The Sexualization of Women in Comic Books

[Bleedingskye]

I'm goin with the argument that it's a comic book, it's supposed to be fantastical and over the top...if there were regular people in it I'd figure it's a drama with pictures...when I see or hear comic, I imagine...well a lot...and I want a lot out of a comic, powers, giant perfect boobs, psychopaths, ridiculous plot lines...it should be everything that you want to have in real life but you can't, but it's got to be close enough to think that it could happen...or something like that

 

[Ilyak1986]

Yes, there are some cases that women have particularly sexualized poses, such as that Black Canary pose. But in other cases, not so much. For instance, would people classify Nova (from the Starcraft universe) as sexualized?

Some might say yes. I'd say no. What about her is particularly outlandish compared to other ghosts in the SC universe? They all wear the same form-fitting cloaking outfits, and aside from like one picture focusing on Nova's rear end, the only thing different about her is that she has a model face.

I mean honestly, if you took a female with even some feminine features and put her in some male costumes, at the least, it'd be considered sexualizing her, and at worst, well, put a woman in the Warcraft 3 Demon Hunter's outfit, or better yet, God of War's Kratos's. Get the idea yet?

Females just have better features than guys. You make an idealized guy like Duke Nukem or Kilik or any number of comic book beefcakes and guys don't bat an eyelash. But make an idealized woman and suddenly women are up in arms about it.

The analogy about a kid not eating is completely different to comics. Eating is an ingrained part of our biological functions, and if left with no choice between eating a salad and eating nothing and going on a grumbling stomach, a kid will eat the damn salad. Comics/videogames/other forms of entertainment are not. Men are regarded for their strength/ability to accomplish things, and women are regarded for their beauty. Take both to the natural extreme, and only one is eye candy.

 

[AceAngel]

A site which has a full on feminist cliched background collage and half arsed articles which use a Jades Trick or two to stop any discussion values.

The problem is the articles is very short handed and heavy. If you're trying to make a point, make it and add actual examples on it, don't throw me a couple of pics, a rhetoric essay and then tell me "it's not this and that, it's because there isn't enough X, Y, Z..."

Yeah, because Battletoads, Superman, Flash and DeadPools alongside AquaMan are sooo totally not sexualized.

 

[Pedro The Hutt]

Well to be fair, few women find a Rob Liefeld proportioned musclebound man sexy. =p They're more into athletic fit (generally speaking).

 

[Kahunaburger]

Yes, there are some cases that women have particularly sexualized poses, such as that Black Canary pose. But in other cases, not so much. For instance, would people classify Nova (from the Starcraft universe) as sexualized?

Some might say yes. I'd say no. What about her is particularly outlandish compared to other ghosts in the SC universe? They all wear the same form-fitting cloaking outfits, and aside from like one picture focusing on Nova's rear end, the only thing different about her is that she has a model face.

I mean honestly, if you took a female with even some feminine features and put her in some male costumes, at the least, it'd be considered sexualizing her, and at worst, well, put a woman in the Warcraft 3 Demon Hunter's outfit, or better yet, God of War's Kratos's. Get the idea yet?

Females just have better features than guys. You make an idealized guy like Duke Nukem or Kilik or any number of comic book beefcakes and guys don't bat an eyelash. But make an idealized woman and suddenly women are up in arms about it.

The analogy about a kid not eating is completely different to comics. Eating is an ingrained part of our biological functions, and if left with no choice between eating a salad and eating nothing and going on a grumbling stomach, a kid will eat the damn salad. Comics/videogames/other forms of entertainment are not. Men are regarded for their strength/ability to accomplish things, and women are regarded for their beauty. Take both to the natural extreme, and only one is eye candy.

It's about how male characters are sexualized as a side-effect of portraying them as powerful and female characters are portrayed as powerless* as a side-effect of sexualizing them.

*or as a dominatrix.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

I hate this kind of thing. You want to rail against scantily clad women as entertainment? Don't buy comic books that do it, enjoy your Ghost World and WE3 and leave me alone to enjoy Spider Woman's incredible rack.

