Goodbye Marvel, hello Cat - a feminist comic book...

[Huguenot]

New launch, and who woulda thunk it.

No heaving cleavage or razor stilettos, damsels in distress or whimsical female sidekicks.

It's here: http://www.mysocalledsecretidentity.com/comic/volume1/issue1/cover

I've not read a comic since Roy of the Rovers, and I'm sure Marvel have higher production values, but I enjoyed it :)

Is this a new medium?

[DJKillaQueen]

There have always been 'feminist' comics. There has been an independent comic sector outside of the superhero big boys for decades. I was one of a whole bunch of female comic artists in the early 90's. Look up artists like Kate Charlesworth for example and even stuff published by the guys like 'Love and Rockets' by the Hernandez Brothers. The only thing new is that one of the big boys has finally realised there's a market outside of the nerdy geek male niche....something that the big French comic publishers have known all along for example.

[Loz]

Pretty good. I don't see it as a 'feminist' comic (and all the baggage that would entail), but just a comic for girls showing a positive, interesting, identifiable character.

(Though they need to cut down the resolution to pick up the awfully slow loading speed!)

[KalamityKel]

darn that was a misleading thread title! there was me thinking "what? a funny feminist? surely not! aint that malarky all meant to b serious and stuff?"

im disappointed now :-( ;-)

[Huguenot]

I didn't know about feminist French Comic Books DJKQ, have you got some examples?

Loz, it was the authors that described it as feminist in interviews, to quote: "a feminist approach from the ground up, in terms of story, character, artwork and production". http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/feb/18/comic-book-superheroine-cat-gender

It certainly doesn't adhere to the common negative stereotypes about feminists, and I must say I think the heroine is quite hot when she's in her clubbing gear.

Don't know why she has to go around in tweed the rest of the time ;-)

[DJKillaQueen]

Don't even have to go to France H. Look up Carol Bennett and her company knockabout comics here in the UK. Been independently publishing comics for decades including work by female artists that challenges the stereotypes of the more mainstream industry.

[Loz]

KalamityKel Wrote:

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> darn that was a misleading thread title! there was

> me thinking "what? a funny feminist? surely not!

> aint that malarky all meant to b serious and

> stuff?"

Actually most serious feminists are hysterically* funny. They just don't mean to be. Or see the joke.

(* 'offensive' use of the word entirely intended)

[legalbeagle]

Definition of feminism, according to Oxford Dictionaries:

"the advocacy of women?s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes."

On this basis, is anyone NOT a feminist?

[Huguenot]

I should think globally that the number of people who believe women have equality of rights is in a minority.

There's no doubt that comic magazine culture doesn't espouse equality in general (Bat'man' but only Bat'girl' - infantilisation is a blatant reduction of rights).

[legalbeagle]

Oh I'd agree Huguenot, world wide. I suppose I was aiming the comment more at people reading/commenting on this thread.....

[Brendan]

What DJKQ said.

Read Love and Rockets. There aren't any rockets but its really worthwhile nevertheless.

[Loz]

legalbeagle Wrote:

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> Definition of feminism, according to Oxford

> Dictionaries:

>

> "the advocacy of women?s rights on the ground of

> the equality of the sexes."

>

> On this basis, is anyone NOT a feminist?

On that basis, it does look alluring. But, according to you moniker, you trade in the legal area. Surely you can see the massive legal loophole there? The main problem with feminism - and your definition - is that although it mentions the word 'equality', it is rather uninterested in the meaning of the word in a wider sense. (Admittedly, many feminists are committed to complete equality, but it is by no means part of the ideology.)

Let's give a rather silly example, but one that paints the picture. Let's say Johnny has 10 red sweets and 2 blue. Jenny has 10 blue sweets and 2 red. By your definition of feminism, Jenny is suffering a serious lack of rights in the red sweet area. This must be rectified. Johnny must give Jenny four red sweets to maintain equality. But that is all the equalising we'll be doing here - the blue sweet issue remains how it is. Was that really equality?

And anyway, Feminism is such a broad church of equalitists, misandrists, female separatists, rad-fems and every other variation you can think of, as an ideology it is, effectively, meaningless. Thus the 'baggage' comment. Issues like transsexuals can really throw a spotlight on some of the nastier, bigoted sides of feminism (c.f. the recent Julie Burchill rant.) And most women can see this - few want to identify directly with feminism because, frankly, it's public face is pretty damn poor. And, I'm afraid, rather deservedly poor.

It's like saying that socialism is a good idea - and who can argue against it's basic tenets? - yet ignoring the history of the awful ways it has been put into practice.

So do I think feminism (as practised) is a good thing? Obviously, no. Do I believe in equality across genders and races and sexualities and many other unnecessary discriminations society makes? Of course I do. It's the basis of all my politics.

Thus, to answer you question, no. Everyone should not be a feminist. Everyone should believe in equality for all. Because the issues around equality are so complex, simple one-sided gender approaches just don't cut it any more.

That is not to say that feminism hasn't made some great inroads into equality in the past. Just that maybe, just maybe, it needs to be retired to history and replaced with a better ideology that believes in equality more, well, equally.

Hmmm. Maybe this is a thread of its own!

[maxxi]

Brendan Wrote:

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> What DJKQ said.

>

> Read Love and Rockets. There aren't any rockets

> but its really worthwhile nevertheless.

Spoiler Alert!!

[RosieH]

Is this where Loz hangs out? http://www.avoiceformen.com/feminism/to-the-nice-feminists/

[Huguenot]

I can't really understand that blog.

He veers incomprehensibly between first, second and third person until I can't understand who he is addressing, describing or lampooning.

He needs an editor.

[RosieH]

Yep, an editor, that's what he needs.

[Loz]

RosieH Wrote:

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> Is this where Loz hangs out?

> http://www.avoiceformen.com/feminism/to-the-nice-feminists/

Ah, yes. Anyone who points out the deficiencies in Feminism is a wild-eyed MRA. Isn't that the same line of thinking of the old 'must be a lesbian' canard?

C'mon Rosie - you're normally a better debater than that.

[Huguenot]

He probably needs locking in a cell with a Robin Morgan... "I feel that "man-hating" is an honorable and viable political act, that the oppressed have a right to class-hatred against the class that is oppressing them."

Or this one is a particular favourite: "I claim that rape exists any time sexual intercourse occurs when it has not been initiated by the woman, out of her own genuine affection and desire."

On that basis I have lost count of the number of times I've been raped.

Every movement has its lunatics. If Robin Morgan doesn't invalidate feminism then this blogger doesn't invalidate Loz.