Editing Female Transformer

{{disambig2|female Transformers in general|the [[Autobot]] resistance group led by [[Elita One]]|Female Autobots}}
[[Image:ArceeManga1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Arcee, the most famous female Transformer, poses for the boys. Way to set an example there.]]
Despite being robotic lifeforms with generally non-sexual methods of [[Reproduction| reproduction]], the [[Transformer]] species has almost always been shown to include both male and female gender analogues, at least mentally if not physically. '''Female Transformers''' are usually portrayed as comparatively rare, but are considered an official part of the Transformers franchise in pretty much every continuity. 

Click here for a '''[[List of female Transformers]]''' from all continuities.

==Appearance==
The appearance of female Transformers in most continuities would seem to suggest a level of "sexual" dimorphism is present in at least the more humanoid members of the Transformers species [[Image:BMStrika.jpg|left|170px|thumb|Our mechanics assure us this is a woman.]](the term sexual is used in a gender-based, rather than physical sense, see the reproduction link above for that whole kettle of robo-fish). In almost all cases female Transformers are portrayed as comparatively more graceful of form, and more rounded and curved in general, than their male counterparts.  Often they have a more than passing resemblance to an attractive human female made of metal and wearing armor and [[kibble]].
There are exceptions to this rule, and bulky, less overtly human-female-like characters have become more common, particularly among those who have toys.  These are especially common in the [[Unicron Trilogy]] series and in latter expansions of the [[Generation 1]] series out of Japan, when the characters are often assigned to pre-existing "masculine" toys.  Perhaps the best counter-example of this type is [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who is (allegedly) female yet neither looks nor acts stereotypically feminine at all.

==Romance==
Despite their robotic nature and likely non-sexual means of reproduction, romance between male and female Transformers is a well-established factor in pretty much every continuity in which both appear (which is pretty much every continuity). 

Regardless of the whys and wherefores many romantic male-female Transformer pairings have appeared over the years, including:

*[[Beta]] - [[Alpha Trion]]
*[[Elita One]] (Ariel) - [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (Orion Pax)
*[[Chromia]] - [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] - [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]
*Arcee - [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
*Arcee - [[Chromedome]]  {{storylink|The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters}}
*Arcee (she gets around) - [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]  {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers}}
*[[Nancy]] - [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]
*[[Esmeral]] - [[Deathsaurus]]
*[[Clipper]] - [[Holi]]
*[[Rahge]] - [[Stampy]]
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] - [[Tigatron]]
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] - [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Botanica]] - [[Rattrap]]
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] - [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]<ref>When Obsidian refers to Strika as his consort in [[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike]] he appears to have been using the less-common "associate" or "partner" definition.  There are no displays of affection between them during [[Beast Machines (cartoon)|''Beast Machines'']], and [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|secondary information sources]] describe them only as "cohorts".</ref>
*[[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] has a female "life partner" whose name has yet to be revealed.
*[[San D-Go]] once had plans to marry [[Discharge]], apparently directly inspired by that aspect of [[human]] culture.  Whether there was an actual romantic relationship involved is unknown.
*[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] has a one-sided crush on [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]]
*[[Crystal Widow]] had an unnamed lover before becoming stuck in the [[Axiom Nexus]]

==Fandom and Terminology==
Probably because of their rarity in official fiction and toylines, female Transformers are popular plot devices in fanfiction, where the term "femme" is often used to descibe them, with "mech"<ref>While "femme" obviously is related to the French word for "woman", "mec" (without an H) is also French for "guy", "dude" or, more loosely, "[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mec pimp]".  One hopes this is coincidence.  To make it clear, the use of the word "femme" come from a pun playing with the alikeness between "mec" and "mech", "mech" originally referring to the Transformer's mechanical nature, or to "mecha", a common term for giant fighting robots in general.</ref> likewise being applied to "male" Transformers.{{fact}}  In official fiction, the term "fembot" has been used on at least one occasion.   {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2|Nemesis_Part_2}}

Likewise, there is a fan term for romantic relationships between Transformers: "sparkmates".  This has surprisingly been used in one official source—the end-of-game bio for Airazor (referring to her and Tigatron) in the Nintendo 64 version of the [[Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals|Beast Wars Transmetals]] video game.<ref>Beast Wars Transmetals end-of-game bios[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/756a36c7076a7195?dmode=source]</ref>

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon===
:''For further information, see: [[Female Autobots]]''

[[Image:G1femmes.jpg|right|450px|thumb|A bunch of Female Autobots from the G1 toon and Alpha Trion. His pimp cane was removed in post-production.]]
This continuity makes female Transformers out to be a rarity, once thought extinct.  Given the appearance of Beta back in the slave days under [[Quintesson]] rule, it seems clear they were produced alongside the male [[Autobot|Autobots]] as part of the Quintessons' domestic product line.  There are no [[Decepticon]] females in American continuity, however. This does make some sense within the context of the series, as the Autobots were created to be slaves while the Decepticons were made to be soldiers. It's likely that female-styled Autobots were created to perform labor stereotypically regarded as "women's work".

