Misogyny Man: Sexism in the Superhero Genre
Date
2015-12-07
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Abstract
Superhero comic books have been popular for years, and with this popularity unfortunately comes the oversexualizing and misrepresentation of female heroes. As more comic book heroes and heroines make their way into film and television, this problem becomes even more apparent. Some may argue that times have changed since superhero comics first emerged, and yet the ratio of heroes to heroines remains uneven, with the few female heroes still lacking in character development and costuming. Many of these “strong” female characters seem to be having trouble escaping worn-out tropes assigned to their gender, while male heroes’ popularity soars to new heights with each new character. My essay examines superheroines’ cartoon representations and their development from page to screen; I add my voice to Jeffrey Brown, Carol Stabile, and others in the discussion of superheroines and women in general, and how they can and ought to be taken as seriously as males, ‘super’ or not.
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Superheroes, Sexism, Hero(ine), Marvel Comics, Comics, Feminism, Wonder Woman