A Room of One's Own: The Women-Only Wonder Woman Controversy

The Wonder Woman film opens on June 2^nd. This film is highly anticipated. I am looking towards its opening with excitement and trepidation. In celebration of this film finally getting made, The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX have decided to set aside two showings on Tuesday, June 6^th of the film for audiences of people who identify as women. Of course, this was met with angry men complaining about how there are no male-identifying only showings.

On some level, I can understand that this is less than PC, but this idea that somehow men are being excluded from the film-going. Let’s be clear. This is a single day with just two showings of the film. It’s not even a preview showing where women are getting an opportunity to see the film before its scheduled release date. 

I see the reaction as something that happens time and time again in nerd culture and really in culture in general. Women, in this case, but really minorities of the sub-culture in general have to constantly fight for inclusion. The honest truth is that men don’t have to fight for inclusion in the same way. Of course, there are some exceptions for male-identifying persons because trans-rights are still an issue. Those exceptions aside, the comic book community is very much geared towards the male experience. 

While Wonder Woman is for all people, she is something more than just another superhero to many women. She is a feminist icon in many ways. When we trace the history of the Wonder Woman, her involvement with the Justice League started with her acting as their secretary. As gender roles evolved, Wonder Woman was leading the way as she was equal to her male counterparts. She has been a source of female power and a female voice in the male-dominated nerd culture. 

Now comes the point where I may anger some men (although if you are man who reads my blog, this is probably less likely). I get that you may feel excluded from these two showings. However, you aren’t being excluded from the opportunity to see the film at all. Face it, men, in nerd culture, you are the majority. You are catered to in a variety of ways from the sexualization of female superheroes to the fact that majority of superheroes are cis-gendered white males. This is an arena where you have ruled the roost for decades. I get that those angry men feel like something is being taken away from them, but it isn’t. Making some special event for a sub-group within the community doesn’t take away your rights. It doesn’t lessen your standing. What it does is actually demonstrate to that group of people that they matter to the community at large, that they are seen, and they are respected.

Basically, it all boils down to this. Those men who are angered by this you already given so much in terms of nerd culture. Events are catered to you. Let women have just two showings that are theirs. Is that really too much to ask?