[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] has a "[[Nancy|Junkion lady]]" companion in one episode. Just how relationships function in this isolated, media-based Transformers society is unclear, although it's notable that Wreck-Gar and his lady friend "slept" sitting up next to each other on giant thrones between television broadcast cycles.  The lady's character model is actually that of a female [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]], another mechanical race, but whether this is meaningful in any way or simple model recycling is uncertain.

In the French dub of ''[[Transformers: The Movie]]'' (but not in the TV series), both [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] were referred to as female, with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] calling Starscream "une imbecile" at one point (French articles are gendered), and Shrapnel referred to as "Mademoiselle". The reason for this gender-switch was never fully explained, though it presumably has something to do with both Starscream's and Shrapnel's rather high-pitched voices.
{{-}}

===Generation 1 Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Nomates.jpg|left|200px|thumb|And what will happen is like this.]]
No female Transformers are ever seen or referred to in the US stories, and when [[Cloudburst]] is pressured into a relationship with the beautiful [[First One]] of [[Femax]], he explains that Transformers, as a species, have no gender.   {{storylink|Recipe for Disaster!|Recipe for Disaster!}}  The UK stories corroborate this, and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is intentionally created by the Autobots to be the sole female Transformer in an attempt to placate [[human]] feminists.   {{storylink|Prime's Rib!|Prime's Rib!}}  (See her picture above for a hint of how well that went over.) 

[[BotCon]]'s ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' fiction, while not including the UK material, introduced [[Elita One]] in a similar manner as UK Arcee.  {{storylink|Games of Deception|Games of Deception}}

(This continuity has, historically, been surprisingly alone in declaring Transformers to be naturally gender free.)
{{-}}
===''Victory'' comic===
[[Image:Esmeryl-manga.jpg|right|150px|thumb|This is an official Transformers character. No, really.]]
[[Decepticon]] females make their first (yet still to this day very rare) appearance in official fiction as [[Esmeral]] ([[Deathsaurus]]'s wife) and [[Lyzack]] ([[Leozack]]'s sister). Both show up to show the Autobots just what it is Deathsaurus and his crew have been fighting for all this time: their poor female counterparts and countless children back home.  This spares the Decepticons' lives in the final battle between the two forces.  This certainly casts an odd light on the matter of Transformer [[reproduction]] (and on the manga author).

Meanwhile, in the animated series, the [[Micromaster]] [[Holi]] is shown to have a girlfriend on the planet [[Micro]], [[Clipper]]. There doesn't seem to be much special about her, aside from her being fairly competent and not subservient to guys at all. 
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars''===

[[Image:TM2_Blackarachnia.jpg|left|250px|thumb|She was extremely popular with fans, I wonder why...]]

Female Transformers seem to be common here, with no one showing any surprise over their presence. Some of the Transformers also appear to have picked up human-style attitudes of women as a fairer and more vulnerable gender, with [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] refusing to fight a female out of <strike>lust</strike> chivalry. Most of the other Transformers, however, seem unconcerned about this. 

[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] both engage in romances with male [[Maximal|Maximals]], the former blatantly and the latter far more subtly. 

Over the course of the show Rattrap makes numerous innuendos, especially involving Silverbolt and Blackarachnia's relationship, that suggest that, at least by that era, there may have been something sex-like between Transformers.  He also makes references to a bar on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] where the wait-staff go "without their torso-plates on"... which frankly sounds like it'd be really messy.

In the spin-off comics, [[Manta Ray (BW)|Manta Ray]] and [[Sonar (BW)|Sonar]] were both turned ''into'' female Transformers.

===''Beast Wars II''===
[[Scylla]] is the impetus for a big ridiculous love triangle of hilarity and embarrassment in both the animated and manga continuities.  She is in love with the squid-bot [[Scuba]], who wants nothing to do with her.  Meanwhile, the Maximal [[Bighorn]] is in love with Scylla, who wants nothing to do with him.

