Empowerment and Gender Dynamics in Wonder Woman: A Feminist Analysis

Authors

  • Annabelle Mathilda Karsum MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Aubrey Jemima Tambunan MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Benaiya Tristan Jacobus MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
  • Emmanuel Tan MAKARIOS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Keywords:

Wonder Woman, gender performativity, feminism, Judith Butler, empowerment, patriarchy

Abstract

This study analyzes the 2017 film Wonder Woman through Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity to explore how the narrative challenges patriarchal norms and redefines women’s roles in society. Using a feminist lens, the analysis highlights Diana’s experiences as she navigates contrasting gender expectations between Themyscira and patriarchal London. The study produces three key findings: 1) Diana’s resistance to restrictive social roles and clothing illustrates Butler’s view that gender is performed rather than innate; 2) her alienation within patriarchal London reflects the instability of gender identity when confronted with rigid societal norms; and 3) the solidarity between Diana and other women underscores Butler’s emphasis on collective resistance against oppressive structures. Ultimately, Wonder Woman emerges as a cultural text that embodies feminist ideals, inspiring new perspectives on empowerment, identity, and the reimagining of gender roles in modern society.

References

Butler, J. (1990). Gender trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. Routledge.

Butler, J. (2004). Precarious life: The powers of mourning and violence. Verso.

Butler, J. (2004). Undoing gender. Routledge.

Cocca, C. (2014). Negotiating the third wave of feminism in Wonder Woman. PS: Political Science & Politics, 47(1), 98–103.

Donoghue, C. B. (2019). Gendered expectations for female-driven films: Risk and rescue narratives around Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman. Feminist Media Studies, 22(3), 485–501. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680777.2019.1636111

Ghaisani, M. P. D. (2025). Wonder Woman (2017): An ambiguous symbol of feminism. Rubikon: Journal of Transnational American Studies, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.22146/rubikon.v6i1.61486

Jenkins, P. (Director). (2017). Wonder Woman [Film]. Warner Bros.

Marcus, J. (2018). Wonder Woman’s costume as a site for feminist debate. Imaginations: Journal of Cross-Cultural Image Studies, 9(2), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.17742/IMAGE.FCM.9.2.6

Penrose, W. D. Jr. (2019). The Unwanted Gaze? Feminism and the Reception of the Amazons in Wonder Woman. Eugesta. https://doi.org/10.54563/eugesta.379

Solis, M. (2017, June 7). Wonder Woman’s skimpy clothing is no match for the movie’s feminist statement. Mic. Retrieved from https://www.mic.com/articles/179098/wonder-womans-skimpy-clothing-is-no-match-for-the-movies-feminist-statement

Yong, A. L., & Stallings, B. (2022). Weaving Womanhood into Warfare: Gender-Hybrid Narratives of Amazons Penthesilea and Diana Prince. Journal of Student Research, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i3.1932

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Published

2025-08-31

How to Cite

Karsum, A. M., Tambunan, A. J., Jacobus, B. T., & Tan, E. (2025). Empowerment and Gender Dynamics in Wonder Woman: A Feminist Analysis. Boanerges: Makarios Education Journal, 3(1), 14–23. Retrieved from https://streamfly.tech/index.php/boanerges/article/view/36

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): BOANERGES

Section

Table of Contents

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