Leslie: You do attend a shocking number of WNBA games.
The last episode, “Woman of the Year” was no exception to the awesome-streak Parks and Rec has been on this season. In this episode, Leslie excitedly opens an envelope from the Indiana Organization for Women, expecting a female empowerment award recognizing a camp she started for troubled girls. It turns out the award is for her boss, "the opposite of a woman" Ron Swanson. Right away, Ron announces to us (but not Leslie) that he recognizes Leslie should have received the award: “Awards are stupid, which is why I fully intend to decline this nonsense and recommend it go to Leslie because she works really hard and I don't.” He then announces that he's going to mess with Leslie for a little bit longer, to prove a legitimate point about the insignificance of awards.
Ron usually doesn’t show interest in much other than breakfast food, so it was sweet to see him care this much about Leslie. The plot still let him be himself, though, staging a fake photo shoot to torment her: “Which of these objects most represents women for this portrait? A pot? Or this deputy director Barbie? Isn't it adorable? She's got a little briefcase.” Since we knew he was only giving her a hard time, Ron was able to really torment Leslie, which was simultaneously funny and good character development.
Another notable feminist episode this season was “Beauty Pageant.” When intern April tells Leslie she's entered the Miss Pawnee Beauty Pageant, Leslie responds, "That is why I decided to be a judge. So that awesome girls like you who aren't, you know, classically hot, can be rewarded for their intelligence and savvy." Unaware of how she turns a compliment into an insult, Leslie's unrelenting honesty and well-meaning oblivion allows us to not only laugh at her, but align with her.
At the pageant, Leslie immediately votes for the girl who really should win the contest: Susan, a homely history major who plays the piano and volunteers at the children's hospital. However, the other judges immediately decide on Trish, who has "been on YouTube" and likes wearing bikinis. "Trish will win this pageant over my dead body," Leslie says, and locks down the judgement, 12 Angry Men style. Of course, Trish wins the pageant.
But Leslie isn't the only feminist aspect of the show. Rashida Jones' character doesn’t declare herself a feminist the way Leslie does, but Ann functions as the normal person with whom the audience can align. She's the "Jim" of Parks and Rec, and simply casting a woman as the "everyman" character is feminist in itself. Another note about Ann is that she leaves her schlumpy, unemployed, Seth-Rogen-style boyfriend, Andy, early in the series. Andy has turned out to be a funny character on the show, but it makes me happy that he’s no longer with a woman who is working hard and struggling to support him and clean up after him. Leslie and Ann are different, but both are genuine, positive interpretations of the modern woman.
It’s a show about a feminist that’s honored by a men’s magazine. That’s great news. Parks and Rec may not be the best show (just a damn good one) on television, but it is probably the most progressive show on television.
For more girl power with Amy Poehler, check out her web series, Smart Girls at the Party.
