Changes

The ''Star Trek'' franchise took longer to discuss the ''[[sexism]]'' and even ''[[misogyny]]'' of the original production era. Tragically, one actress, playing a junior officer, did a show in which her captain assaulted her in her quarters.<ref name="EnemyWithin">“The Enemy Within” in the original series</ref> A few weeks later, a studio executive ''assaulted the actress back-stage''.<ref name="GraceLee">Whitney GL. ''The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy.'' Quill Driver Books, 1998. ISBN 1884956033. Cited by Moyer JW, “[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/04/star-trek-actress-grace-lee-whitney-who-alleged-sexual-assault-by-tv-executive-dead-at-85/ Grace Lee Whitney, ‘Star Trek’ actress who alleged sexual assault by TV executive, dead at 85],” ''The Washington Post'', 4 May 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2016</ref> The more ranking executives refused to act. This actress left the show, and turned to [[Alcoholic drinks|drink]] to deaden the pain.<ref name="Drinking">Grace Lee Whitney admits she had a drinking problem before the incident. She took one drink. Then she found herself in a locked room with a man not willing to take “No” for an answer. But after leaving the show, she drank more heavily.</ref> In later years, another generation of executives brought this actress back for two cameo appearances – the likely price of her silence. For reasons she never fully explained, she took the name of the offending executive with her to her grave.

The ''Star Trek'' franchise took longer to discuss the ''[[sexism]]'' and even ''[[misogyny]]'' of the original production era. Tragically, one actress, playing a junior officer, did a show in which her captain assaulted her in her quarters.<ref name="EnemyWithin">“The Enemy Within” in the original series</ref> A few weeks later, a studio executive ''assaulted the actress back-stage''.<ref name="GraceLee">Whitney GL. ''The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy.'' Quill Driver Books, 1998. ISBN 1884956033. Cited by Moyer JW, “[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/04/star-trek-actress-grace-lee-whitney-who-alleged-sexual-assault-by-tv-executive-dead-at-85/ Grace Lee Whitney, ‘Star Trek’ actress who alleged sexual assault by TV executive, dead at 85],” ''The Washington Post'', 4 May 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2016</ref> The more ranking executives refused to act. This actress left the show, and turned to [[Alcoholic drinks|drink]] to deaden the pain.<ref name="Drinking">Grace Lee Whitney admits she had a drinking problem before the incident. She took one drink. Then she found herself in a locked room with a man not willing to take “No” for an answer. But after leaving the show, she drank more heavily.</ref> In later years, another generation of executives brought this actress back for two cameo appearances – the likely price of her silence. For reasons she never fully explained, she took the name of the offending executive with her to her grave.

As if this did not give enough offense, the last episode of the series<ref name="Lester">“Turnabout Intruder” in the original series. The sudden death of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower forced the network to postpone the airing of this episode for two and a half months./ref> featured a woman switching bodies with Kirk. She did this after the “old boy network” at the Admiralty, as she saw it, limited her career choices. This made such sexism, at a critical point in ''Star Trek'' “[[history]],” ''canonical''. At least one fan cried “Shame!” on that fact.

As if this did not give enough offense, the last episode of the series<ref name="Lester">“Turnabout Intruder” in the original series. The sudden death of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower forced the network to postpone the airing of this episode for two and a half months.</ref> featured a woman switching bodies with Kirk. She did this after the “old boy network” at the Admiralty, as she saw it, limited her career choices. This made such sexism, at a critical point in ''Star Trek'' “[[history]],” ''canonical''. At least one fan cried “Shame!” on that fact.

At least the later shows did away with the last traces of such sexism. The producers designed new uniforms that would show less. They accepted scripts that in some cases reversed male and female roles. And they removed all trace of the “old boy network” of the original series. The show ''Voyager'' featured the consummation of this removal. In it, a woman (Captain Kathryn Janeway) held the command, and the lead.

At least the later shows did away with the last traces of such sexism. The producers designed new uniforms that would show less. They accepted scripts that in some cases reversed male and female roles. And they removed all trace of the “old boy network” of the original series. The show ''Voyager'' featured the consummation of this removal. In it, a woman (Captain Kathryn Janeway) held the command, and the lead.