

By the time we meet Jadzia on DS9, she’s the seventh trill to play host to the Dax symbiont, meaning she has seven lifetimes worth of experience, confidence, and knowledge to draw on when serving in Starfleet.
DEEP SPACE NINE TERRY FARRELL SERIES
Though the franchise boats no shortage of strong, independent female characters both before and after Dax, her penchant for flirtation, unapologetic embracing of her sexual identity, and unflinching ability to command respect make her the perfect response to decades of women being trussed up in laughably skimpy costumes.įirst appearing in Deep Space Nine’s series premiere “The Emissary,” Jadzia Dax (played by the incomparable and ever-radiant Terry Farrell) was a Trill - a species of alien that play host to a symbiont that moves from body to body every time a host dies. From the scantily clad alien women Kirk frequently found himself involved with on The Original Series, to Troi and Crusher’s gratuitous mirror workout sessions on The Next Generation, and Seven of Nine and T’Pol’s skintight catsuits on Voyager and Enterprise, the franchise had a nasty habit of objectifying women, even as late as the early 2000s.īut despite how prevalent and unapologetic the franchise’s sometimes less-than-respectful attitudes towards depicting women were, there was one character in particular who seemed to be a deliberate reactionary measure to the rampant objectification of women in Trek - Deep Space Nine’s Jadzia Dax.


Though the franchise’s core identity thrives on ideas of inclusivity, acceptance, and exploration, the series (which has always been a trailblazer for diversity) has simultaneously also struggled with giving women the agency and respect they deserve. Like it or not, even the most diehard Star Trek fans can admit that the franchise has a somewhat… rocky history when it comes to its depictions of women.
