A few years ago I tore into Batman. I called him “boring”, and I pointed out that WB and DC over-relied on him. In the years since, however, I’ve developed even stronger opinions. And now it seems like another opportunity to rip into Batman has come. More specifically, it’s an opportunity to rip into DC for bringing unwanted attention to themselves. I’m about to get weird…
Has anyone seen Harley Quinn? I can’t access it, for several reasons, but I’ve heard good stuff. I’ve especially heard talk of it being DC’s answer to The Venture Bros., which should signal if you’ll like or hate it. It also broke a few taboos over its runtime, including a relationship between Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy that doesn’t feel shallow. Fancy that.
I mention this because DC recently got into hot water over a nixed moment from Season 3. There was supposed to be a sex scene where Batman goes down on Catwoman, only to be removed at the last second because, “Real heroes don’t do that”. Never mind that the adaptation of one of Batgirl’s most famous stories involved her and Batman having sex, Batman doesn’t satisfy women. Take what you will from that. I know I have!
Sufficed to say, the internet didn’t take that news well. Within hours of DC’s statement, Batman was now the subject of ridicule. Jokes, mostly sexual, began circulating to many laughs, including some from DC. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Zack Snyder posting fan-art of Batman giving Catwoman cunnilingus on Twitter, even if the image reeked of The Male Gaze. It was bad for DC and WB’s PR team. And, if we’re being honest, they deserved it.
If you strip away the humour and iconography, there’s something rather telling that isn’t pleasant. See, Batman not pleasuring women isn’t really about him. He’s a fictional construct, and you can project whatever you want. That Batman doesn’t satisfy his romantic interests says less about him and more about his writers. In particular, about how society views femininity and sexuality. And it’s not pleasant.
Western thinking on female autonomy is dubious. Whether it’s the printing press leading to women becoming disobedient to their husbands, or The Suffragette Movement leading to women also becoming disobedient to their husbands, the fear of women in general has existed for centuries. Specifically, female sexuality has been quite contentious. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in women not being allowed to enjoy sex. In other words, women should strictly be conduits for male pleasure.
If that sounds sexist, it is. But it’s been championed for a long time by well-respected members of society, including Sigmund Freud. This framing’s been around for so long that it’s only now starting to go away, and with that has come backlash. There’s a reason why men having multiple romantic partners is more socially-acceptable than women having them. Think about it: a man’s a player or a stud, while a women’s a slut or a whore.
Western thinking on female autonomy is dubious. Whether it’s the printing press leading to women becoming disobedient to their husbands, or The Suffragette Movement leading to women also becoming disobedient to their husbands, the fear of women in general has existed for centuries. Specifically, female sexuality has been quite contentious. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in women not being allowed to enjoy sex. In other words, women should strictly be conduits for male pleasure.
If that sounds sexist, it is. But it’s been championed for a long time by well-respected members of society, including Sigmund Freud. This framing’s been around for so long that it’s only now starting to go away, and with that has come backlash. There’s a reason why men having multiple romantic partners is more socially-acceptable than women having them. Think about it: a man’s a player or a stud, while a women’s a slut or a whore.
It’s for this reason that women’s sexuality’s also not taken as seriously. In The US alone, Viagra’s treated far more generously than Birth Control pills. Additionally, women are routinely scrutinized for wanting abortions, and Roe V. Wade is constantly at risk of being reversed because of how politicians view fetuses. And let’s not forget the stigma that comes with rape and/or sexual assault! Basically, being a woman and wanting sexual autonomy are often viewed as an issue.
I mention this because that’s really what this is about. Because Batman’s had many romantic interests, most-notably Catwoman. But whereas it’s a non-issue for him to date multiple women to cope with his trauma, that he’s not allowed to make them happy is a problem. It shows how regressive he is. That’s not a positive development.
It’s especially not positive because of how superheroines at DC have been shafted in favour of superheroes. Of the big three, how many movies have been made about Batman and Superman? Many. How many have been made about Wonder Woman? Three. Additionally, when faced with life-threatening situations, how much more-likely have heroes rebounded over heroines? When Superman was murdered in the 90’s, he stayed dead for a few months. Supergirl, conversely, has died brutally numerous times, while Batgirl was paralyzed/raped and Green Lantern found his girlfriend stuffed in a refrigerator.