The non-Transformer female robot [[Artemis]] harbors a crush on both Scuba (poor guy) and [[Starscream (BWII)|Starscream]].

===''Beast Machines''===
''Beast Machines''' [[technorganic]] reformatting raises even further questions about what it means to be a "female transformer". It is possible that the Technorganic female Transformers, being merged organic and technological life to a cellular level, might actually be ''physically'' female.

[[Rattrap]] and [[Botanica]] end up in a romantic relationship towards the end of ''[[Beast Machines]]'' ("So, I'm a tree-hugger!" Rattrap remarks).  What this means for his bar-hopping days is never explored.

The [[Vehicon]] [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] is referred to as the "consort" of [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]], and has been serving by his side, seemingly as an equal, for centuries.  Some have taken this to mean the two have a romantic interest in each other, but the show itself does not offer any hints to this.

===Dreamwave comic continuity===
According to DK's ''Transformers: The Ultimate Guide'', "Transformers are inherently non-gender specific, and only some quirk of their timelost origins can account for [female Transformers'] difference in appearance and attitude." Dreamwave was in the process of introducing more female Transformers and explicating their links to the Quintessons in this continuity when it went out of business.

===Unicron Trilogy===
[[Image:Twirl-Baby.jpg|right|250px|thumb|But she&#39;s got your altmode!]]
The existence of female Transformers throughout the [[Unicron Trilogy]] is portrayed as slightly uncommon (it is a fiction aimed at young boys, after all), but hardly remarkable.  They just exist, as do "males", and no special attention is called to them.  Quite a few appear in various places in "[[Motorcycle refugee|civilian]]" roles, as [[Autobot nurse|nurses]], and even on [[Velocitron band|colony worlds]].

There are examples and hints of romantic interest between males and females in both ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' ([[Redline]] and [[Falcia]] in the [[Linkage (comic)|''Linkage'' comics]], plus [[Nightscream (Armada)|Nightscream's]] eagerness to appease and defend his [[bulk]] partner [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]]), and ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' stories (most obviously [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast's]] intense infatuation with [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack's]] secret crush on [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]], plus [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] reportedly has an unnamed female "life partner" lost somewhere on [[Earth]]).  This too is treated as a fairly common event.

There are female Transformers in positions of very high power as well: in the [[Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]], [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] is the leader of the entire [[Omnicon]] race, while in ''Cybertron'', Override is the leader of the planet [[Velocitron]].  So far, the Unicron Trilogy is the only ''Transformers'' continuity to ''give'' female Transformers that level of responsibility.

In the French version of the ''Energon'' cartoon, Arcee is dubbed by a man. ''Why'' she was is currently unknown.

===IDW comic continuity===

[[Image:Spotlight_Arcee_b.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Information: you are ALL going to DIE.]]

Originally [[Simon Furman]] stated that he would not use female Transformers in IDW continuity until he came up with a reason for them to exist that makes logical sense to him. He did not rule out doing so, as he said he had found a similar justification for the [[Pretender|Pretenders]], which led to the [[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]] miniseries. 

Despite this, in ''[[Megatron Origin]]'' [[Alex Milne]] drew what are clearly intended to be female Transformers in a good number of "easter egg" cameo appearances. (Cameos included female [[Tonka GoBots]] character [[Crasher (G1)|Crasher]], [[Elita One]], [[Chromia]], and a number of generic background femmes.)

This was finally resolved in [[Spotlight: Arcee]], where it was revealed that the malevolent Golden Age Cybertronian scientist [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] introduced gender to the Cybertronian genome just to see what it'd do. Tampering with the [[CNA]] of the titular character at her creation to make her Female, he discarded his experiment once he was finished, only to find she had an inherent homing instinct for his creations. Arcee's systems were severely messed up by this experiment, causing her to become tremendously unstable to the point of psychosis and fixated on getting revenge on Jhiaxus.

While the story implies that she is something very rare and unique it does not say that she was the ''only'' female Transformer Jhiaxus created, merely the first, leaving it open for the cameos in Megatron Origin to remain in continuity.

Jhiaxus specifically alters Arcee's CNA to make her female and introduce gender to the species. Exactly how deep these alterations went, how closely her form was designed to match the females of organic species on which she was based (particularly in relation to reproduction) is unknown and will likely remain so.

===2007 movie===

[[Image:Arceemovie.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Comic artists ''cry'' when they see this model sheet.]]

