Feminism and Comic Books
by Melinda Casino

Girls Read Comics (And They're Pissed) mastheadKaren Healey at Girls Read Comics (And They're Pissed), discusses feminism and sets the parameters for debate at her blog:

"This is a place for pointing out sexism in comics with white-hot rage and acid-tongued venom. I am not required to explain feminist principles, theory, or aims to you, much less endeavour to wearily soothe your ego while I explain that I don't hate men. I am not obliged to do your homework for you."

Her piece includes links that provide background reading on the topics of anger, privilege, misogyny in language, objectification and pop culture. Read more about this and the politics of comic book portrayals of women in "I Am Not Doing This Twice.".

I've linked before to The True Confessions of an Hourly Bookseller, so this will probably be my last pointer for a while. But the author, Mickle, has written a lengthy piece on a comic book series called Y: The Last Man, by Brian K. Vaughan. In "Why 'The Last Man'?" she talks about how "It's quite telling that so much of the buzz about the book centers on not only it's gimmicky premise but the Amazons that everyone presumes are stand-ins for radical feminists." The essay doesn't necessarily go where you think it will, so stick with it!

Finally, switching gears here: the second issue of the Carnival Against Sexual Violence has been published at Abyss2hope. This issue is divided into sections on creative expression, personal stories, raising awareness, and media watch. Submissions for future issues can be made using this online form. For more information on the carnival, see Blog Carnival.

Related link:

Through Karen Healey's site I found Girl-Wonder.org. Did you know that there was a female "Robin" called Stephanie Brown, "who was a superhero character in the comics for more than a decade"? Read more about this comic book hero's demise, the goals of their comic book campaign, as well as a description and history of the site, at Girl-Wonder.org.

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BlogHer Contributing Editor Melinda Casino also writes at Sour Duck.

Comments

 

Comic Books and me.

I love comic books and I have been reading them since I was a child and I will admit that women in comic books can a lot of times tend to be objects and not subjects. Take Emma Frost in "New X-Men" by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly for example. Emma is wearing one of the most shocking outfits to date. She is half-naked with a pink backdrop. Now she is one of the most powerful women in the comics, but this outfit makes her look like a whore. To add to this, in the same series and issue, the word "sex" is shown hidden in the background several times. Now, I love the X-Men, do not get me wrong, and I know that it has been known for its sexual content and the letter "X" shown all over the place, but this went a little too far. I think that women need to be portrayed in a more realistic way. One comic that has been good at doing that has been "Birds of Prey", but there are times where the comic can be a bit raunchy.

 

I'm so tattooing that on my butt

"I am not required to explain feminist principles, theory, or aims to you, much less endeavour to wearily soothe your ego while I explain that I don't hate men."

I need some kind of leaflet that explains this to hand out, or maybe a talking "feminst" action figure where you push a button and it says that for me, because I'm mega sick of explaining it.

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Liz Henry
lizzard@bookmaniac.net
Badgermama - personal & mommyblog
http://liz-henry.blogspot.com

 

Love it

That may become my new favorite quote.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen