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Within the span of just two years, both the DC Extended Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe premiered their first stand-alone female-lead superhero films. Wonder Woman was released in 2017, followed shortly after by Captain Marvel in 2019. While these popular characters have existed in comic books for decades, their presence on the big screen marks a shift in mainstream comic book culture towards increased inclusivity.
However, despite similarities between the films, the movies received drastically different receptions. In particular, many moviegoers took to the internet to loudly critique Captain Marvel. While some critiques of the film are completely valid, many of the most vocal opposers rooted their complaints in deeply sexist ideals. Unfortunately, this attitude of misogyny is not surprising. However, Wonder Woman notably did not receive nearly the same amount of backlash, despite the fact that it was first released. So what is it about Captain Marvel that sets off the wrath of so many internet trolls?
“But Wonder Woman Was Just A Better Movie!”
I’d like to begin by noting that this article will not compare these movies and characters to determine which is better. I have no interest in pitting these two inspiring and iconic and inspiring characters against each other. However, both movies received markedly different receptions, and the films’ respective criticisms are worth contrasting and examining.
Some might argue that Captain Marvel received more hate than Wonder Woman because it’s a worse movie. Indeed, assuming that film critics are a relatively reliable indicator of how good a movie is, Wonder Woman did score more highly than Captain Marvel on most mainstream movie review platforms.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Wonder Woman received a Critics’ Score of 93%, (( “Wonder Woman,” Rotten Tomatoes. )) whereas Captain Marvel only scored 78%. (( “Captain Marvel,” Rotten Tomatoes. )) What is particularly interesting, however, is that while Wonder Woman received an 87% Audience Score, (( “Wonder Woman,” Rotten Tomatoes. )) Captain Marvel has received a failing 48% Audience Score. (( “Captain Marvel,” Rotten Tomatoes. )) Wonder Woman‘s critic-audience score discrepancy is 6%, whereas Captain Marvel‘s critic-audience discrepancy is a whopping 30%. Considering that film critics are relatively reliable resources and that critics and audiences of Wonder Woman provided similar ratings of the film, Captain Marvel‘s terrible audience score stands out as an anomaly.
In fact, online Captain Marvel hate was so prominent it induced changes in the public movie review process itself. Rotten Tomatoes ended up rolling out new policy changes early in order to counter some of the backlash that Captain Marvel received. Reviews of Captain Marvel as being a “disaster” of a film began piling up months before the movie was even released. This prompted Rotten Tomatoes to terminate its function for audience members to leave pre-release reviews. (( Buckley, Cara. “When ‘Captain Marvel’ Became a Target, the Rules Changed.” The New York Times, March 13, 2019. )) Due to the excessive pre-release public criticism that Captain Marvel received, it is clear that much of the backlash was not related at all to its merits as a movie, but instead deeply entrenched misogyny.
However, this does prompt the question, if Captain Marvel was mercilessly attacked with so many sexist criticisms, why was Wonder Woman spared? The answer lies in the depiction of the women leading each film. Specifically, Diana Prince is a more feminine woman than Carol Danvers, and because she is more stereotypically feminine, Wonder Woman is a more palatable character to some audience members.
Femininity As A Metric Of Likability
Gender roles and stereotypes are deeply entrenched in most cultures, and they are present and strong within the patriarchal United States. Women are expected to be mothers, caretakers, and homemakers, whereas men are more encouraged in professional pursuits. Working women are often asked to choose between their families and their careers. Career-oriented women can face backlash for breaking gender-roles, and are commonly subjected to comments like “who takes care of your kids/husband?”
Beyond backlash towards breaking out of gender roles, working women have commonly been forced to develop a more masculine persona to be considered competent in the workplace. However, this masculinity engenders its own set of complications, as masculine women can be viewed as “less likable.” Traits such as self-promotion and self-assuredness, which are valued in men, can be construed as conceited in women. One study, which used facial electromyography to track the facial expressions of its participants, found that “women were likely to frown in response to self-promoting women, whereas men were more likely to smile at them derisively.” (( Rudman, Laurie A., & Phelan, Julie E. “Backlash Effects For Disconfirming Gender Stereotypes In Organizations.” Research in Organizational Behavior 28, (2008): 61-79. doi:10.1016/j.riob.2008.04.003. ))
Another study found that female leaders were more likely to be met with a “negative affect” (negative facial expressions and body language) than male leaders. (( Rudman, Laurie A., & Phelan, Julie E. “Backlash Effects For Disconfirming Gender Stereotypes In Organizations.” Research in Organizational Behavior 28, (2008): 61-79. doi:10.1016/j.riob.2008.04.003. )) In order to be “likable,” women are asked to conform to stereotypes about femininity. They must be humble, warm and caring to a degree that far exceeds what is expected of men.
