‘Doctor Who’ gender switch unacceptable, identities are important in characters
Stories have always meant a lot to people, but they wouldn’t mean anything without the characters.
Some characters are so iconic, they practically live in the real world just as much as in the fictional world.
Andrew Jenson
One such character is The Doctor from “Doctor Who.” This character, from the longest running science fiction show in television history, has a life of his own outside of the TARDIS. He has served as an inspiration for a growing fan base, in much the same way Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman have inspired millions and will continue to in the future.
For many people, The Doctor is as real as anybody. So why would anyone think to change his identity?
As a character who can literally regenerate into a “new” man in life-threatening situations, many wonder why he hasn’t changed into a woman in his 2,000 years of life. Since his conception over 50 years ago, he has remained male. Yet, the show’s latest season demonstrated that time travelers, like The Doctor, can change into women.
Additionally, writer and producer Steven Moffat confirmed The Doctor could regenerate into a woman in the near future.
A character’s normal identity must remain intact. Men should remain men and women should remain women. Having either gender change into the other isn’t progress, it is unnatural, even in fiction. Hiding behind a time traveler’s unique regeneration abilities doesn’t change this.
Just because producers can change a character’s physical appearance doesn’t mean they should.
Peter Davison, who played the fifth Doctor, recently said The Doctor should never be played by a woman. Davison suggested a female time traveler should be given a spin-off show.
Identity is important, even for fictional characters. It’s how audiences connect to them, and it even extends to physicality. The idea that the character can be male or female gives the impression that men and women are interchangeable, when they are not. While The Doctor’s personality has changed with each incarnation, his fundamental characteristic of being a “madman in a box,” hasn’t. He is the same person throughout time — and this includes being male. It’s just who he is.
Some people might point out the soul of a fictional character is more important than his or her sexual identity.
While this may hold some truth, sexual identity is still vital to a character. Just look at Wonder Woman, who continues to act as an inspiration for women, young and old alike. We can’t just exchange sexual identity like it’s an expendable shell.
Imagine if DC decided to retire Wonder Woman and put a man in her place, but still call the character Wonder Woman. It wouldn’t make any sense and would only serve to disrespect the character’s respective identity.
In any case, females on “Doctor Who,” already occupy much of the spotlight as companions. They practically take the lead, with The Doctor almost tagging along as a significant constant in their lives. Take a look at the most recent season of “Doctor Who,” and how companion Clara Oswald has nearly taken over the show. There’s no need to establish a female incarnation of The Doctor when there are plenty of heroines for men and women to look up to on the show. River Song, Sarah Jane, Rose Tyler, Martha Jones and Ace McShane, just to name a few.
Andrew Jenson can be reached at [email protected]