Women's Studies (PU IDIS 280)

Women's studies is a liberal arts requirement at Purdue University, but I think it should be a life requirement. Women's studies urges students to think critically about gender roles and social influences. It makes us more aware of how our interactions may be biased without such intentions. It makes us think harder about what society is selling us, and that is always a good idea.

Mille the Model (Marvel Comics)

Millie the Model was Marvel's longest running humor title, beginning in 1040. Millie, sometimes The Blonde Bombshell or Millie the Marvel was CEO of Millie's Models, a former actress, and former showgirl with Sherry's Showgirls. She is a talented model, actress and business executive. It was said that her beauty could drive any man to distraction. Wow, distraction. I wonder if she learned that in her high school and some college education.

Millie existed during the Golden Age of Comics (1930s-1940s) when women in comics were not often superheroines, but usually career gals, romance-story heroines, or perky teenagers. Career characters were cast into female dominated professions for the time: nurse, secretary, model, and teacher. Other "career women" include Tessie the Typist and Nellie the Nurse.

Wonder Woman (DC Comics)

Wonder Woman has a fantastic superhero name. A wonder meaning to be filled with admiration, amazement, awe, marvel or even a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest. This means she is a woman but she is surprisingly awesome, and you're recognizing that. Also, she is a woman, not a girl.

Where is Wonder Man? He's out there. But Wonder Woman is not his female version, sidekick, or girlfriend.

Wonder Woman is an Amazon, who was divinly fashioned out of clay. When she came of age, she donned her uniform with symbols representing legendary Amazon, and set out to deliver the message of Gaea. Her story is based on the Greek Goddess Artemis, daugter of Zeus and goddess of the hunt.

Wonder Woman is an ambassador for peace, using her godlike strength, speed, invunerablility, and ability to fly to protect innocents. She also uses a magic lasso, which makes people speak the truth, a boomerang tiara so powerful that it can cut through diamond, and bracelets that can deflect gunfire.

Wonder Woman was created in 1940 by Willian Moulton Marston and his wife, who saw that the DC comics line was dominated by male heroes, such as Batman and Superman. Marston and his wife sought to create a empowered, unconventional, liberated independent female character superheroine to serve as a female role model .

Marston wrote for the 1943 issue of The American Scholar:

"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."

Zatanna (DC Comics)

Zantanna is an skilled and powerful illusionist decended from DC Comics magician Leonado Da Vinci. She learned about her genetically inherited powers while trying to rescue her kidnapped father. Zatanna is strong willed, standing up against even Batman who tries to stop her from erasing a villian's memory.

Although guilt and trauma over wiping people's memories and an accident that kills her companions leaves Zatanna powerless for a time, she regains her confidence and magical powers. Zatanna has been called the most powerful member of the Justice League; she has used her powers to command earth, wind, fire, and water, heal, transmute and transmogrify objects, manipulate people, attack opponents with mystic blasts, resurrectthe city of Metropolis (home of Superman) from ruin, merge Aquaman's spirit with the entire ocean, and manipulate time and space. She transformed a group of monstrous shock troops into a flock of doves, turned them into energy, and used them to destroy several battleships.

Ann Telnaes (Feminist Cartoonist)

Ann Telnaes is a Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist whose work has been published in The Washington Post, Le Monde, Courrier International, The Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, The New York Times, Austin American Statesman, Ms magazine and Women's eNews, an online news service.

Telnaes' catoons are sharp, smart, and critical. She addresses American politics, religion, and women's issues with satirical wit.



I really like Telnaes' humorous take on reproductive issues, as in the above cartoons. It brings attention to the perceived problem in a non-threatening format. Her ideas and statements, however, are very strong.

Telnaes explains in an interview for http://www.roadtripnation.com/:
“I didn’t apply myself until I finally realized it’s only in your power to make [something] of yourself. No one can do it for you, and I think when that realization hits you—that it’s all up to you if you want to do something with your life—you can either sit around and complain about all the hard knocks that come your way, or you can actually take control of your life. That made a big difference for me.” -Ann Telnae

Ann Telnaes is an inspiring woman who followed her passion, and worked hard for success. Thanks for being a role model, Ann Telnaes!

View more of her work on:
The Women's News Website: http://www.womensenews.org/

Ann Telnaes Website: http://www.anntelnaes.com/

Dazzler (Marvel Comics)

I couldn't make this up if i tried.

Dazzler (created 1981), was originally conceptualized as "The Disco Queen", and later moved into the rock genre and acting/modeling when creators realized that the disco fad was fading.

Dazzler wears her performance jumpsuit as her costume.

She discovered during a high school performance that she had the amazing ability to transduce sonic vibrations, preferably music, into light. She can generate reaslistic holigrams, strobes, or pulses, blinding or disorienting others. Dazzler can also fire lazer-like beams, is a highly skilled athlete, roller skater, singer actress, and dancer at a fine 5'8" and 115 pounds.

She is often saved by such heroes as Spiderman and the Human Torch when she can't dance her way out of of situations with powerful foe like Doctor Doom and Lightmaster.

