Gender Politics: Love or Profit?

Rhonda’s Take on Episode 2.7: “Rules of Acquisition”

The title says it all, “Rules of Acquisition.” This is going to be an episode about Ferengi and a Ferengi episode on Deep Space Nine is a Quark episode. Expectations for humor and hijinks are high. Wallace Shawn as Grand Nagus Zek delivers the humor. Armin Shimmerman as Quark delivers the hijinks. But this is Star Trek and comedy is often used to make a serious point. One might think, given the title, our lesson would stem from one of the six-and-a-half rules we learn in this episode. However, the message at the heart of “Rules of Acquisition” is very serious and just as timely, perhaps more so in 2021, as it was in 1993, and it is one far beyond the guiding principles of acquisition. This episode is about gender politics and, in case you missed it, Pel makes the declaration clear, “When it comes to accumulating profit, women are as capable as men.” [Huge shout out to Hȇlene Udy in this role.]

Let’s start at the beginning though.

What a perfect opening sequence! The establishing shot is Morn asleep on the Promenade and when he’s awakened, he tries to enter Quark’s bar, which is closed. The camera takes us inside where a group of Ferengi are busy in a hot game of tongo—Confront, Evade, Acquire, Retreat! Of course, Jadzia Dax is there and wins, again. “Does she ever lose?” Rom asks with exasperation. Dax says a previous host learned the game, but he was never any good at it. Yet, Rom still tries to say that they aren’t losing to a female. There are several misogynistic jabs ending with the declaration that females should be “naked and submissive.” When Jadzia asks Quark if that is truly how he wants his women, he says, “I do. I really do!” with such lasciviousness there is no doubt what he is thinking.

The Ferengi, of course, aren’t meant to be role models. In the next scene, Sisko allows Kira to lob several insults at Grand Nagus Zek about not trusting Ferengi in business. Zek offers Bajor much needed fertilizer then tries to turn it into profit illustrating Kira’s point, but Sisko shows his negotiating strength by demanding Zek give it to Bajor in order to conduct the business he wants to on the station. Zek praises Sisko’s negotiating skill and grants the gift.

Throughout the episode, Zek will shower Kira with gifts, offer her his lap to sit on, and slap her backside. While she returns his gifts, rejects his flirtations, and threatens bodily harm should he persist, his unwanted advances go largely consequence free. When Kira and Jadzia discuss the Ferengi, Dax voices why we love the Ferengi despite their abmondiable behavior:

Kira: “You sound like you admire them for it.”

Dax: “Over seven lifetimes…not a race I’ve enjoyed more.”

Damn the Ferengi and their charm. We forgive them every time.

We forgive them because they are a product of their culture.

In the real world, this is not an acceptable excuse, but in our fiction, it is the familiarity we appreciate. We appreciate knowing what to expect from our characters and, thus, we let them remain ignorant and their society stagnant.

Still, we can learn where our society needs to change.

Yes, by 1996, women were “allowed” out of the home and were “allowed” to be breadwinners for their families. If women still only earn 70 cents on the dollar to their male counterparts, it is no surprise the wage gap existed then. It’s a shame to admit that it is the attitude behind the pay gap—that women are less capable or, maybe worse, less deserving—still exists.

Despite his attitude, Quark experiences loss beyond profit and we love him.

I wish I could remember if it was so obvious to the audience that Pel is female from the first moments “he” appears on screen. I don’t think so. Pel’s lobes are as prominent as Quark and Rom’s and, having never seen a female Ferengi since they don’t leave Ferengnar, we wouldn’t suspect Pel is any different than the men she is playing Tongo with. She can quote the Rules of Acquisition with aplomb, perhaps better than those around her. This may be our first clue that she is not what she seems. In the real world, we know that those deemed “different” have to work harder than the majority to be accepted. Pel’s role playing has also made her fearless. At first, Quark chalks this up to Pel’s lobes for business.

As if to highlight the gender politics of the episode, the Dosi representatives are male and female, both equally disagreeable in their negotiating demeanor. Pel is correct that Zek has set them up for failure with the Dosi. Pel and Quark pursue them into the Gamma Quadrant where Pel will encourage Quark beyond his own comfort level. Quark is always more concerned about his life and would not have pushed the Dosi, who he knows don’t hesitate to shoot to end negotiations. Yet, he remains persistent: he taps the male Dosi on the shoulder three times to demand attention and then tosses a barrel of wine. This impressed the female Dosi who privately explains to them that Inglatu isn’t being a tough negotiator, but rather that he cannot fulfill the demands for one hundred thousand vats of tulaberry wine. She tells them that she may be able to put them in contact with the Karemma, an important power in the Dominion. [There wasn’t a heavy bass note of thunder on her announcement, but I felt it. The first mention of the Dominion!] 

While Quark will deny his feelings, we see the sexual tension between the two fairly early. When Pel warns Quark that Zek might be setting him up as a scapegoat, an electric charge connects the actors. Rom sees it too, leading to his discussion with Odo about what he might do should someone try to steal his brother. This leads to Rom trashing Pel’s quarters until he discovers the prosthetic lobes. For a moment, I wondered if male Ferengi ever wear larger lobes, but Rom seems to know immediately that they mean Pel is female.

Dax, who has long been a representative for LGBTQ acceptance, has noted Pel’s feelings for Quark, but did not suspect Pel was female. In Dax’s characteristic move, she drops this pearl of wisdom, “I don’t know [what you should do], but I know there’s more to life than profit.”

Unfortunately, Quark cannot see beyond profit and his own acceptability in the community. Like us, he admired Pel’s lobes—after all, she stood up to Grand Nagus Zek in his defense, argued like a male with the Dosi, and quoted the Rules of Acquisition with expertise. He simply can’t get past the wearing of clothes. He also knows that Pel would never be happy being a Ferengi wife. One might argue that Quark’s offer of ten bars of gold-pressed latinum is what he thinks protecting his reputation is worth, but I prefer Dax’s interpretation, that Quark has feelings for Pel because this gesture will protect her. My interpretation is supported when Pel reveals herself to Zek (The beautiful line: “You like my lobes? You can have them!”) and Quark argues that Zek was as duped as he was and, therefore, cannot punish Pel without suffering shame himself. There is subtle proof in Quark giving Rom his bar for Rom’s silence and, more significantly, in giving up his Gamma Quadrant profits to Zek. It is confirmed in their parting scene, when they exchange an emotional kiss. Closing on Quark’s surprised face as the theme song kicks in makes the ending as perfect as the opening sequence. Despite his attitude, Quark experiences loss beyond profit and we love him.