends up being shown on your TV screen. So when women, people of colour, LGBT people and people with disabilities are left out, that can impact what ends up being beamed into our living rooms.

Star Trek, like most other shows, had behind-the-scenes gender gaps, though they varied by series and season. In TOS, only 22.5% of episodes credit at least one woman writer. That went up to 30.5% during TNG, but back down to a dismal 17% in Deep Space Nine (Season 7 of Deep Space Nine credits zero women writers). 25% of Voyager episodes and 22% of Enterprise episodes credit at least one woman writer. All the other ones were written entirely by men.

That’s not to say that men can’t write great women characters and feminist stories. Certainly in Star Trek they have. But I wanted to take a look back at the women working behind the scenes of the five live-action Star Trek series, starting with the writers. I wanted to celebrate all the women from D.C. Fontana on, who broke barriers and made their mark on the franchise.
It’s hard to narrow down what to highlight.

D.C. Fontana’s The Enterprise Incident and Jean Lisette Aroeste’s Is There In Truth No Beauty? brought us some of the most interesting, complex, empowered women guest characters in the entire Original Series.

Melinda M. Snodgrass’ script for The Measure of a Man was the first TNG script ever accepted on spec and it has stood the test of time, widely recognized as one of the top 10 episodes of TNG.

Message in a Bottle, teleplay by Lisa Klink, strikes an impressive balance between being exciting and humorous, all the while doing the work of character-building for Seven of Nine, Torres and The Doctor.

But there’s so much more.

I created the list below as a resource for other people who want to find Trek episodes that credit women writers. I chose to include women who received credit for writing, teleplay, or story, due to the difficulty making judgments about who had what significant impact over a particular script.

STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES (1966 – 1969)

1X07   Charlie X Teleplay by D.C. Fontana
1X21   Tomorrow is Yesterday Written by D.C. Fontana
1X25   This Side of Paradise Teleplay by D.C. Fontana, Story co-written by D.C. Fontana
2X03   Friday’s Child Written by D.C. Fontana
2X15   Journey to Babel Written by D.C. Fontana
2X17   The Gamesters of Triskelion Written by Margaret Armen
2X21   By Any Other Name Teleplay co-written by D.C. Fontana
2X24   The Ultimate Computer Teleplay by D.C. Fontana
3X03   The Paradise Syndrome Written by Margaret Armen
3X04   The Enterprise Incident Written by D.C. Fontana
3X07   Is There in Truth No Beauty? Written by Jean Lisette Aroeste
3X08   The Empath Written by Joyce Muskat
3X09   The Tholian Web Co-written by Judy Burns
3X14   That Which Survives Story by Michael Richards (pseudonym for D.C. Fontana)
3X19   The Cloud Minders Teleplay by Margaret Armen
3X20   The Way to Eden Story co-written by Michael Richards (pseudonym for D.C. Fontana)
3X23   All Our Yesterdays Written by Jean Lisette Aroeste
3X18   The Lights of Zetar Co-written by Shari Lewis

 

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION (1987 – 1994)