I mention this because that’s really what this is about. Because Batman’s had many romantic interests, most-notably Catwoman. But whereas it’s a non-issue for him to date multiple women to cope with his trauma, that he’s not allowed to make them happy is a problem. It shows how regressive he is. That’s not a positive development.
It’s especially not positive because of how superheroines at DC have been shafted in favour of superheroes. Of the big three, how many movies have been made about Batman and Superman? Many. How many have been made about Wonder Woman? Three. Additionally, when faced with life-threatening situations, how much more-likely have heroes rebounded over heroines? When Superman was murdered in the 90’s, he stayed dead for a few months. Supergirl, conversely, has died brutally numerous times, while Batgirl was paralyzed/raped and Green Lantern found his girlfriend stuffed in a refrigerator.
It’s easy to laugh this off as a man, but women who are fans of comics have had to turn a blind eye for decades. Whenever a superheroine becomes popular, the chances of her being reshaped to “appeal to male sensibilities” have been high. Superheroes, on the other hand, have rarely had that happen to them. And when they have it hasn’t been permanent. So Batman not pleasing his romantic interests is part of that problem.
It also says something when violence is preferable to sex. Women can be shot in the chest, raped and left for dead to further a man’s story, but they can’t be happy in bed. Women can die horribly, but they can’t show T&A. And women can be stuffed into refrigerators, but they can’t enjoy themselves in the privacy of their own homes. On the rare occasions where we see any of this, it’s considered “scandalous” or “sacrilegious”.
I wish it weren’t able to influence popular discourse. But similarly to how Superman’s influence can lead a young boy to his death, or how The Joker’s influence can cause someone to shoot up a movie theatre, negative, harmful or reductive portrayals of women can cause women to suffer from self-esteem issues. There’s a reason why Catradora was a big deal, or why Harley Quinn kissing Poison Ivy in Harley Quinn sent shockwaves throughout animated television. These situations matter, and they make a difference. They might be slight, but they’re there.
I think this kind of positive representation is needed. We’re not living in the 1700’s. Contrary to what pundits claim, people aren’t always so rigid, and the marginalized deserve to be seen and heard. And if it’s “not good for the children”? So be it, though children are more perceptive than adults let on.
So let Batman and Catwoman have sex! And let Batman satisfy Catwoman! It might be “weird” or “uncomfortable”, but that means we have a lot of teaching and growth left. Because unless female sexuality’s properly appreciated, then nothing will really change. And that’s criminal.
Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go detox...
It also says something when violence is preferable to sex. Women can be shot in the chest, raped and left for dead to further a man’s story, but they can’t be happy in bed. Women can die horribly, but they can’t show T&A. And women can be stuffed into refrigerators, but they can’t enjoy themselves in the privacy of their own homes. On the rare occasions where we see any of this, it’s considered “scandalous” or “sacrilegious”.
I wish it weren’t able to influence popular discourse. But similarly to how Superman’s influence can lead a young boy to his death, or how The Joker’s influence can cause someone to shoot up a movie theatre, negative, harmful or reductive portrayals of women can cause women to suffer from self-esteem issues. There’s a reason why Catradora was a big deal, or why Harley Quinn kissing Poison Ivy in Harley Quinn sent shockwaves throughout animated television. These situations matter, and they make a difference. They might be slight, but they’re there.
I think this kind of positive representation is needed. We’re not living in the 1700’s. Contrary to what pundits claim, people aren’t always so rigid, and the marginalized deserve to be seen and heard. And if it’s “not good for the children”? So be it, though children are more perceptive than adults let on.
So let Batman and Catwoman have sex! And let Batman satisfy Catwoman! It might be “weird” or “uncomfortable”, but that means we have a lot of teaching and growth left. Because unless female sexuality’s properly appreciated, then nothing will really change. And that’s criminal.
Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go detox...
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