Although it may seem like the proliferation of strong women on television is a feminist achievement, a deeper look into their stories tells us otherwise. The Impossible Woman examines a variety of scripted US television series across multiple genres to show how the cultural value of television’s extraordinarily talented female characters often rests upon their ability to endure—but not overcome—sexism. Looking at Parks and Recreation, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Queen’s Gambit, Game of Thrones, and Queen of the South, Hoerl argues that these series contribute to sexist realism, or the cultural assumption that there is no alternative to patriarchy. Situating impossible women’s struggles in the context of contemporary feminist politics, Hoerl explains how the problems facing television’s strongest women illustrate mainstream feminism’s paradoxical dependence upon on cultural misogyny, neoliberal individualism, and racism. The Impossible Woman encourages readers to seek out alternative stories that might help them envision more just feminist futures.

Introduction: Sexist Realism and the Crises of Contemporary Feminism
Chapter 1: Impossibly Resilient: Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope
Chapter 2: Improbably Cheerful: The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Chapter 3: Exquisitely Lonely: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Queen’s Gambit’s Beth Harmon
Chapter 4: Insanely Gifted: Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen
Chapter 5: Gangster Girlboss: The Queen of the South
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index