“Parks and Recreation” is my favorite show. From its well-developed characters to its plucky optimism to just being outright hilarious, the show has much about it to love. And to miss, since the sitcom is in its seventh and final season. Its bumbling first season featured our heroine Leslie Knope, who was, at times, a goofy Michael Scott-esque figure. Soon though, Leslie transformed into a strong, powerful government servant. 

That being said, I have had problems with the show’s feminism. 

Last season, Leslie became pregnant with triplets. This itself is not an issue. What was troubling was when she exclaimed to her husband Ben that everything in her career led to this moment––these children. 

Which I personally think is a load of crap. Leslie’s career trajectory was not a path to motherhood but a triumph in its own right. She spent years fighting to build a new park. She came out on top as an underdog in the city council race against millionaire Bobby Newport. She got the attention of the federal government and now leads a branch of the National Parks Service. Was all this tireless work merely a trial of her maternal abilities? No. 

In addition, the show has now shuffled Donna Meagle, its only single female lead, into marriage. Donna smokes cigars, has sex in her Mercedes and owns real estate in Seattle. She had never been in a long-term relationship until season six, instead focusing on “treating herself.” Donna was also vocally against marriage. Her motto on dating was “use him, abuse him, lose him.” Despite this, she had her wedding earlier this season. 

I chalk this up to lazy writing. There’s nothing wrong with marriage or babies. But there is something wrong with treating marriage and family as the only suitable happy endings for female characters. 

Enter season seven, episode nine titled “Pie-Mary” — the most feminist episode in “Parks and Recreation” history. The premise of the episode is that each congressional candidate’s wife must compete in a pie-making contest. Since Ben is a candidate, Leslie feels pressured to participate. But Leslie and Ben decide to flip the script and have Ben bake the pie instead. 

The couple later berates the media for asking questions of women in politics that are never asked of men. Leslie riffs on these “silly questions” like, “Why did I change my hairstyle?” “Are you trying to have it all?” and “Do you miss your kids while you’re at work?” 

In come Pawnee’s “Male Men,” bull-horn bearing men’s rights activists. They want Ben to be in control of his assertive wife. Here the satire is pitch perfect. These men exclaim lines like, “Can we have one conversation about feminism in which men are in charge?” Only to be slammed down by Leslie in a press conference when she says, “Where are the ‘Male Men?’ You’re ridiculous. And men’s rights is nothing.”

I could not have said it better myself, Leslie. Feminism means female empowerment, not trampling men’s autonomy. People who don’t understand that are indeed “ridiculous.” Leslie’s speech was a moment of triumph for the show’s feminism. Still, it may not make up for the clichéd happy endings for its female leads.