Tag: diana of themyscira

Diana’s lack of cultural and accumulated background trauma is perhaps what makes this version of her so iconic compared to other superheroes, across both Marvel and DC. While all superheroes personify various fantasies of power, in this iteration Diana represents the fantasy of freedom from structural violence and harassment. It’s not just that she can fight her way out of danger—it’s that she’s a vision of what could be possible if women weren’t in danger as often as they are.

Over the course of Wonder Woman, Diana is also continually shown listening to and respecting other women, when the men around her are eager to underestimate or dismiss them. This is particularly noteworthy, since Diana is a warrior and a princess and the women she meets are not only ordinary 20th-century residents, but lack institutional power.

It would be easy to portray Diana as valuing strength or courage, finding the women who grew up under patriarchy confusing. Instead, there’s Trevor’s secretary, who Diana treats with kindness and respect from the moment they meet. There’s a woman from a destroyed village, ignored by the soldiers in the trenches and seen as another acceptable victim of the war, whose plight Diana takes seriously. Even the female villain of the piece, Doctor Maru, is spared by Wonder Woman in the hopes that she could be reformed.

Diana will argue with other women and fight against them, but she’ll never be their rival or feel threatened by them, and refuses to condescend to them as well. In a genre of film that glorifies strength and fighting skills—particularly in the rare instances that women are allowed to be action stars—Diana’s kindness and respect is a deliberate subversion.