Sometimes it’s strange to think gender equality is still an issue. I mean, we’re in 2016. I’m privileged enough to attend university, to drive and to wear what I want. I haven’t got anything real to complain about (though believe me I still find something to whine about most days), but when you take a step back gender inequality is still present. Yes, it is far more obvious in some countries than others but unfortunately, and quite unbelievably, it is omnipresent. Even in the United Nations, an organisation with peace and equality in its foundations, there are discrepancies: since its creation in 1945 there has never been a female Secretary General even with seven female candidates for the position this year. Recently, the bureaucratic systems have faced a lot of criticism for being dated and run by the same men who found them. Luckily, the UN have taken initiative recently to employ a new honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls: Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman, a figure of peace and justice, was created during World War II to challenge the damsel in distress stereotype. She was successful and quickly became the first female superhero to really take off. A female superhero kicking-butt, what’s not to love? However, do we still see her in 2016 as a figure of peace and justice, or is she more of a cartoon pin up?
She was created in 1940 by William Moulton Marston and H.G Peter. Are we supposed to assume that now, in 2016, women should aspire to be an idealised vision of a female created by two men 75 years ago? Wonder Woman has a teeny tiny waist and massive boobs. She’s scantily clad in a body suit branding the American flag and knee high boots as she fights bad guys. She doesn’t even have a cape; doesn’t she get cold? Yes, she’s super cool, yes, she rocks those knee high boots and yes, she’s sexy. Ultimately, Wonder Woman is an inspirational, strong female figure but needlessly dressed in provocative clothing. I’m not trying to say women can only be powerful in sensible footwear and a polo neck jumper but what does it say about the UN’s view on women if its chosen role model is dressed in a skimpy outfit which is mainly for the pleasure of a male audience?
Near nakedness aside, maybe the UN have really caught on to something here. Connecting the campaign for gender equality with pop-culture really brings it to the forefront of more than just political debate, but to every day social media too. Being a fictional character, Wonder Woman can be reincarnated by each artist who re-designs her. It seems she was adopted as an ‘All-American’ girl for too long; over the years her breasts were drawn larger and her waist smaller. But, in 2017, she is to be depicted by Israeli actress Gal Gadot, thus giving her a different identity, a worldlier identity whilst reaching out to new audiences. Perhaps the beauty of using Wonder Woman as an honorary ambassador is her multiple dimensions. Recently however, with the birth of Instagram and selfies, the female body is being scrutinised more than ever. Women and girls are under even more pressure to be flawless and it seems as though the UN have missed a trick here; if they are calling for female empowerment, shouldn’t they of all people be advocates for genuine empowered females?
As of yet, more than 1000 members of the UN have signed a petition against Wonder Woman, calling upon real women to represent real women. If I’m perfectly honest I don’t really know how to feel about the appointment of Wonder Woman as an honorary ambassador. Part of me sees it as a quirky, modern marketing tool- the other part of me thinks it’s entirely ludicrous. The word honorary is of the upmost importance. Honorary means she isn’t a real ambassador – she’s a mascot, and a tactful one at that as the stir caused by Wonder Woman has raised awareness, if nothing else. Regardless, I still think it’s offensive for people who have made a change in the world to be compared to a cartoon designed years ago. If it were my campaign it would’ve looked a lot different: female scientists in the lab, female activists driving in Saudi Arabia, the amazing Malala Yousafzai who got shot for demanding her right to an education – I would’ve used thousands of pictures of actual people. These people are motivating, they’re real and every day they make that gap smaller. We can’t all be Malala Yousafzai, we can’t all be Emma Watson and we can’t all be Wonder Woman (no one can, she’s not real) but we can all relate to people working every day to make a difference.
I think that is my main problem with the campaign; there are so many inspiring people in the world, we don’t need a cartoon figure to exemplify what we should be doing. I mean, do you really think the men in the UN would let Superman be their honorary ambassador? Probably not.
Picture 1- http://static.srcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Wonder-Woman-UN-Ambassador.jpg
Picture 3- https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0d/53/7e/0d537e49af7065acf4c58567c82cbef6.png