In the wake of the release of new pictures from upcoming film, "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," it is important to examine Wonder Woman's character.
I want to start by saying that I love that DC Comics has a strong female character that breaks boundaries and fights crime alongside the male superheroes. However, despite years of progress in gender equality, Wonder Woman still has to fight crime half naked. I looked into the evolution of her costume compared to Superman and the result was quite saddening.
When the characters made their debuts:
Wonder Woman was first introduced into the comic book world in 1941. Her costume featured the signature red, white, blue, and yellow color scheme, as well the tiara.
Superman was introduced to the world of comics in 1938 wearing this costume. He is covered up completely from the neck down. This look sticks with him throughout most of his superhero career with small alterations along the way.
The Silver Age
During the Silver Age, Wonder Woman is seen in a very revealing costume, with wild wavy hair and her eagle logo starting to evolve.
The Silver Age is when Superman adopts the chest shield most fans know and love. He is much more muscular than before, but his body is still completely covered.
The Reboot
In 2011, Wonder Woman was given a reboot. Here she has the signature Wonder Woman logo as a choker instead of on her chest, and the yellow can be seen no more. Despite the reboo,t Wonder Woman is still fighting crime half naked—and in a tube top with high heels.
That same year, Superman was also given a new look. This new look lost the red underpants and gained a belt and an even more covered up look featuring a turtle neck.
Above photos thanks to The Hollywood Reporter
"Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice"
In the newly released image from the upcoming film, the costumes were revealed. Superman is seen in a darker full-body suit that shows off his muscles. Wonder Woman looks less sexy and more sinister, but is still very exposed compared to her male counterparts.
My question is, why can male superheros just be strong and heroic while the women have to be incredibly sexy, exposed and strong and heroic? As a woman, I cannot imagine how it would be possible to fight crime in six-inch heels with a tiny dress and tube top to keep up. I appreciate how strong and confident Wonder Woman must be to accomplish that daunting task, but it doesn't seem fair that she has had to since her introduction in 1941.
Little girls grow up seeing her as an icon for strength and femininity. I love that she is strong and fights with the boys, but femininity does not have to come from limited clothing, high heels, cleavage, and perfectly flowing hair. I hope to one day see a Wonder Woman who is a true feminist icon that can hold her own with the males and fight crime in an outfit that's actually possible to fight crime in. Until then, I have to celebrate the beauty that is Wonder Woman because she does rock that outfit, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.
