Medical doctor and federal agent Dana Scully (portrayed by Gillian Anderson) has been a prominent figure in popular culture since The X-Files first aired in 1993. By providing a nuanced and feminist representation of a woman scientist, Scully managed to overcome significant systemic violence perpetrated by different patriarchal systems, including the bio-terrorist shadow organization particular to the mythology of the series. She accomplished this by reclaiming her threatened agency in both her professional and her personal lives.

By investigating her primary role as a medical doctor, this book traces her development in a newly comprehensive way. Exploring the intersection of real-life science, trauma, and feminism in Scully's journey matters given how popular culture participates to the representation of society, including science. While fiction may seem incidental compared to actual scientific practice and policies, a franchise such as The X-Files influences how general audiences perceive women scientists.