Amazon feminism

Amazon feminism is a branch of feminism that emphasizes female physical prowess as a means to achieve the goal of gender equality. Adherents are dedicated to the image of the female hero in fiction and in fact, as expressed in the physiques and feats of female athletes, martial artists and other powerfully built women in society, art and literature.

Historical criticism may hope to uncover more examples of Amazon feminism in the pre-1990s literature. An obvious example of this is Wonder Woman, who was conceived in the early 1940s and based partially on the Amazons in Greek Mythology.

History

The origin of the term "Amazon feminism" can be traced to several sources, including Thomas Gramstad. Gramstand sought to combine Rand's unique depiction of heroism along with then-modern feminist ideology and Amazonian concepts. This was partly inspired by Lane and Worth's In Search of the Woman Warrior. In the early '70's Gloria Steinem drew attention to this concept with her praise of Wonder Woman as a feminist icon, and her criticism of DC's decision in 1968 to change Wonder Woman's powers. Wonder Woman's famous equipment, her bullet proof bracers lasso of truth and ability to fly, had been replaced with mere-mortal kung-fu. The year after Steinman generated attention toward this issue, Wonder Woman was changed back and her popularity with young female readers increased. [1]

Famous Amazon Feminists

• Pippi Longstocking
• Wonder Woman
• Xena
• Hawk Girl

See also

• G.I. Jane
• Goddess
• Goddess movement
• Heroine
• History of women in the military
• Superheroine
• Tomboy

External links

• On The Trail of the Women Warriors, author Lyn Webster Wilde's site about her investigations
• Women as Warriors in History, author Nicky Saunders' pages at Lothene Experimental Archaeology
• Real Knockouts, Feminista interview with author Martha McCaughey, at archive.org
• The Amazon Connection, Thomas Gramstad's site