TBBT’s Amy Was Never Just ‘Sheldon In a Skirt’

Summary:

• The Big Bang Theory was a hit CBS sitcom that ran from 2007 to 2019.
• Amy Farrah Fowler was introduced in season 3 and remained a recurring character until the series finale.
• Due to Amy's romantic involvement with Sheldon and similar social awkwardness, Amy's character is often criticized for being a gender-swapped copy of another main character.
• This is not true, however, as there is a fundamental difference between the two in their development.

There has never been a more controversial moment in the history of The Big Bang Theory fandom than when Amy and Bernadette were officially added to the show. Of course, every fan had their own opinion about the new additions.

While some felt that new people would freshen up the story and bring something new and fun to the table, others felt that the show didn't need any more female characters other than Penny. The motives of the second group were always clearly rooted in misogyny, while the first group was simply more open to change.

But that didn't change the fact that viewers on both sides of this conflict were concerned that Amy's character was just a caricature of Sheldon Cooper in a skirt. Fortunately, throughout the rest of the show's run, the creators behind the camera made the fundamental difference between them very clear.

Amy Farrah Fowler’s Childhood

To really understand Amy, you have to go back to the roots and look at her childhood. She grew up to be academically brilliant, but socially awkward and insecure, just like Sheldon. But she was not like that, to begin with.

Unlike her partner, Amy did not have special needs as a child. Instead, she grew up as a product of her mother's poor parenting techniques. Controlling and overprotective, she made sure that Amy lacked socialization with the real world around her, focusing instead on her studies. This made her book smart, of course, but added many struggles to her adulthood.

Sheldon, on the other hand, was not influenced to be the person he is. He was literally born that way, and all his life, all his friends and family catered to his needs, even the most annoying aspects of them.

While Amy wanted to change, Sheldon knew the privilege of the position he ended up in and held on to it.

The way they changed over the years shows the difference that was always there. Accepted into a welcoming group of friends with nice people around them who shared similar values and interests, Amy blossomed and managed to become a better version of herself by the show's finale.

Sheldon, on the other hand, remained exactly the same until the very last episode. Luckily, the people around him had gotten so used to his nonsense that they wouldn't change it for anything or anyone else in the world.

If you feel a nostalgic tinge deep in your soul and want to watch the whole Big Bang Theory again, you can stream the show on MAX.