Star Trek: Discovery will feature an updated Original Series uniform in season 2, and here’s the deal: Those classic Starfleet minidresses should definitely be unisex.
While modern audiences often view the Starfleet minidress as a sexist relic, miniskirts had different connotations in the 1960s. In her autobiography Beyond Uhura, here’s what actress Nichelle Nichols had to say:
“The show was created in the age of the miniskirt, and the crew women’s uniforms were very comfortable. Contrary to what many may think today, no one really saw it as demeaning back then. In fact, the miniskirt was a symbol of sexual liberation. More to the point, though, in the twenty-third century, you are respected for your abilities regardless of what you do or do not wear.”
When The Next Generation began in 1987, the creators struggled between two conflicting desires. They wanted to be forward-thinking, but they also wanted to put Deanna Troi in sexy, figure-hugging outfits. Their solution was to make the minidress into a unisex item, with male extras wearing similar outfits. It didn’t last, but in 2019, it’s time to try again. By making minidresses available to any gender, Discovery would give Uhura’s classic look a truly meaningful update.
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Why ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ should bring back the unisex minidress
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