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A Female's Captaincy: 

Representation of Femininity in Star Trek: Voyager

1. Prologue

This paper is an individual research project submitted as a formal assignment for the Journalism CrashCourse writing course.

For this assignment, I have chosen Star Trek: Voyager, a TV show created by Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor, and produced by Paramount Network Television. It originally aired on the United Paramount Network between 1995 and 2001.

To conduct a detailed analysis of the chosen subject, I have investigated all seven seasons of the show.

1.1. Thesis Statement:

For the first time in Star Trek's science-fiction universe, creators appointed a female captain as one of the main characters in their 1995 series, Star Trek: Voyager. Kathryn Janeway, portrayed by Kate Mulgrew, became the Captain of Voyager, an Intrepid-class spacecraft in Starfleet.

Additionally, Star Trek: Voyager features a tragic storyline within the Star Trek universe, where Janeway receives an assignment from Starfleet that strands the starship Voyager in the Delta Quadrant, seventy thousand light-years from Earth. This event turns the lives of every crew member upside down in an instant, transforming Janeway's seemingly routine mission into what could be a lifetime journey. 

While there had already been many other strong female roles in the Star Trek universe before Janeway became Captain, she unquestionably brought about an extraordinary change in its history. For the sake of the research, I presume that Star Trek: Voyager would have had a significantly different storyline if a male captain had been in command. 

1.2. Aims:

This essay aims to evaluate the portrayal of gender and its influence on the storyline of Star Trek: Voyager, specifically focusing on Captain Kathryn Janeway. The analysis seeks to explore how Janeway's femininity is represented throughout all seven seasons of the show, with a particular emphasis on the challenges and maternal issues she faces. Additionally, this study aims to examine the unique challenges encountered by Janeway as a female captain, contrasting them with potential scenarios that a male counterpart might not have faced.

1.3. Objectives:

To achieve the aims, the first objective is to provide the reader with a brief overview of how the producers of Star Trek: Voyager in the 1990s finally decided to have a female captain on the show. This analysis will also include how actress Kate Mulgrew was cast to play the first female captain in Star Trek’s history. For this objective, I will analyse mostly non-scholarly news articles on the subject.

The second objective is to explore Kathryn Janeway's personality and behavioral attitudes. As mentioned in the Research Aims section, this research paper will primarily analyse different discourses of motherhood in Janeway's case, as this subject is commonly discussed throughout the series. To achieve this, I will use scholarly sources as secondary texts and also present and analyse scenes from the Star Trek: Voyager episodes.

The third objective is to deliver a short analysis comparing the representation of Janeway's maternity with another female leading role’s portrayal. The character mentioned is Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, Chief Engineer on starship Voyager. As a senior officer on the ship, she could experience similar circumstances with motherhood as Janeway does. In my analysis, I will compare Janeway’s representation of maternity with that of Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres and explore why Lieutenant Torres could have a child in the series when Captain Janeway does not.

2. Almost Didn't Happen

2.1. A Backup Plan in Case Anything Happens

Petrucelli (1995, p. 28) claims that despite the eminent success the show eventually brought to Paramount, the company "reportedly balked at the idea" of working with a female captain. However, the producers at Paramount finally considered the possibility of a female character but kept the possibility of a male captain, auditioning male actors for the role as a backup plan. 

For instance, Gary Graham was considered as captain of the Intrepid-class spaceship and later played Tanis, an Ocampan leader, in Season 2, Episode 10 (8 actors who were almost cast in Star Trek: Voyager, 2017).

Although the decision was not painless for the producers, executive producer Jeri Taylor later interpreted the situation differently. Only a few months after the show launched, Taylor said they decided to have a female captain because "it was time" (Littlefield, 1995).

2.2. The First Choice

Although several actresses auditioned for the role of Captain Janeway, Paramount's first choice was French-Canadian actress Geneviève Bujold. "But after only two days of filming Star Trek: Voyager, Bujold walked off the set, making it clear she had no intention of returning" (Czach, 2013, p. 95). "The pressures of working on a weekly television show" was named as the primary reason Bujold left the show (Kate Mulgrew Replaces Bujold in 'Star Trek', 1994).

However, when she got the job from Paramount, she told National Enquirer she was very excited about starring in the new series. "This role is a challenge but it feels right. I am going where no woman has gone before," she said, referring to the fact that she would have been the first female captain (Caron, 2018). 

Nevertheless, Bujold evidently underestimated the work required and, after she departed, the producers had to find a replacement. This led to Iowan actress Kate Mulgrew taking the role. "I had about four days to collect myself and then I started Monday morning. It was a formidable undertaking but once I got my sea legs it was great," said Mulgrew during an online panel discussion broadcast on YouTube in May 2020 (Star Trek Voyager Reunion, 2020).