She did however, best the Enchantress (slain ally and sometimes lover of Thor) in an audition and following battle.

Dazzler dated Angel of the X-men and Dr. Paul Jensen. She also dropped other names in her career such as Pheonix, Cycops, Nightcrawler, Malice, Jubilee, Diamondback, Strong Guy, Spiral, Psylocke, and Colossus.

Black Canary (DC Comics)

The Black Canary's super power?


The "Canary Cry"- an ultrasonic scream that incapacitates villians and shatters objects.


Cry! That's a really loaded word, and I think that it plays on the stereotype of women crying or whining. What if they called it an "Ultrasonic Scream"? That's both catchy and powerful. Would a male character have a power like a cry?



Sometimes referred to as "The Blonde Bombshell", the Black Canary's sexy costume includes a blond wig, fishnet stockings, pirate boots, a bustier, and an unbuttoned jacket.


A bustier? Could she be less comfortable? And do fishnets really help hide your indentity?



I have included an early image and and newer image of the Black Canary, who debut in 1947. The modern Black Canary is slightly more risque; she lost her jacket apparently, donned a vinyl bodysuit, and the skin on her legs in now visible.
She is trained in martial arts and motorcycle riding, which makes her both fast and dangerous. She is fierce and rebellious; a solo act and a team player, fighting along with the Justice Society and Justice League.

Elisa Maza (Disney)

When I was growing up, I didn't receive much feedback on my gender from my family. My femininity, I feel, was neither encouraged or discouraged. If anything, I was rewarded for both crafty art work and masculine active work.

With my grandmother I painted and baked, but with my father I dwelled in the garage. Sometimes I decorated cakes, and sometimes I helped dad tear down the Camaro.

I think that positive feedback from all of my activities has made me comfortable doing whatever I enjoy. As a child I looked for role models with which I could identify.

I was never a big fan of cartoon princesses; they didn't seem to do much (Ariel the Little Mermaid being the exception- she was pretty rebellious). I found that Elisa from the 1994 series Gargolyes was a strong female role model (and, surprisingly, from Disney). She was a skeptical, intellegent, daring female detective on the NYPD. She is feminine, but strong; attractive but realistic (compare Elisa's waist:hip to Blonde Phantom's waist:hip).

Elisa never suggested to me as a little girl that there was anything that I couldn't do as a woman.

Blonde Phantom (Marvel)

The Blonde Phantom is the alter-ego of Loise Grant, a secretary to an investigator (At least the She-Hulk was a lawyer!).

What kind of superhero is Blonde Phantom!? She has an unrealistic, idealized body and a sexy, slit up the side dress and high heels. You can't fight crime in that dress! Why can't she wear comfortable shoes?!

She also has a crush on her boss, becomes a beautiful crime-fighting temptress until she gets married, then quits to have kids!

The Blonde Phantom seem pretty dependent on men; I guess even 1950s superheros are subject to the same domestic pressures.

She-Hulk part II

As I continued to read about She-Hulk, I realized that her creation story seems much like the story of Creation from the Bible. She-Hulk is the cousin of Bruce Banner (Hulk). She is wounded, and recieves a blood transfusion from Bruce, which gives her new "life". This means that She-Hulk is creation from Hulk. At least no one made her from a rib?

She-Hulk has new powers, similar to the Hulk, but is less super. Her powers are significantly reduced compared to the Hulk's power, since hers is a result of a radioactive blood transfusion. A frail version of the Hulk!?

She-Hulk developed a problem in which she could no longer turn back into her human form. The problem is revealed to be purely psychological.
So She-Hulk is both physically and psychologically weaker than her male counterpart.

Maybe She-Hulk could use the rest cure!

She-Hulk (Marvel)

Firstly, Savage She-Hulk is
*surprise*
super-hot. She has must be about a 32 DD bust (just guessing) , has a delicate frame with a tiny waist, thick thighs and hips. She isn't really muscular, like the Hulk, but she is nicely toned. She-Hulk has graceful, flowing black hair and a beautiful, finely featured face.
Really, she is an average hot girl, only green. How does being sexy help her save the world? Is it necessary that she be so good looking? The only reason someone might find her intimidating is if they were going to approach her in a bar to ask for a date (Because she's way out of your league). Ha.

Secondly, She-Hulk, is not even a normal Hulk. She is a SHE-Hulk. Even in Hulk world, women must be a sub-category.

Lastly, SAVAGE?! Her name is telling us that she is not just a Hulk, she is uncivilized. Come on! Incredible or Savage. Which would you rather be?

What I do like about She-Hulk is that she is an intellegent, experienced attourney. She is one of the few superheroines to have attained an advanced post-baccalaureate degree; she studied at UCLA School of Law and Harvard. That's hot.

Drawn Women

Comic book characters are strong role models
mostly for boys.
What about female characters? They have potential to be powerful role models for young women.

But are the heroins super?

Here's an interesting website with a piece about drawing comic characters

http://ratcreature.livejournal.com/175099.html