Women in Comics

For over 70 years women have existed within the media form of comic books and have been portrayed in ways that have at times defined the beliefs and practices of past generations. Their presence in comics has provoked thought no matter the circumstance, whether they did so at their time of publishing or decades later. There have been short, quick panels that with pure existence illustrate just how far women have come both on the page and off. I decided to speak on this topic due to recent events in the news that brought my attention to how women have decided to speak up about their negative situations. In short, women have not always received the most respect or even credit for their strides, that has shown in comics with certain characters that have been landmarks in culture. This can also can be said about the opposite of this situation, female characters that have shown just how amazing women can be. 

The best place to start is at the beginning with the one of the first, if not the first, women to appear in comics, Wonder Woman. After the premiere of the major motion picture of the same title, she was elevated to a higher level of approval to the public than ever before. Even before the movie women and little girls saw her image as an icon of power. Sadly, this has not always been the case, when she first appeared in comics she would get some of the same treatment as women of her era. She would say things the ideal woman would do and say the things they would say, as well as just be pretty to look at. Thankfully over time she has been allowed to evolve in her stories to prove to young girls of what they can achieve.

Thanks to the changes that occurred due to characters like Wonder Woman, characters like She-Hulk were able to run quite smoothly. She is not as much of an icon in the public eye, but female comics fans have found her most exceptional. Taking on an appearance of beauty, strength, and is no small feat, but her writers were able to bring her up to a whole new standard. Her character is not only a major powerhouse for many heroes, she is also a notable lawyer for several of them. While still managing to be a sex symbol, something that is not always considered a good thing, but some women consider to be an empowering notion. 

Both characters have elevated women in comics to a considerable level that grow from where it is now. It is important in this day and age that young women see in every form of media that they have a voice and sense of control. It may have been a long road, but there have been some interesting ways it has been paved.