1X01 Encounter at Farpoint Co-written by D.C. Fontana
1X03 The Naked Now Co-written by J. Michael Bingham (pseudonym for D.C. Fontana)
1X04 Code of Honor Written by Katharyn Powers
1X05   Where No One Has Gone Before Co-written by Diane Duane
1X07 Lonely Among Us Teleplay by D.C. Fontana
1X16 Too Short a Season Teleplay co-written by D.C. Fontana
1X17 When the Bough Breaks Written by Hannah Louise Shearer
1X20 Heart of Glory Story co-written by D.C. Fontana
1X23 Skin of Evil Teleplay co-written by Hannah Louise Shearer
1X24 We’ll Always Have Paris Co-written by Deborah Dean Davis and Hannah Louise Shearer
1X26 The Neutral Zone Story co-written by Debroah McIntyre and Mona Clee
2X05 Loud as a Whisper Written by Jacqueline Zambrano
2X08 A Matter of Honor Story co-written by Wanda M. Haight
2X09 The Measure of a Man Written by Melinda M. Snodgrass
2X11 Contagion Co-written by Beth Woods
2X15 Pen Pals Teleplay by Melinda M. Snodgrass, Story by Hannah Louise Shearer
2X18 Up the Long Ladder Written by Melinda M. Snodgrass
3X02 The Ensigns of Command Written by Melinda M. Snodgrass
3X08 The Price Written by Hannah Louise Shearer
3X11 The Hunted Written by Robin Bernheim (pseudonym for Robin Burger)
3X12 The High Ground Written by Melinda M. Snodgrass
3X20 Tin Man Co-written by Dennis Putman Bailey (combined credit to Lisa Putman White and Dennis Russell Bailey)
3X21 Hollow Pursuits Written by Sally Caves
3X22 The Most Toys Written by Shari Goodhartz
3X24 Ménage a Troi Co-written by Susan Sackett
4X04 Suddenly Human Co-written by Jeri Taylor
4X07 Reunion Teleplay and story co-written by Jo Perry
4X08 The Loss Story by Hilary J. Bader, Teleplay co-written by Hilary J. Bader and Vanessa Greene
4X10 The Wounded Teleplay by Jeri Taylor, Story co-written by Sara Charno
4X12 Final Mission Teleplay co-written by Jeri Taylor and Kacey Arnold-Ince, Story by Kacey Arnold-Ince
4X17 Night Terrors Teleplay by Pamela Douglas and Jeri Taylor, Story by Shari Goodhartz
4X20 Qpid Story co-written by Randee Russell
4X21 The Drumhead Written by Jeri Taylor
5X04 Silicon Avatar Teleplay by Jeri Taylor
5X06 The Game Story co-written by Susan Sackett
5X07 Unification I Teleplay by Jeri Taylor
5X10 New Ground Story co-written by Sara Charno
5X12 Violations Teleplay by Pamela Gray and Jeri Taylor, Story co-written by Shari Goodhartz and Pamela Gray
5X16 Ethics Story co-written by Sara Charno
5X17 The Outcast Written by Jeri Taylor
5X22 Imaginary Friend Teleplay co-written by Edithe Swensen, Story co-written by Jean Louise Matthias
6X01 Time’s Arrow II Teleplay by Jeri Taylor
6X05 Schisms Story co-written by Jean Louise Matthias
6X07 Rascals Teleplay by Allison Hock, Story co-written by Diana Dru Botsford
6X13 Aquiel Story by Jeri Taylor
6X19 Lessons Co-written by Jean Louise Matthias
6X26 Descent Story by Jeri Taylor
7X02 Liaisons Teleplay by Jeanne Carrigan Fauci and Lisa Rich
7X07 Dark Page Written by Hilary J. Bader
7X14 Sub Rosa Story by Jeri Taylor, based on material by Jeanna F. Gallo
7X15 Lower Decks Story by Jean Louise Matthias

 

STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE (1993 – 1999)

1X03 Past Prologue Written by Katharyn Powers
1X05 Babel Story co-written by Sally Caves
1X06 Captive Pursuit Teleplay co-written by Jill Sherman Donner, Story by Jill Sherman Donner
1X07 Q-Less Story by Hannah Louise Shearer
1X08 Dax Teleplay co-written by D.C. Fontana
1X10 Move Along Home Teleplay co-written by Lisa Rich and Jeanne Carriagn-Fauci
1X13 Battle Lines Story by Hilary J. Bader
1X16   If Wishes Were Horses Teleplay co-written by Nell McCue Crawford, story co-written by Nell McCue Crawford
1X19 Duet Story co-written by Lisa Rich and Jeanne Carrigan-Fauci
2X01 The Homecoming Story co-written by Jeri Taylor
2X07 Rules of Acquisition Story by Hilary Bader
2X10 Sanctuary Story co-written by Kelley Miles
2X18 Profit and Loss Co-written by Cindy Marcus
2X20 The Maquis I Story co-written by Jeri Taylor
2X21 The Maquis II Story co-written by Jeri Taylor
3X08 Meridian Story co-written by Hilary J. Bader
3X20 Explorers Story by Hilary J. Bader
4X04 Hippocratic Oath Teleplay by Lisa Klink, Story co-written by Lisa Klink
4X05 Indiscretion Story co-written by Toni Marberry
4X08 Little Green Men Story co-written by Toni Marberry
4X16 Bar Association Story co-written by Barbara J. and Jenifer A. Lee
4X17 Accession Written by Jane Espenson
4X19 Hard Time Story co-written by Lynn Barker
4X21 The Muse Story co-written by Majel Barrett Roddenberry
5X02 The Ship Story co-written by Pam Wigginton
5X10 Rapture Story by L.J. Strom* (gender unconfirmed)
5X19 Ties of Blood and Water Story co-written by Robbin L. Slocum
5X25 In the Cards Story co-written by Truly Barr Clark
6X09 Statistical Probabilities Story by Pam Pietroforte
6X21 The Reckoning Story co-written by Gabrielle G. Stanton
6X25 The Sound of Her Voice Story by Pam Pietroforte

 

STAR TREK: VOYAGER (1995 – 2001)