This is the line that Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel have been forced to walk. By being female superheroes, they are already breaking typical stereotypes of femininity such as gentleness and docility. However, they need to be liked by audiences so that their studios earn enough money to see their stories as profitable and worthwhile. Because they are the heroes of the films, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel assume positions of leadership and authority. These positions of power historically have been reserved for male characters, and so by being the first stand-alone female heroes of the DCEU and MCU to break through this glass ceiling, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel are at risk of misogynistic backlash. Unfortunately, many audience members are predisposed to find them threatening and dislikable.
This is where the two characters diverge. Wonder Woman, the first of the pair to grace the big screen, kicks butts and takes names, but she maintains a uniquely feminine approach to her style. Captain Marvel, on the other hand, is less stereotypically feminine in her depiction and her demeanor. Neither portrayal is less valid nor a less legitimate depiction of a woman, but these different characterizations were met with very different audience receptions. The following will analyze the depiction of the femininity of both characters, specifically by examining their costumes, love interests, and overall demeanor.
The Super-Suit
Every hero has their iconic super-suit, a costume that is recognizable everywhere. While film adaptations of comic book heroes do modernize and adapt their super-suits to fit the tone of the movie, the basic design for the costume is usually derived from the original comic books. Needless to say, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel wear very different outfits.
While I do not believe that Patty Jenkins purposefully oversexualized Diana because of the nature of her historically revealing costume, Wonder Woman did appeal more to moviegoers looking to objectify her. As one Quora user so effortlessly put it, “Gal Godot frankly is a lot more attractive as Wonder Woman than Brie Larson is as Captain Marvel” (this comment got 3.4k upvotes). (( “Why Wasn’t the Recent Wonder Woman Movie Met With As Much Controversy as the Captain Marvel Movie Has?” Response by Anciano Erwin. Quora, February 28, 2019. ))
Historically, Wonder Woman has been drawn in either an extremely short skirt or extremely short shorts. In the 2017 film adaptation, Wonder Woman’s costume was adapted to be somewhat better suited for war. Her top and shoes are armored and her skirt seems to be made of a thick material like leather, rather than simple fabric. However, the costume still leaves her exposed to a point that seems unbelievable for war. Just as in the comic books, Gal Godot’s legs and arms are completely exposed and unprotected.
Additionally, Wonder Woman’s boots, both in the movie and in the comics, are high heels. Given the impracticality of wearing wedges into war, it is clear that the choice only serves the esthetic purpose of lengthening Godot’s legs. While Wonder Woman’s short skirt and high heels aren’t very believable battle gear, they are traditionally feminine outfit pieces. In the midst of the masculinity of WWI trench warfare, they constantly affirm Wonder Woman’s femininity.
Practicality VS Aesthetic
Captain Marvel, on the other hand, sports a suit that is much more in line with what her male counterparts wear. Her suit is very similar to that of Captain America, both in its colors and coverage. Again, in the movie, her suit is much more heavily armored, as opposed to the Spandex-looking suit she wears in the comics. Notably, Captain Marvel is never depicted in the incredibly revealing and oversexualized ‘Ms. Marvel’s outfit. Additionally, Captain Marvel’s boots are not heeled, making them more practical for battle.
The Captain Marvel movie took additional liberties with Carol Danvers’ belt/sash and hair. Most comic book depictions of Captain Marvel show her with a red sash that sits low on her waist. This bright piece of fabric serves no real purpose other than for esthetics and drawing attention to Carol Danvers’ hips. In the film, this sash has been replaced by a practical red belt that seems to help hold the suit together.
Additionally, while the character of Captain Marvel has had different hairstyles across her comics, she is known for having short hair. While Carol Danvers’ hair is long in her debut film, the pixie cut is introduced in Avengers: Endgame. This change is important because many people have gendered associations with hair length. Captain Marvel’s short ‘do pushes back against typical feminine beauty standards. Additionally, because the idea that “men don’t like short hair” is a relatively popular notion, this haircut indicates that Captain Marvel’s design is not intended for the gratification of men.
