Feminism In Wonder Woman, A Superhero Film

Wonder Woman is quite simply more than just another fast- paced hero film. This film has a lot of feminine involvement within the scenes. Wonder Women also has a strong leading female role and a captivating plot. The movie is a criticism of the past and a portrayal of important feminist themes. This film redefined what it means to be a woman. Patty Jenkins, the director, introduced the themes of feminism in subtle and effective ways.

Feminism means very different things to different people. There are many varieties of feminism as people associate themselves with different philosophical and political outlooks. Some ideas about feminism that I myself reflect upon are:

1. Feminism is contextual: there are not any rules written on how to be one.
2. A girl’s job is not to be likable but to be her true self. Be honest, kind and brave.
3. Women are not morally better than men. They are human and should not be seen any differently (Adichie).

These ideas can be seen in Wonder Woman herself. This movie redefines how superheroes are seen. Diana is shown acting towards others with compassion for those that can not fight for themselves. She prioritizes peace and love. When it comes to Wonder Women and feminism, the audience should focus on the positives and how it motivates and inspires other women.

An unforgettable, feminist moment that happens within the film is when Steve says that nobody will cross ‘no man’s land’. Wonder Woman responds by proving that she’s ‘the man’ who can. This is the moment in the film that shows Diana’s power. Unable to stand aside while civilians are suffering during the war, Diana climbs up into no man’s land in the middle of a trench battle and charges, despite an attack of bullets. The metaphor is striking as it is a woman standing alone in a field while an army of men tries to push her back and she refuses to give up. Before she storms onto the battlefield, Steve tells Diana that there is nothing to be done, that she can not help every person affected by the war. But Diana does not listen, she did not grow up in a world that told her she could not do things because she was a woman. She simply does what she thinks is right, which is to save people. This scene shows that Wonder Women is very brave. Hopefully the viewers of this scene will see themselves in Wonder Women and feel empowered. Wonder Women shows the audience how to be brave in the face of impossibility. She demonstrated the power of determination and resiliency.

Other scenes that shows feminism in the film is when Diana bursts into meetings full of men, ignores when men tell her she can not do something and constantly saves her male companions. There are societal expectations about how women are supposed to behave, both during the turn of the century time frame of the movie and in present day. “Historically, violence has not been seen as a feminine activity. Women were regarded as the sex that was more passive, submissive, and sensitive to others. Those who committed particularly violent acts tended to be labelled masculine at best, abhorrent at worst” (Crozier-De Rosa). Wonder Woman has violent scenes in the movie, but they show what she stands up for. Because she grew up on a secluded island among women, Wonder Woman does not know what those expectations are and does not care when she finds out. She also will not apologize for being a woman. Her power is not diminished by caring too much or experiencing her emotions. Instead, her love and kindness strengthen her. These traits relate to Wonder Women being her true self and acting brave. It also shows that she will not be just another commoner as she will fight for what she thinks is right and for those who can not.

It is not just that Diana who refuses to be objectified, the film refuses to objectify her. Director Patty Jenkins does not focus her camera on Gadot's body in a skimpy outfit. When Jenkins focuses in on Diana, it is on her expressive face or the various weapons she wields. In Cocca article “Negotiating the Third Wave of Feminism in Wonder Woman” she writes how the comic books of Wonder Woman sexualized her uniform. She writes that “… the sexy uniform on the strong body can be disarming in its familiarity, but it can also be burlesque and in that way can disrupt gendered assumptions. The embodiment of the attractive female warrior noting her own objectification both adheres to the familiar form of the superhero genre while delivering a feminist message about that form, couched in humor” (Cocca). Wonder Woman was a strong individual. She was able to fight against men and win. There is more to a person that what is on the outside and Wonder Woman embodies that as she is a diverse character.

One of the interesting things about the film is the island where Wonder Woman comes from. It is an all-female island where the Amazon warriors train. The scenes of wonder women growing up and living on the island show the diverse, strong group of Amazonians training for battle. As a result, Diana grows up believing she can do anything. Her upbringings show during the movie as she crosses ‘no man’s land’ and does not listen to Steve. She furthermore bursts into meetings full of men. Wonder Women shows what it means to be a woman and writes her own path as she does not let others decide for her.

Another character that goes against the norms of that time is Dr. Poison, whom is also known as Dr. Maru. She has a Ph.D. in Chemistry. A woman in the late 1800s receiving a higher degree in the hard sciences is an incredible achievement. Even though, she devoted her life to death and destruction, her colleagues say she’s good at her job but not that likable.

When Wonder Women first lands in London with Steve, she has “her first experience with the Edwardian era and all that comes with it: men who whistle at her in the street, a political system that does not give women the vote, and shields, men who do not understand what a woman is doing in a meetings.” (Rosenberg). Diana is the one who sees clearly that it is the world around her that is absurd. This scene shows how the past and present women are still viewed by looks. Women today are still fighting for equality within the workforce.

Although not all feminist may agree that Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman is a feminist film, it is nonetheless is the start to advocate for the movement and for women’s empowerment in general. Wonder Woman is more than just a superhero movie. It is a call for involvement of more women in film, for equal salaries and opportunities, and a fresh new start for a reboot of female led action films.