Do We Still Need Superheroes? In Defense Of Wonder Woman

While this article is being written, the whole world is shattering. The reason: the U.N.’s decision to appoint Wonder Woman as its new Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls. On Oct 21st, the United Nations named the up mentioned super-heroine symbolic leader for its Goal 5 .

Wonder Woman is speaking out against discrimination and limitations on women and girls. “The campaign”, argued U.N. representatives, “is an example of how we are working with diverse partners and making new alliances to reach out to audiences everywhere to know about and understand the Goals, and, in this case, about gender equality.”

The (online) world is at rage. More than 2,700 (as of Oct 25, 2016) men and women signed an online petition , claiming that Wonder Woman is anything but a good choice. “A large breasted, white woman of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a shimmery, thigh-baring bodysuit with an American flag motif and knee high boots” cannot and should not be the symbol of women empowerment.

“Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai would have been a good choice”. Stated former presidential candidate, France’s Segolene Royal, quoted by CBS. Feminist icon Gloria Steinem reacted as well. “I’d rather see a feminist female secretary-general and a very big budget for U.N. Women.” However, back in 1972, Steinem chose Wonder Woman for the first cover of her Ms. magazine . And also several times afterwards.

Who is Wonder Woman?

Wonder Woman is a warrior princess from the Amazon s tribe. She was sculpted in clay by her mother, Queen Hippolyta, and given life along with superhuman powers, as gifts from the Greek Gods. During her growing up she developed strong skills in strategy and fighting. She also possesses a whole range of wonder-objects that serve her during fight. She is an archetype, bearing the structure, the role and the power of an archetype. That’s the key of the whole plot.

The creator of Wonder Woman is William Moulton Marston. American psychologist and inventor at large. Marston designed the super-heroine in 1941, with the aid of his wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston and Olive Byrne, a couple’s friend. They were inspired by the growing feminist movement, but also heavily influenced by Second World War.

In a 1943 article, published in The American Scholar, Marston wrote:

“Not even girls want to be girls so long as our feminine archetype lacks force, strength, and power. Not wanting to be girls, they don’t want to be tender, submissive, peace-loving as good women are. Women’s strong qualities have become despised because of their weakness. The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman.”

By pointing out that strong qualities have become despised because of their weakness, Marston proved to be way ahead of his time. And he still is today. Or so it seems.

Why Superheroes?

In The Psychology of Superheroes, Robin Rosenberg and Jennifer Canzoneri fully answer the question:

“In reading the superhero stories with my children, I read the stories not only through adult lenses, but also through psychologist lenses. And what I saw was a surprise. As an adult, I saw that superhero stories are about morality and loyalty, about self-doubt and conviction of beliefs. I also saw that, like any good action, the sagas of superheroes bring us out of ourselves and connect us with something larger than ourselves, something more universal. Moreover, in our superheroes’ foibles, struggles, and triumphs, we can see elements of our own foibles and struggles, and hope for our triumphs. As a psychologist, I spotted the ways in which their stories reflect psychological theories and research findings. For instance, in the wake of witnessing his parents’ brutal murder, Bruce Wayne decides to dedicate his life to protecting innocent lives. Thus was Batman born. Psychological research suggests that the underlying process of the birth of Batman isn’t farfetched and is, in fact, common: after people have experienced a traumatic event, they often struggle to make meaning of the experience, and one such path is through social action.”

Interestingly enough, Wonder Woman is analysed from a rather social perspective. She is the prototypical “stranger in a strange land”. She is not the all American girl, but a critical observant of American women. She is able to objectify. She is capable of noticing how women are, in so many ways, complicit in their own inequality. And they do this exactly by accepting and instantiating gender stereotypes.

So, taking account of all these facets - the story, the meaning, the metaphor, the pros and the cons - maybe the question to ask is not whether Wonder Woman is a good or a bad choice. But rather if the world still needs symbols and superheroes. And if yes, what kind of?

NOTE: Back in 1998, the U.N. named Winnie the Pooh Ambassador of Friendship. In 2009, Tinkerbell was appointed Ambassador of Green, while few months ago, the same U.N. named the leader of the Angry Birds, Red, Honorary Ambassador for International Day of Happiness.

Nobody protested.