Favourite Feminist Moments in Doctor Who - #2 Donna Meets Martha
During series 4 The Doctor and Donna are brought back to earth by Martha Jones, now working for U.N.I.T., to investigate the Atmospheric Omission System (ATMOS).This is the second time two of The Doctor’s female companions are shown meeting in New Who.
This second meeting is very different to the first, in School Reunion, when Rose Tyler meets Sarah Jane Smith. During this episode both women are constantly trying to better the other and are are only concerned with competing with each other to get the most attention from The Doctor. This is something which really bothers me considering Sarah Jane has always been considered a somewhat feminist character, but I digress.
The scene which plays out when Donna meets Martha in The Sontaran Stratagem is very different. The two women immediately begin chatting away as though they are old friends and, although their conversation is all about men, they are more concerned with getting to know one another than which of them The Doctor prefers.
This friendly relationship continues throughout the rest of the episodes in which both women feature. Martha and Donna compliment each other, look out for each other and seem to genuinely care for each other. At no point are they pitted against each other or shown to be vying for The Doctor’s attention.
There is a stereotype ingrained in our culture that women hate each other and are willing to stab each other in the back in order to get ahead. It’s refreshing to see female friendship presented as the norm from the outset, rather than a desire to be the best at the expense of other women.
This is one of my favourite ever scenes in Doctor Who. Badass motherfuckers, the pair of them.