If it keeps selling it keeps showing up, maybe just accept that you are in the minority asking for less cleavage and go fight a battle worth winning.

 

[xdom125x]

Hello All,

I stumbled upon this very interesting take on the difference between the way men are portrayed in comic books vs. the way women are portrayed in comic books. This is a very good counterpoint to the usual argument: "But men are drawn unrealistically too--we don't all have all those muscles!"

It's main point was that them being hot isn't a problem but them dressing hot is. Women in comic books have a lot of revealed skin (no denying that), but the way that comics portray men as hot is to put them in skintight outfits that show of their 12-pack.

Bonus: exciting photos.

In the same way that being stabbed is exciting.

Spoiler

Wait a minute, it is almost as if the different genders have different standards of what is "hot" for them to do or wear. Putting a man in a woman's outfit and going "see look at the hypocrisy" when people go "ew", is stupid and childish.

Check it out and then I'd be interested to read y'all's commentary.

http://rosalarian.tumblr.com/post/6288675810/megan-rosalarian-gedris-dressed-to-kill

Wait, saying that people want to look at good-looking women is proof of a double-standard? If the author wanted to make a decent argument, she should have actually used the male equivalent of women in "hot" outfits, and not just have thrown men into the exact same outfits.

 

[Ericb]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Comics are are only delayed in their cultural expansion by it being always measured by the level of quality and maturity in it's super-hero sub-genre.

Here's the problem: mainstream superhero comics aren't the good ones. Here's how women are portrayed in

Persepolis:

Spoiler

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind:

Spoiler

Massive points for great examples at great comics (which manga is, by the way) and great female representations.

Well to be fair, few women find a Rob Liefeld proportioned musclebound man sexy.

"Rob Liefeld" and "proportioned" don't belong in the same sentence.

 

[Estocavio]

Dont get me started on the Sexualised Men.

Besides, the first one is quite... If she were a comic book character id be waiting for someone to kill her so id never have to see her again.

Note how much ive censored myself here

 

[DarkRyter]

This lady likes her men hefty.

 

[DeathWyrmNexus]

Point of fact she missed. Do any of those costumes, male or female, look comfortable to fight crime in? Seriously, both are ridiculous stereotypes and exaggerations. It's fantasy, we want powerful/sexy characters doing ridiculous stuff.

Actually think how fucked up it would be to fight in Batman's costume... Or Spiderman's... Or Deadpool's... It's all painted on. It's all posed ridiculously. Men need to be manly and punch through walls while wearing something that would suffocate them. Women need to punch through walls while wearing heels and something that would suffocate them. Hell, do you see the feet on the men? Does that look like arch support? Does that look like something that would protect your feet? It looks like a footie pajama.

So don't play the victim card, it's petty. Draw a comic with an aesthetic you like if you don't like what is there. Or shop around. It was already proven, in the article, that there are options. Take them.

 

[GestaltEsper]

Dont get me started on the Sexualised Men.

Besides, the first one is quite... If she were a comic book character id be waiting for someone to kill her so id never have to see her again.

Note how much ive censored myself here

Dick "Greatest Ass in the DCU(I didn't make that name up)" Grayson comes to mind.

Really Escapist? A turned A?

 

[DeathWyrmNexus]

Yes, there are some cases that women have particularly sexualized poses, such as that Black Canary pose. But in other cases, not so much. For instance, would people classify Nova (from the Starcraft universe) as sexualized?

Some might say yes. I'd say no. What about her is particularly outlandish compared to other ghosts in the SC universe? They all wear the same form-fitting cloaking outfits, and aside from like one picture focusing on Nova's rear end, the only thing different about her is that she has a model face.

I mean honestly, if you took a female with even some feminine features and put her in some male costumes, at the least, it'd be considered sexualizing her, and at worst, well, put a woman in the Warcraft 3 Demon Hunter's outfit, or better yet, God of War's Kratos's. Get the idea yet?

Females just have better features than guys. You make an idealized guy like Duke Nukem or Kilik or any number of comic book beefcakes and guys don't bat an eyelash. But make an idealized woman and suddenly women are up in arms about it.

