Interesting feminist look at Saved by the Bell….

Maybe it had something to do with how often-and on how many networks-the show seemed to air, but Saved by the Bell was one of the cornerstones of my generation. It was by all accounts a terribly acted and horrifically written television production, yet I love it. But behind its bubbly charm lies some tacitly damning social commentary-none more dubious than with the environmentally-minded feminist character of Jessie Spano. Jezebel and a few other blogs want to know: Did Jessie Spano Ruin Feminism?

A friend of mine and I recently had a long discussion regarding “The Jessie Spano Effect,” which we deemed “the unwillingness to call oneself a feminist for fear of being labeled an uptight, neurotic bitch.” For every stance Jessie took, be it against being called “a chick,” standing up for the environment, or taking a anti-sexism stance on not one, but two beauty pageants, she is shown to the audience to be uptight, lame, and stuck-up. She’s not the pretty girl like Kelly, nor is she the cool girl like Lisa. Jessie Spano is the girl that everyone should be, but nobody wants to be.

The Jezebel piece goes on to bemoan the fact that the actress who played her, Elizabeth Berkeley (pictured above beside her onscreen chauvinist boyfriend, A.C. Slater), needed “to play a Vegas showgirl to distance herself from Spano,” which “speaks volumes, as well. Because god forbid anyone get typecast as a feminist! Heavens, no! Now off with those pants, lady friend!”