1X01 Caretaker Teleplay and story co-written by Jeri Taylor
1X05 Phage Teleplay co-written by Skye Dent
1X07 Eye of the Needle Teleplay co-written by Jeri Taylor, Story by Hilary J. Bader
1X15 Jetrel Teleplay co-written by Karen Klein
1X16 Learning Curve Co-written by Jean Louise Matthias
2X01 The 37’s Co-written by Jeri Taylor
2X04 Elogium Teleplay co-written by Jeri Taylor
2X08 Persistence of Vision Written by Jeri Taylor
2X12 Resistance Teleplay by Lisa Klink
2X14 Alliances Written by Jeri Taylor
2X20 Investigations Teleplay by Jeri Taylor
2X22 Innocence Teleplay by Lisa Klink
2X25 Resolutions Written by Jeri Taylor
3×06 Remember Teleplay by Lisa Klink
3X08 Sacred Ground Teleplay by Lisa Klink, Story by Geo Cameron
3X11 Warlord Teleplay by Lisa Klink
3X13 Fair Trade Story co-written by Jean Louise Matthias
3X15 Coda Written by Jeri Taylor
3X16 Blood Fever Written by Lisa Klink
3X20 Favorite Son Written by Lisa Klink
3X22 Real Life Teleplay by Jeri Taylor
3X24 Displaced Written by Lisa Klink
4X03 Day of Honor Written by Jeri Taylor
4X05 Revulsion Written by Lisa Klink
4X07 Scientific Method Teleplay by Lisa Klink
4X14 Message in a Bottle Teleplay by Lisa Klink
4X15 Hunters Written by Jeri Taylor
4X17 Retrospect Teleplay co-written by Lisa Klink
4X21 The Omega Directive Teleplay by Lisa Klink
4X25 One Written by Jeri Taylor
5X08 Nothing Human Written by Jeri Taylor
5X11 Latent Image Story co-written by Eileen Connors
6X05 Alice Story by Juliann deLayne
6X08 One Small Step Teleplay and story co-written by Jessica Scott
6X11 Fair Haven Written by Robin Burger
6X14 Memorial Teleplay by Robin Burger
6X20 Good Shepherd Teleplay co-written by Dianna Gitto, Story by Dianna Gitto
6X21 Live Fast and Prosper Written by Robin Burger
7X07 Body and Soul Teleplay co-written by Phyllis Strong
7X14 Prophecy Teleplay co-written by Phyllis Strong
7X20 Author, Author Teleplay co-written by Phyllis Strong
7X24 Renaissance Man Teleplay co-written by Phyllis Strong

 

STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE (2001 – 2005)

1X04 Strange New World Teleplay co-written by Phyllis Strong
1X06 Terra Nova Teleplay by Antoinette Stella
1X08 Breaking the Ice Co-written by Maria Jacquemetton
1X09 Civilization Co-written by Phyllis Strong
1X13 Dear Doctor Co-written by Maria Jacquemetton
1X15 Shadows of P’Jem Teleplay co-written by Phyllis Strong
1X17 Fusion Teleplay co-written by Phyllis Strong
1X19 Acquisition Teleplay co-written by Maria Jacquemetton
1X21 Detained Teleplay co-written by Phyllis Strong
2X04 Dead Stop Co-written by Phyllis Strong
2X12 The Catwalk Co-written by Phyllis Strong
2X16 Future Tense Co-written by Phyllis Strong
2X23 Regeneration Co-written by Phyllis Strong
2X25 Bounty Teleplay co-written by Phyllis Strong
3X06 Exile Written by Phyllis Strong
3X19 Damage Written by Phyllis Strong
4X07 The Forge Co-written by Judith Reeves-Stevens
4X11 Observer Effect Co-written by Judith Reeves-Stevens
4X13 United Co-written by Judith Reeves-Stevens
4X16 Divergence Co-written by Judith Reeves-Stevens
4X21 Terra Prime Teleplay and story co-written by Judith Reeves-Stevens

 

Jarrah Hodge
Jarrah Hodge is the founder and editor of the Gender Focus blog which looks at politics, pop culture, and current events from an anti-racist feminist perspective. Gender Focus aims to showcase news and opinion relating to issues of social inequality, stereotyping and representations of marginalized groups in society, and the intersections between gender and public policy. In 2011 and 2012 Gender Focus was named the “Best Feminist Blog” in the juried Canadian Weblog Awards. Jarrah has B.A. in Women’s Studies and Sociology from UBC, and has written for the Huffington Post, Bitch Magazine Blogs, the Vancouver Observer and About-Face.

On Jarrah’s secondary blog, Trekkie Feminist, she does in-depth analysis of Star Trek and feminism. Jarrah is a featured panelist at conventions discussing feminism relating to Star Trek and sci-fi. Follow Jarrah on Twitter.

by Deyvid