She may be a superhero, but Wonder Woman has not been exempted from politics and its workings as widespread protests have resulted to her being dropped as a United Nations ambassador for gender equality effective on Friday. Wonder Woman was appointed as an honorary ambassador of the UN barely two months ago supposedly to help in the campaign for women in 2017.
Telegraph said Wonder Woman was ousted after 45,000 signatures were gathered online to convince UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to review the selection of the famous heroine. The DC Comics Inc. character was first introduced in 1941 and has since then fought villains and provided a stronger image for women to relate to. That, however, did not impress the protesting UN employees in New York City.
"Although the original creators may have intended Wonder Woman to represent a strong and independent 'warrior' woman with a feminist message, the reality is that the character's current iteration is that of a large breasted, white woman of impossible proportions," the petition said. "It is alarming that the United Nations would consider using a character with an overtly sexualised image at a time when the headline news in the United States and the world is the objectification of women and girls," it added.
BBC said no explanation was given why Wonder Woman's appointment was cut short although spokesman Jeffrey Brez said fictional characters who take part in the campaign usually last only for a few months. DC Comics publisher DC Entertainment, however, said they were pleased with Wonder Woman's exposure in the gender equality campaign.
Wonder Woman masquerades as an army nurse by the name of Diana Prince, but her critics said her image is not at all culturally sensitive. The character is primarily identified with Lynda Carter but has recently been played by Gal Gadot.
Brez said they have often emphasized the wonder women in real life, but unfortunately, some people found it inappropriate for women to be represented by a fictional character. The New York Times said Wonder Woman's ouster could have resulted from the rejection by the UN as possible secretary general, seven women candidates.
