This essay will offer a feminist analysis of sexism in superhero comic books, a topic I explore in my recent podcast on female representation in comics. I will “examine how comic books reinforce or undermine the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women” As part of my research, I conducted a very unscientific survey where I asked the question, “Is there sexism in superhero comic books?" Not surprisingly most women I asked believed comic books are sexist. Most of the men questioned believed comic books are not sexist. At best some men think the sexualization of men and women is equal. I also went on the street and asked both men and women to name male and female superheroes for me. As expected everyone had a vast knowledge of male superheroes but struggled with naming female superheroes.
Comics have existed for decades. When comic strips were first starting out they were primarily targeted towards kids. However in 1909 a cartoonist named …show more content…
Young girls see the female characters needing to be rescued or doing what the comic book writers think is the proper way for women to act and if they go against these norms there will be repercussions. It is not only in the comic book world that females face consequences if they try to be what society wants them to be. Lana F. Rakow was once told that her feminist ideals are making her angry which in turn is making her less appealing and beautiful. She responded by saying “That admonition to “be nice” is precisely what is used to keep us in our place. We will be called crazy. We might be thought unscholarly and unintellectual. If so, we will be joining a long line of honorable women. ” Men tell women how to be women and if they don not abide by these rules they are not women and that is shown heavily in male-written comic