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Entertainment November 26, 2016
Who is your favorite feminist icon? Beyoncé? Georgia O’Keefe? Amandla Stenberg? Whoever it is, she (or he) probably has a wealth of knowledge and ideas about feminism, as well as an undying passion for empowering women. These people are the ones who teach us about other women and, most importantly, teach us about ourselves.
But who knew that one of these inspirational feminists could come out of a TV comedy with a patriarchal boss and clueless co-workers? No one is sure, but one thing is for certain: Liz Lemon, played by Tina Fey, from the show “30 Rock” is definitely an inspiration for feminists – especially for those within a work environment.
From the start of the show’s season, Liz Lemon proved that she would not let her boss Jack Donaghy take advantage of her. She’s always approached him strongly and defensively, with a slew of cheeky responses to anything he says.
READ MORE: Kaley Cuoco’s Take on Feminism
Lemon doesn’t give much thought to anything that her boss uses to bully her, and even when she does, she shrugs it off and moves on. When Donaghy tries to shame her for eating a cookie after giving blood, she continues eating it anyway with a roll of her eyes. Ultimately, Lemon shows agency over her body and choices and doesn’t allow him to take over.
Another reason Liz Lemon is a huge inspiration for feminism is because she operates within a workplace, a setting with which most women are familiar.
Typically, there isn’t a lot of screen time given to feminism on television and much less is given to feminism within the context of a work atmosphere. Many women aren’t sure of how to navigate through the patriarchal structures within their workplaces. Sometimes, they won’t work against it because they’re also afraid of being fired.
Liz Lemon, however, shows working women how they can respond to people who need a lesson in feminism, even when the situations are tricky or just plain hurtful.
READ MORE: Why ‘Hey Mami’ Is the Anthem to Every Woman’s Life
It does help that Liz Lemon is in a position of power. As the head writer of the show’s version of “Saturday Night Live” called “The Girlie Show with Tracy Jordan,” Liz Lemon calls the shots, fires back at people who disrespect her and isn’t afraid of asserting herself even though some may call her a “bitch.”
But what makes Liz Lemon’s message so powerful is that she uses comedy to deliver it, with small sized bites for cautious audiences. Usually discussions in feminism can naturally be overtaken by serious tones, but, Liz Lemon dismantles the patriarchy within her career and win laughs along the way.
So, here’s to Liz Lemon, a strong feminist figure who we need more of in the world today. She’s not just a feminist figure; she’s an inspiration to working women everyone who deal with discrimination daily.
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