Kate Mulgrew Calls for More Women at the Helm in Star Trek

Kate Mulgrew, best known for portraying Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager from 1995 to 2001, has long been a standout figure in the Star Trek universe. Janeway’s leadership and decision-making have left a lasting mark, and Mulgrew recently shared her thoughts on the ongoing need for more women in command roles within the franchise.

In a chat with Daily Dragon, Mulgrew didn’t mince words about the importance of keeping the momentum going for female representation.

It’s not enough that I was the first female captain. There needs to be a continual push to open the door for women in positions of authority. In an absolutely equal way, of course. In talking to Bill I thought: This has been very much a boy’s club for a long, long time. I had the privilege and honour to be the first female, but that’s an establishment that needs now to be developed.

Janeway’s time in charge was marked by a collaborative approach, working closely with her crew while stranded far from home. Her presence paved the way for more women to take on captaincy in later series, though none have quite matched her iconic status so far.

Women in Command: Then and Now

The Star Trek franchise has made a point of broadening its horizons over the years, especially when it comes to diversity in leadership. Janeway’s run on Voyager remains a milestone for female representation. Here’s a quick look at the show’s key details:

Title: Star Trek: Voyager
Franchise: Star Trek
Series Order: Fourth live-action Star Trek TV series
Created by: Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor
Original Run: 16 January 1995 – 23 May 2001
Seasons: 7
Episodes: 172
Network: UPN
Setting: Delta Quadrant, 70,000 light-years from Earth
Premise: Starfleet and Maquis crews must work together to get home after being stranded far from the Federation
Starship: USS Voyager (NCC-74656)
Captain: Kathryn Janeway

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, a handful of women took the captain’s chair, even if only briefly. These included Captain Phillipa Louvois (Amanda McBroom), Captain Tryla Scott (Ursaline Bryant), Captain Rachel Garrett (Tricia O’Neil), and Captain Silva La Forge (Madge Sinclair), all appearing in The Next Generation. Janeway’s arrival in Voyager marked a turning point, putting a woman front and centre for the first time.

Modern Era: Expanding the Ranks

Fast forward to the 2010s and 2020s, and the list of female captains has grown. Notable names include Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) in Discovery’s first season, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) in later seasons of Discovery, Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) in Lower Decks, Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) in Picard’s third season, Captain Elizabeth Shelby (Elizabeth Dennehy) in Picard, and Captain Sonya Gomez (Lycia Naff) in Lower Decks.

From the early days to now, it’s clear there are more women in charge, but as Mulgrew points out, there’s still work to be done. The push for equal footing in leadership roles remains as relevant as ever.

The First Female Captain: A Quiet Revolution

While Mulgrew is often credited as the first woman to lead a Star Trek series, the earliest female starship captain actually appeared in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Madge Sinclair played the unnamed captain of the USS Saratoga during the Whale Probe incident, nearly a decade before Voyager hit screens. Although her character wasn’t named, Sinclair’s role was groundbreaking—she was both the first Black and female captain seen in the franchise, back in 1986.

Sinclair later returned to Star Trek as Captain Silva La Forge, mother of Geordi La Forge, in The Next Generation. Her understated leadership during a planetary crisis quietly set a new standard for Starfleet captains, helping to shape the franchise’s approach to diversity in command.

Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home are currently available to stream on Paramount+ for Aussie viewers keen to revisit these milestones.