Winner of the 2017 Eisner Award in the Best Academic/Scholarly Work category 2017 Prose Awards Honorable Mention, Media & Cultural Studies Over the last 75 years, superheroes have been portrayed most often as male, heterosexual, white, and able-bodied. Today, a time when many of these characters are billion-dollar global commodities, there are more female superheroes, more queer superheroes, more superheroes of color, and more disabled superheroes--but not many more. Superwomen investigates how and why female superhero characters have become more numerous but are still not-at-all close to parity with their male counterparts; how and why they have become a flashpoint for struggles over gender, sexuality, race, and disability; what has changed over time and why in terms of how these characters have been written, drawn, marketed, purchased, read, and reacted to; and how and why representations of superheroes matter, particularly to historically underrepresented and stereotyped groups. Specifically, the book explores the production, representations, and receptions of prominent transmedia female superheroes from their creation to the present: Wonder Woman; Batgirl and Oracle; Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Star Wars' Padmé Amidala, Leia Organa, Jaina Solo, and Rey; and X-Men's Jean Grey, Storm, Kitty Pryde, Rogue, and Mystique. It analyzes their changing portrayals in comics, novels, television shows, and films, as well as how cultural narratives of gender have been negotiated through female superheroes by creators, consumers, and parent companies over the last several decades.

Discover your own superpowers, and be the hero you were meant to be! Do you suffer from depression, anxiety, or trauma? Have you experienced sexism, marginalization, or even sexual assault? If so, each day can feel like a battle. But you do have the strength within you to rise above life’s challenges. Using a unique blend of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and “superhero therapy,” this one-of-a-kind guide will help you get started. In Super-Women, you’ll find tools to help you explore and process painful experiences, accept difficult thoughts and feelings, and use mindfulness and self-compassion to tap into your own unique superpowers. Alongside seven other heroic women, you’ll learn how to re-write your “origin story” and find compassionate tips and strategies to help you define your own heroic purpose. Joining you will be notable women from all around the world, who’ve submitted their stories and words of encouragement. These women include writers, such as Anne Wheaton, Felicia Day, and Jane Espenson; actors such as Chase Masterson and Ruth Connell; and comedians, activists, and other women who like you understand first-hand how difficult—yet empowering—it can be to be female in a patriarchal society. So, if you’re ready to rise from the ashes and join the leagues of super-women everywhere, read this book. You may discover powers you never even knew you had!

This book examines the rise and fall of feminism in the public imagination in the last twenty years, and explains why 'feminism failed me' has become the catch-cry of a generation. Today many women turn their back on feminism because they feel betrayed by the promises of feminism. Yet during the 1980s the popular ideal of the 'Superwoman' offered a source of empowerment and pride for women and equality with men - even 'having it all' - seemed possible. Through a close reading of popular culture sources, this book shows how women's engagement with feminism has shifted over time, and considers its future as a social movement.

Meet more than one hundred of the most heroic female characters in comics history, complete with backstories, vintage art, and colorful commentary. This spectacular sisterhood includes costumed crimebusters like Miss Fury, super-spies like Tiffany Sinn, sci-fi pioneers like Gale Allen, and even kid troublemakers like Little Lulu. With vintage art, publication details, a decade-by-decade survey of industry trends and women’s roles in comics, and spotlights on iconic favorites like Wonder Woman and Ms. Marvel, The Spectacular Sisterhood of Superwomen proves that not only do strong female protagonists belong in comics, they’ve always been there.

This interesting book is meant to highlight several controversial yet accomplished women in history, who the author dubs as 'Superwomen'. Written in a tongue-in-cheek manner, the book provides a detailed look into some of history's most famous and infamous women, including George Sand, Cleopatra, Helen of Troy, Lola Montez, and Lady Blessington.