According To Butler And Gender

In Bodies that Matter, Butler uses drag as an example of potential subversion to traditional gender performativity, stating: “Drag is subversive to the extent that it reflects on the imitative structure by which hegemonic gender is itself produced and disputes heterosexuality’s claim on naturalness and originality.” According to Butler, drag is one of many ways to resist the power structures that regulate gender identities, mainly through the ridiculing of normative cultural and social expressions. Drag destabilizes the “truth” of sexual and gender mainstream ideology by pointing to the fact that there is no obligating reason that necessitates the constant repetition of normative behaviour. Drag exposes social coercion at the base of the performative
There is no male role in the conception of Wonder Woman – she was created by the Gods at the request of the Amazon Queen Hippolyta who ruled Paradise Island, a land which was completely inhabited by warrior women. Wonder Woman was raised and trained by the Amazons to become the strongest warrior on the island. Her first encounter with men is when United States military office Steve Trevor crashes in the sea off shore of the island. Wonder Woman saves Trevor and nurses him back to life. When Trevor is discovered, the Amazons immediately wish to dispel him back into the “Man’s World.” Queen Hippolyta hosts a tournament to determine who will escort Trevor back and Wonder Woman wins easily. Along with her mission, Wonder Woman is rewarded with her iconic costume and lasso. She ends up staying in “the Man’s World” to help with the war effort. Like with Butler’s example of drag, the subversion to gender norms is even clear here with bodies that a traditional associated with one gender practicing actions and dialogue that traditionally belong to another. The women of the island are embodying traditionally masculine qualities of being war-like and hosting athletic tournaments. Women control all positions and professions from weapons-making to government. Trevor is put in the role of the damsel while Wonder Woman is the rescuer. Women are seen in the traditional masculine
The National Organization for Decent Literature called for the banning of Wonder Woman series under the justification that the character was indecently dressed. Child expert and leading authority on juvenile literature Josette Frank asserted that the comic encouraged sadism against women with its constant chaining of female characters. None of these criticisms were taken seriously by Marston or by DC Comics. The Wonder Woman series was too popular and had too much economic capital behind it as Wonder Woman was a top selling comic. Though exact sales numbers have never been released by DC Comics, an article in 1943 published in Harper’s Bazaar claimed that the Wonder Woman series was third on the top selling comics list industry wide and an estimated five million children were reading the series per