[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] was originally going to be featured as part of the cast of the ''[[Transformers (2007)|Transformers]]'' film, but was cut early on in the movie's development. The script writers felt they would need to explain the presence of a female in an entirely robotic race, and there was not enough time in the film to do so. Arcee was replaced in the movie by [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. Even so, Arcee was featured in IDW's [[Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel comics]] and remains in the movie toyline as both Deluxe and Scout-class toys.  

One other female Autobot is featured in the movie continuity family, another Scout-class toy, [[Elita-One]]. Both Elita and Arcee, however, are featured in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan Magazine's]] alternate reality stories as regular characters, with Arcee getting more prominence.  Both also appear in IDW's Movie Sequel comic series ''[[The Reign of Starscream]]'', with Arcee playing quite a prominent leadership role. Surprisingly, Elita-One does not fair as well as her sister-in-arms, dying at the claws of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] himself.  Although it is unusual for a female Transformer to die in fiction, ([[To sell toys|compared to how often Transformer death happens in general]]) it has [[Manta Ray (BW)|happened]] [[Sonar (BW)|before]].

As for Decepticons, [[Fracture]], based off of the aforementioned Crasher, was recently added to the end of the movie toyline as a Wal-mart exclusive. She has been featured in Titan Magazine's comics, as of issue 18, and in IDW's ''[[Transformers: Alliance]]'' series as of issue 3.

In all the comics where female Transformers do appear in the Movie continuality, their gender is never considered an issue.  This raises questions about just how necessary "explaining" them would be in [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen|future movies]].

===''Animated''===
At the end of Season 2 of ''[[Transformers Animated]]'', three female Transformers had been seen so far in the cartoon itself (with [[Red Alert (Animated)|one comic-only femme]]). However only female Decepticons, [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] and the [[Female Starscream]], had been seen in this continuity's "present"; [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] was only seen in a flashback. 

[[Image:Femalescream-ABTC.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Starscream worries me.]]

What this means for the state of female Transformers in ''Animated'' was unknown at the time, although in "[[Along Came a Spider]]", both [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] expressed confusion as to ''what'' Blackarachnia was.  Though they could have been referring to her [[Technorganic|partially organic]] nature, [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]]'s comment ("Duh, she's a girl.") seems to imply that the two Autobots were confused about Blackarachnia's gender.  This could be due to the fact that both Bumblebee and Bulkhead are younger, inexperienced characters.  It could also be a misunderstanding on Sari's part, used for comic effect.  In contrast, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|all]] [[Lugnut|her]] [[Starscream (Animated)|Decepticon]] [[Megatron (Animated)|shipmates]] did not react in any unusual way to Blackarachnia being female.  

Despite Optimus' confusion over where organic babies come from in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", implying that there is no Cybertronian equivelent to [[Reproduction|sexual reproduction]] in ''Animated'', Transformer ''romance'' is implied to be a possibility in [[Black Friday (episode)|"Black Friday"]], as Blackarachnia takes advantage of the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots']] obvious interest in her, especially [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock's]].  However, since the Dinobots were created on Earth, their reactions may not be typical of Cybertronian Transformers.

In Season 2's [[A Bridge Too Close, Part I|finale]] [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|episodes]], one of [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream's]] [[Starscream clone|clones]] was revealed to be [[Female Starscream|female]], [[Thundercracker (Animated)|though]] [[Skywarp (Animated)|unlike]] [[Liar Starscream|her]] [[Sunstorm (Animated)|"brothers"]], who each represented one obvious aspect of the original's personality, when Starscream (suggestively) asked what part of him she represented, she replied "don't ask" (with Starscream's suggestiveness further implying romantic possibilities for Cybertronian Transformers). Regardless, absolutely nobody reacted in any unusual way to the Female Starscream's gender, although there were more pressing issues at the time—like a season-ending Autobot/Decepticon smackdown.

[[Image:Anim_redalert.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit - until I stick this down your throat!]]

[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet's]] role as the Autobot medical officer was originally supposed to be assigned to a female character named [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]], so female Autobots were originally intended to be featured in ''Animated'''s present timeline (Red Alert did become a character, albeit much later).  This mystery was finally, unquestionably solved in Season 3's premiere, [[Transwarped]], where two female Transformers were seen fighting for their respective sides in the present -- Red Alert for the Autobots and [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] for the Decepticons -- with nobody paying any attention to their genders.

Based on this evidence, perhaps the safest assumption to make is that, as in the preceding Unicron Trilogy, female Transformers in ''Animated'' are relatively uncommon, but hardly remarkable (unless you're a young, male Autobot who's spent ''waaaaayy'' too much time fixing space bridges).

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]