2.3. The Denouement

Despite the difficulties leading to the first female captain in the Star Trek universe, The New York Times called the decision a politically correct venture on the day the first two episodes aired. The article emphasized that the franchise "has long been a multicultural champion of erasing prejudices of all sorts" and noted that this time, the effort "goes a bit further" (Now for a Politically Correct 'Star Trek', 1995). 

2.4. Starfleet Protocol Has No Designation for a Female Captain

In the pilot episode, Caretaker (S01:E01-02), when Ensign Kim and Paris pay their respects to Captain Janeway, Ensign Kim says, "Thank you, sir." Janeway replies that although Starfleet protocol says to call her sir, she does not like being addressed as sir. 

This scene is particularly remarkable not because of the rookie's awkwardness but because it shows that Starfleet in 2371, after 210 years of existence, has no protocol for addressing a female superior officer such as a starship’s captain. This highlights the novelty of a female captain, while also indicating an underlying discrimination.

3. Janeway's Portrayal

Bowring (2004, p. 392) describes Janeway as “a competent professional from the start.” Spectators can observe many of Janeway’s characteristics that support Bowring’s statement. Janeway is portrayed as idealistic, confident, and persuasive. She remains calm and thinks rationally even in the most difficult situations, which makes her especially determined about herself and how her job must be done. So far, no personality traits that a male captain could not have.

Evidence supports that the Captain indeed has the personality traits mentioned above. In her very first scene, Caretaker (S01:E01-02), Janeway is talking to Tom Paris, trying to convince him to help Starfleet complete her mission. Although Paris has different opinions about his part in the mission, Janeway still convinces him to carry out the plan as she originally intended.

Still, notwithstanding her gender-neutral behavior, Bowring (2004, p. 392) believes that Janeway’s feminine appearance and her apparent heterosexuality (references to her fiancé, for example) lead us to believe she is a feminine leader. 

Considering how much the writers dealt with Janeway’s maternity throughout the entire series, Bowring cannot be mistaken. Therefore, this section will analyze how much the series shows Janeway’s feminine side through her maternal behavior.

4. Janeway: The Mother She Always Wanted to Be, but Somehow Never Was

Throughout the seasons, being a mother was always a sensitive topic for Captain Kathryn Janeway. To explore this issue more systematically, I intend to separate the question into two different but related groups:

a) Janeway as a biological mother

b) Janeway’s motherly emotions towards the crew members

4.1. Janeway as a Birth Mother

Janeway did not have a birth child throughout the series, although she was only 35 years old when she was assigned to be the captain of Voyager. Nevertheless, it never happened in the series.

In episode Threshold (S02:E15), Lieutenants Paris and Torres, along with Ensign Kim, work on reaching “warp 10,” which would allow them to travel at infinite velocity. They manage to do it, but after Paris’ test flight, he begins to experience medical side effects. 

Eventually, the Doctor realizes that the infinite velocity changed Paris’ DNA. Later on, Paris kidnaps the Captain, and they fly at warp 10 together. The side effects affect both of them, altering their DNA entirely. When Commander Chakotay and Lieutenant Commander Tuvok find them on a planet, they look like amphibians, and they discover that Janeway and Paris had many offspring. 

After the Doctor restores their original genomes, the Captain tells Paris, “I’ve thought about having children,” indicating a desire to have children, albeit mentioned with a sarcastic tone.

Shaw (2006, p. 66) claims that Janeway “is not responsible for her actions” in this scenario since she is “evolved into something beyond human,” so it doesn’t count. Still, it shows how eager the creators were to give Janeway some experience in maternity.

Another incident where Janeway almost becomes a mother is in episode The Q and The Grey (S03:E11), where Q arrives on board Voyager with a request to mate with Janeway. However, Janeway has no intention of doing so and tries to make Q understand in every way possible. 

Despite the humor in these scenes, Q seriously asks why she does not desire what he does, to which Janeway replies that she “simply” does not love him. This suggests that Janeway believes in true love and wants to have a child only with someone she truly loves.

This presents a dilemma: to have a child, she needs to find a partner, and as Janeway says in Episode Elogium (S02:E04), as Captain, that is a “luxury" that she does not have.

The Doctor also points out in Episode Fair Haven (S06:E11) that the Captain cannot have a relationship with a member of the ship’s crew as they are all her subordinates. The Doctor suggests dating a hologram as the “only logical alternative,” even though Janeway would never be able to be a mother with this “only logical alternative.”

It is worth noting that although Lieutenant Torres and Captain Janeway are both women and superiors, they do not share the same experiences. Lieutenant Torres can have a child, but Captain Janeway cannot. It seems illogical why Janeway cannot have a child, but a woman who works day and night cannot raise a child. This was stated in Episode The Q and The Grey (S03:E11) when Q offered Janeway to have a child with him. 

