Powers and Abilities Far Behind Those of Mortal Men: An Examination of the Comic Book Industry and Subculture through a Feminist Sociological Perspective

Comic books are a medium which should be able to reach readers, whether male or female. Yet, the overwhelming majority of comic book readers are male. The feminist sociological perspective asks what the role of women is in a given situation, why that had come to be, and how can it be changed for the betterment of society. The realm of comic books is cyclical between fans and the publishing companies. As such, both the content of the comics themselves, and the opinions and reading habits of the fans must be studied to determine where this disparity begins, and how it has been perpetuated for sixty years. Through this study, the roles of women in comics are uncovered, as are the reasons behind them. Frail 3 Table of