In this week’s episode of UpLift Women’s Wellness, Auria Zahed, LMFT, and I explored a powerful cultural phenomenon: the Scully Effect.
For those unfamiliar, Dana Scully from The X-Files wasn’t just a fictional FBI agent—she was a catalyst. A 2018 study by the Geena Davis Institute, in partnership with 21st Century Fox, found that 63% of women familiar with Scully’s character said she increased their confidence in pursuing STEM careers, and 91% viewed her as a role model for girls and women. In the 1990s, when female scientists were nearly invisible in pop culture, Scully’s logic, competence, and calm authority offered something radical: possibility.
🧠 Mirror Neurons & Media Messaging
As I shared on the episode, our brains are wired with mirror neurons—cells that activate both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else doing it. During formative years, this mirroring helps shape our sense of what’s possible. If we never see someone like us in a particular role, our brains struggle to imagine that path as viable.
This is why, even today, the word “doctor” still evokes a male image for many. It’s not just habit—it’s neurological conditioning reinforced by media.
📺 The Boxes Women Are Placed In
We named the narrow archetypes women are often assigned in media:
• The love-seeker
• The sex object
• The mom
Rarely do we see women portrayed as complex professionals—especially those navigating identity, grief, or ambition outside of romance. While representation has improved, the gaps remain—particularly for women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those in non-normative bodies.
💬 Real-Time Reflections: Aging, Appearance & Double Standards
We unpacked the double standard in how aging is portrayed. Public figures like Jennifer Love Hewitt have spoken out about being labeled “unrecognizable” or criticized for no longer looking like their teenage selves. Meanwhile, male counterparts are often praised for “aging gracefully.”
This isn’t just commentary—it’s a cultural script that still measures women by appearance more than impact.
🏅 Personal Role Models & Tangible Trajectories
For me, meeting Lisa Fernandez, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated softball players in history, was transformative. She wasn’t just talented—she was visible. Her success gave me a roadmap, even if I didn’t have a clear archetype to follow professionally.
As Auria reminded me, building a business, earning multiple credentials, and leading with purpose are acts of courage. Sometimes, we become the role models we never had.
🌈 Representation as a Tool for Cultural Shift
Representation isn’t just about individual empowerment—it’s about rewriting societal norms. When we see diverse cultures, sexualities, and genders reflected in media, we stop “othering” those who are different. We start recognizing shared humanity.
🧭 Final Reflection
We’ve come a long way since the 90s. But we still have work to do. Let’s keep pushing for a media landscape that mirrors the full spectrum of human experience—so every person can see themselves, and their potential, reflected back.
Because when representation thrives, so do we all.
💬 What’s your story?
Have you ever seen yourself reflected in media—or felt the ache of invisibility? Share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep the conversation going.