Actress Kate Mulgrew also talked about her experience working long hours on Star Trek: Voyager while her young sons were at home. During a panel discussion, she said, “Kids are tough. They want their mother… and they did not understand it, especially with two boys” (Star Trek Voyager Reunion, 2020). This shows that Janeway is a woman who wants to have children but cannot find the time between work, leaving it as a fantasy.

4.2. Janeway as a Non-Biological Mother

Although Janeway did not have a birth child, she had an entire crew to parent. Lively (2020) claims that Janeway is often represented as a “motherly figure” who fostered nurturing relationships with each of her crew to varying degrees of success.

The series does not hide Janeway’s “motherly figure” portrayal. When Q wants to leave his son (who is also Janeway’s godson) aboard Voyager in episode Q2 (S07:E18), Janeway refuses. Q tries to convince Janeway by pointing out that she is already a “mommy” to the entire crew. “Just look how quickly you housebroke that Borg drone,” Q says.

To provide concrete evidence, I mention two episodes where Janeway is portrayed as a mother. These episodes portrays Janeway both as a caring and a strict “mommy” to the crew.

Evidence 1: Episode Good Shepard (S06:E20)

Seven creates a “shipwide efficiency analysis,” identifying three crew members who cannot find their place aboard Voyager. Although Commander Chakotay suggests relieving them of duty, Janeway decides not to give up on them. “They aren’t drones, Chakotay. We can’t just deactivate them,” she argues. 

This shows how differently this situation could have been handled if Chakotay were the Captain. She arranges an away mission for just the four of them, intending not to “abandon any member of the crew, no matter what their problems might be.” 

The way she acts with these three crew members is like a concerned mother who sets a good example and is thoughtful and understanding, aiming to help her “children” manage their lives independently one day.

Evidence 2: Episode The Disease (S05:E16)

Ensign Harry Kim, a perfect officer for five years, gets close to an alien woman without asking for the Doctor’s or the Captain’s approval. When the Doctor informs Janeway, she is disappointed. Initially, it seems unusual for a crew member to disobey orders, but by the episode's end, Janeway reveals why she was so displeased. She says, “I think about you differently than the rest of the crew. From that first day, I’ve always felt more protective of you than the others.” This indicates that Janeway is influenced by her feelings, leading her to protect Kim more than other crew members, just as a mother is protective of her youngest child. Kim admits, “Maybe I’m not the perfect officer anymore,” and Janeway responds, “but you’re a better man.”

Kinley (2020) notes that although Janeway’s male colleagues often “stoically reprimanded errant crew members,” when “Voyager personnel let Janeway down,” she talks about how she feels about what happened in her ready room with the crew member who disobeyed her, which is consistent every time it happens.

5. Final Conclusion

The decision to work with a female captain after three male ones in a row in the Star Trek universe was not straightforward at the beginning. However, Paramount, the company that created Star Trek: Voyager, took all the potential risks and hired Kathryn Janeway to be the captain of Starfleet’s Intrepid-class starship. After a long casting process and a quick personnel change when the initially chosen actress quit after two days, Kate Mulgrew finally started shaping Janeway’s character.

Despite the early challenges, these difficulties are not evident in the final work. Kathryn Janeway became the first female captain in Star Trek’s universe, and a new challenge emerged: how to differentiate between a male and a female captain. Captain Janeway possesses many personal traits, abilities, and skills that are not different from those of a male captain, such as confidence, persuasive behavior, rational thinking, conflict management, and making serious and tough decisions, even about life-and-death situations.

However, what sets her apart from a male Starfleet captain and any male officers is her distinctly feminine side, which no male officers could possess. While every female officer has a feminine side, Janeway’s command position comes with many responsibilities, more than any other female Starfleet officers have had before. This is how her situation differs from other female Starfleet officers, even superior ones such as Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, the Chief Engineer on the starship Voyager. This might be why Torres could have a husband and a child, born only in the last episode, "Endgame" (S07:E24-25).

Throughout the series, Janeway’s potential motherhood (which never materializes in the show) is a key issue related to her feminine side. However, she is more of a mother to her crew than in a biological sense. She cares about the crew as a mother does about her children, which is different from how a male captain cares about his crew. A male captain often shows his disappointment with pure anger, but Captain Janeway talks about her feelings when one of her subordinates lets her down.

In conclusion, Janeway’s gender significantly influenced the storyline of the series. Some episodes are entirely based on Janeway’s feminine side, how she treats the crew as a woman, and her deep relationship with the crew members as a motherly figure. These episodes could not have happened without her unique perspective and approach, highlighting how integral her gender was to the series' narrative.

[Word count: 2730 words]

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