Fanlore:Featured Article Archives/2020: Week 10

The Scully Effect is the name given to a phenomenon where the number of women starting careers in typical STEM (Science / Technology / Engineering / Mathematics) professions saw a noticeable increase following the airing of the X-Files in the early 1990s. This impact is attributed to the prominence of protagonist Dana Scully, an FBI agent and medical doctor.

The character of Scully is seen as a positive role model of a woman who is able to establish herself a career where women are underrepresented, subverting traditional gender roles and using her cognitive and professional abilities instead of her physical attributes. Scully inspired other television characters such as Temperance "Bones" Brennan from the series Bones, Special Agent Olivia Dunham from Fringe, Peggy Carter from the series Agent Carter and Olivia Benson from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.