Branches Book

BRANCHES

that Parks and Rec tries to convey. Through her victory, Leslie is able to triumph against a system unfavorable to her. The debate is ultimately decided by factors relevant to a person’s ability to lead and not the preconceived ideas pushed upon that person. The current transition from centering on women’s rights to a broader idea of gender equity raises significant questions about the nature of our current feminism. It is necessary to consider whether broadening the focus of feminism furthers the goals of feminism or serves to reverse its progress. In a time when women have not necessarily reached a reasonably equal status, does it really make sense to increase attention for the traditionally and systematically favored group? Within the context of Leslie’s troop, this is fine, though in a broader context, such as the town of Pawnee, the problems with this transition begin to crystalize. For her and Ron’s troops, this view is appropriate because they have reached a status of relative equality; the Goddesses may have even surpassed the Rangers. For that micro-society, it is necessary for them to revisit and correct the fundamentals of their ideologies to continue progressing forward, which they do. However, the later struggles of Leslie in her campaign are meant to highlight that the Goddess-Ranger dynamic is not always representative of wider society. Leslie faces various forms of sexism during her campaign, primarily shown through differing societal perceptions of her and Bobby, based upon gender. The society of Pawnee, based on their actions, has not progressed to the point that the Goddesses and Rangers has. The full transition from women’s rights to gender equity made by the Goddesses then becomes inappropriate for the town of Pawnee. The difference between these two societies is reflective of our broader society. There is substantial disconnect between primarily the urban and more rural-suburban populations of the U.S. Current feminist rhetoric, pushed by an educated, primarily city-based demographic, approximately follows the Goddess-Ranger dynamic. This rhetoric is becoming distanced from the realities of “middle-America,” which Pawnee is a caricature of. This disconnect renders the rhetoric effective only for the community which it originates from, and possibly even detrimental to others existing in different social climates. Parks and Recreation calls attention to this disconnect, frequently using it to comedic effect. Underneath the jokes, though, Parks and Rec offers potentially valuable insight. The disconnect between communities creates a variety of problems for all of the characters, though each of these problems is ultimately surmountable. Leslie is able to win her debate, and eventually the council position, because she stays true to her core ideals: respecting and helping others. These ideals are distanced from any concrete movements and are able to exist in different times and places.

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