XXY-Files: How Agent Scully Taught Me To Be A Female Businesswoman

FOX has been in recent talks to revive the 1993-2002 sci-fi series, "The X-Files," featuring Gillian Anderson (Agent Dana Scully) and David Duchovny (Agent Fox Mulder).

Although the show was revived as a film in 2008, and a second revival has not yet been confirmed, we can all dream, right?

If there’s one thing we miss most about Agent Dana Scully, it is the way she always stood her ground and looked good doing it.

She was assertive, but not overly aggressive, and maintained her manners when dealing with her sometimes-chauvinistic partner, the gorgeous Agent Fox Mulder.

Although a fictional character, there is so much we women can learn from Agent Scully.

In countless episodes of "The X-Files," it should be noted that Anderson's character was scripted as the only woman in the show with any type of authority.

She definitely toughed it out for nine great seasons as a force with which to be reckoned.

As a sci-fi lover and a late-80s baby, my first memory of a strong working woman on television is that of Agent Scully.

While beautiful, Scully was not the epitome of a classic, Westernized beauty. She was short; she had short, naturally red hair.

She wore glasses and her heels never exceeded 2.5 inches! But, these simple traits made her realistic, and thus, I found plenty of ways to identify with her.

It’s not necessarily about finishing first or winning some type of gendered, workforce race.

It’s about being the best amongst your peers of every gender. As women, we should stop pitting ourselves against the men with whom we work.

Learn from Scully: She had her areas of expertise and Agent Mulder had his. Be strong in the knowledge you have in whichever area you’re in. Be assertive so people are simply drawn to the truth you possess. Your integrity is key; you'll be successful with it.

Make sure your colleagues take you seriously, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Contrary to popular belief, asking questions is not a sign of weakness.

Actually, asking questions can show your willingness to be a team player. Also, it can also show your interest and humility in learning a process or procedure.

However, do your research beforehand so you’re certain that when you do ask a question, you've exhausted all the possible avenues for sourcing the answer on your own.

Then, ask it, knowing you can provide some further insight to the inquiry. Be smart with your questions.

Another part of being taken seriously is to take issues seriously. Congrats if you've been deemed the "office-hottie"; however, understand that some sexual comments toward you are likely not respectful.

You are here to work. You are responsible for ensuring the business runs well for whichever department you represent.

Do not allow sexual comments from your peers, male or female, to be taken lightly. Casually, but assertively, let people know you aren’t here for that type of recognition or attention, no matter how gorgeous you are.

It is your responsibility as a woman to assist in dispelling those negative stereotypes that still hold such value in society today.

Speak up! Let your presence be known in a positively reinforced way.

Being a woman surrounded by men doesn’t have to be negative, and also doesn’t have to be something through which you constantly battle.

Be sure of yourself and the job you came to complete. Yes, it will be tough, but unfortunately, we haven’t yet reached the place in our society where all people are treated equally.

Take a page from Agent Dana Scully’s book: Be wise and be smart. Be beautiful, but be assertive with the knowledge you've worked hard to achieve. Don’t allow any of your colleagues, or any one else for that matter, to mistreat you or bully you at any time.

You are the key to ensuring women in the workforce have a better future.