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I am cranky today, so maybe take this with a grain of salt.

While I am generally a fan of Pandagon/Amanda Marcotte, her article on Parks and Recreation bugged me (and, off-topic, this article makes me want to stab certain Republicans & PUAs in the eye. Go read it.).  In a nutshell, she argued that P & R has become less feminist. Why? Well, partly because the latest episode featured Leslie Knope trying to find a date / boyfriend for her best friend.

I truly don't understand. I don't believe that a show becomes any less feminist if occasionally the plot becomes about romance. Feminists can get lonely at times and desire romance, too. I don't see it as giving into the patriarchy if Leslie (a feminist, who has a boyfriend, and wants to become the first woman president) wants to see her best friend  happy on Valentine's Day.

Ann, Leslie's best friend, has been shown to be a strong feminist character in previous seasons. She owns her own house, is a nurse, kicked out her loser boyfriend, dated around for a while and had fun. Her wanting to have a boyfriend in this season by no means negates anything that came before it. It's not even a "people/characters change" sort of situation. It's how life works sometimes.

I don't see it as P & R promoting the idea that every woman needs  a man. And yes, while Ann does go out for drinks with Tom, it's not because she's given up and this is the best she can get in Pawnee. I think it's more of a "hang out with someone that makes you laugh and enjoy their company for a bit." Ann even tells Tom, over drinks, that she will be going home alone. She won't take his shit simply because he is a man, and it's Valentine's Day.

Marcotte also argues, in another essay about Knope, that things started going downhill and cliched when she began dating Ben - she couldn't have Ben and her political career. Well, the "arbitrary" rule was that Ben was her boss, and that inter-office dating was not allowed, and the couple feared that the rule-breaking could potentionally cause a scandal. So what happened? Eventually, Ben quit his job, in support of his girlfriend's ambition. It's been a few episodes now, and has been hired by her to be her campaign manager (her first choice was Ann). Yes, quite the cliche.

Parks and Recreation is not getting any less feminist, even with the occasional romantic plotline. Have we forgotten that much of this season's story line is about Leslie furthering her political career? And let's remember, it doesn't make anyone any less feminist for loving or desiring a man. (Let's also note that Leslie is a character, with a personality, and flaws, that is also a self-identified feminist. This does not mean she must fulfill all feminist 'ideals' at all times.)