Knope 2012

Whenever I think of a good depiction of feminism I think of Leslie Knope from the TV show Parks and Recreation. On the show she constantly preaches about how important it is for females to feel like they are worth the time of day. She is probably the biggest supporter ever of female friendship and support. She proves this with her creation of Galentine's Day. She constantly tells her female coworkers how wonderful and powerful they are, saying that they have potential to do so much and encourages them to use all their talents. She especially encourages April who is much younger than she is.

                         

She wants equality in all aspects of her workplace, even in the departments that she doesn't work in. She spends a whole day of her life proving that females can be garbage men too. Which leads to more women being hired in the Department of Sanitation. She even created a group called the Pawnee Goddesses to rival the boys Pawnee Rangers because they wouldn't let girls join, which then led to the creation of The Swanson's an outdoor club for both boys and girls. She even won the seat on her city council which was notorious for being extremely sexist. She destroys a group of Men's Rights activists saying that "You're ridiculous and Men's Rights is nothing."

She talks about positive and powerful female role models such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Nancy Pelosi, Jeanette Pickering Rankin, Madeleine Albright, Margret Thatcher, Hermione Granger, Sally Ride, various others, and admittedly, herself. 

She encourages other women to follow their dreams, whatever they may be. She doesn't discredit anyone who wants to be a stay-at-home mother. She doesn't make things like that seem lesser or arbitrary. Just because she wants to be president doesn't mean every other woman should want to be that too. Women should be allowed to be whatever they want. 

Overall Leslie Knope fights for equality. And she doesn't trample all over the men in her life to do that. Although sometimes that's what it takes. Some people need a slap in the face to notice what's happening around them. Sometimes she does lose her head and gets a little overbearing and crazy. But she backtracks when she does that and fixes everything she messed up or at least she tries her hardest to. She wants to see everyone reach their full potential. And she doesn't sacrifice womanhood to do that.