The analogy about a kid not eating is completely different to comics. Eating is an ingrained part of our biological functions, and if left with no choice between eating a salad and eating nothing and going on a grumbling stomach, a kid will eat the damn salad. Comics/videogames/other forms of entertainment are not. Men are regarded for their strength/ability to accomplish things, and women are regarded for their beauty. Take both to the natural extreme, and only one is eye candy.

It's about how male characters are sexualized as a side-effect of portraying them as powerful and female characters are portrayed as powerless* as a side-effect of sexualizing them.

*or as a dominatrix.

I'm going to just ask this...

As a dominant male who has found nothing but respect in dominant women, what is wrong with a dominatrix? Hell, the ones I knew were cool because they weren't insecure. They knew they had it and didn't need to put heel to your neck to prove it.

 

[UmJammerSully]

I thought the article was making a good point until it got to the picture comparison and it completely lost all credibility. I think they really mixed up the point they were trying to make...

EDIT: She even says "I find this pic incredibly disturbing" in the article! She missed the entire point of making the male characters sexually appealing to a female audience. -_-

EDIT2: Ah, it seems she is gay. Which would explain how she doesn't have any ideas on how a sexually appealing male would dress or pose.

 

[BrionJames]

Question 1: Who cares? 2: Don't you like to look at women who are beautiful in appearance? The truth is, there are reasons why men like the way women are drawn in comic books. It's also the same reason why most men in comic books, romance novel covers, and movies don't look like hideous chuds. Do us all a favor and stop trying to start something you can't finish.

 

[wottabout]

Yeah, I can't really say that putting men in drag is really getting the message of female objectification across. I assume what the author was trying to say was "If only these female characters dressed and posed like male characters, they would not be so sexualized, which is an unnecessary gimmick meant to retain a male audience." And yeah, I guess I can see how the women are clearly dressed and posed in a sexy, feminine manner, but I doubt that making them less sexual would do much to increase female readership, and would probably just decrease overall sales. (Yes, I am overly aware that we live in a capitalist society, thank you for noticing.)

I would like to point out Empowered, a comic based around a large-breasted superheroine with a ridiculously fragile supersuit. It's mostly bondage fanservice, but the story is excellent, and many of my female friends are fans. And really, without the oversexualization, the comic probably would not have been published. (It would also be missing over half of its pages.)

As a female comic-book reader, I do notice the sexualization of women. In the superhero comics that we seem to be discussing here (completely ignoring the large number of other genres), the men are often disgustingly overmuscled and the women are sexy. I do not find many of these guys particularly attractive, and that is fine. I don't read comics for sexy characters or realistic portrayals of the human physique. I read them for story or dialogue or art style or characterization. I don't much care whether the women have huge breasts or not, and I don't care if that is what some other readers look for when they buy comics.

 

[linkzeldi]

I've just kind of come to accept that comic books are drawn by horny thirty-somethings, and that sexualizing women is a part of life. It would be nice to read a comic without female characters that are walking back problems, but hey you can't always get what you want.

 

[Kahunaburger]

snip

It's about how male characters are sexualized as a side-effect of portraying them as powerful and female characters are portrayed as powerless* as a side-effect of sexualizing them.

*or as a dominatrix.

I'm going to just ask this...

As a dominant male who has found nothing but respect in dominant women, what is wrong with a dominatrix? Hell, the ones I knew were cool because they weren't insecure. They knew they had it and didn't need to put heel to your neck to prove it.

Nothing. My issue (and the issue of this article) is mainly about how the way women in comic books are sexualized tends to portray them as powerless as a side effect. That asterisk was mostly just there because Wonder Woman etc. are a notable exception to this rule.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Oh no, sex appeal but it looks silly, it will surly devolve our tiny minds.

 

[Hungry Donner]

If someone has a depth of character I'm generally willing to overlook a ridiculous sexy outfit - it's those characters that are shallow and/or reinforce negative stereotypes that tend to get me.

Speaking for the fantasy genre more than comics I actually prefer a woman in full plate to one in a chainmail bikini - a character can be sexy and even look sexy without being dressed in a ridiculous fashion.