Some may argue that while a vocal group disliked Captain Marvel because she is “less sexy,” a far larger group opposed Wonder Woman’s costume for being too revealing. While I do think it is true that some people did criticize Wonder Woman for over-sexualizing Diana, the male gaze still dominates in popular media. In Justice League, for example, many audience members were shocked and angered to see that the Amazons were costumed in significantly skimpier outfits than they were in Wonder Woman. (( Frey, Kaitlyn. “Justice League’s Sexualized Amazon Costumes Spark Internet Controversy.” People, November 15, 2017. )) Their costumes essentially boil down to leather bikinis. Clearly, any complaints about Diana being over-sexualized in Wonder Woman were not taken too seriously, as the DCEU further shortened the skirts of its female characters after Wonder Woman‘s release.
Relationships And Romance
Second, the love interests, or lack thereof, in both films play a prominent role in the heroes’ perceived femininity. Diana was involved in a standard heterosexual relationship. There is nothing wrong with this relationship at all, and Diana’s strength and independence are not diminished by her involvement with Steve. However, this romance does honor some stereotypical plotlines wherein the guy gets the girl.
Furthermore, Diana fits very easily into the Madonna/Whore complex. Since she was raised on an island of only women, Steve literally introduces her to the world of men. Despite her strength and bravery, she is very dependent on him for help as she navigates this strange new world. Diana’s doe-eyed innocence is not a less valid depiction of femininity, but because it is more traditional, she is more palatable to some audience members.
On the other hand, Captain Marvel has no love interest. This disrupts most traditionally female gender roles because they are almost all dependent on a woman’s relationship with a man. Carol Danvers is not a caretaker, homemaker, wife, mother, or anything of the sort. She isn’t even depicted as a daughter as her parents are never introduced. She stands alone as a woman with no tangible familial connection to a man through which she can be categorized. Captain Marvel goes beyond merely disrupting traditional feminine gender roles by not having a love interest. She actually breaks traditional “family values” from which these gender roles were derived.
However, some fans speculate that Carol Danvers is romantically involved with Maria Rambeau. If this is the case, it would go even further to disrupt assumptions about femininity. If these theories that Maria and Carol are lovers are true, it would signal even further disruption of patriarchal ideals. Queerness is revolutionary under patriarchy because it counters the supposed necessity of relationships between men and women, and it subverts patriarchal relationship dynamics that are dependent on gender roles.
Even if Carol Danvers never becomes canonically gay, her relationships with Maria and Monica still negate assumptions about the nuclear family and male/female gender roles. It is clear that Carol and Maria lived together for some time, and that Carol played an important role in raising Monica. By surviving and thriving in an atypical family situation without any help from a male family member, Captain Marvel counters traditional depictions of womanhood.
She’s Got A Great Personality
Finally, both Diana and Carol Danvers’ general demeanors are extremely different. Diana is, again, much more stereotypically feminine. Throughout the film, Diana is shown to be a caretaker. For example, as soon as she arrives in England, Diana is immediately drawn towards a cute baby. Essentially, her entire mission to save mankind is one of care-taking, as she has no personal stake in the war. Her motivation to protect the humans from Ares is simply that humans have the capacity for good, and it is an entirely selfless act.
Diana’s uninhibited feminine instincts towards protection are juxtaposed with the “World of Men.” While making their way towards the front of the war, Diana and Steve pass scenes of brutality: a horse being whipped; a soldier who lost his leg; a boy screaming for his mother. While the soldiers are used to seeing this level of violence, Diana is deeply touched, wanting to help everyone. In the trenches, Steve tells Diana, “we can’t save everyone in this war. This is not what we came here to do.” She responds, “No, but it’s what I’m going to do.”
This statement highlights an important difference in Diana compared to the world of men. Where human beings have become desensitized to the horrors of war and have lost a degree of hope, Diana feels very deeply. This capacity for compassion and emotion is a trait that is stereotypically feminine. She possesses an idealized sense of duty and guardianship because she has been unencumbered by the horrors of the real world before this point. Diana’s compassion and desire to protect and care for the underdog is a motherly instinct. Ultimately, it is her desire to protect and save everyone that inspires her most courageous acts.
A Little Kindness Goes A Long Way
Diana’s compassion and sensitivity extend beyond her duty and into her interpersonal relationships as well. Above all, Diana is caring. It is what inspires her bravery and governs her choices. Despite being beautiful, intelligent, and strong, Diana constantly affirms the people around her. After retaking and liberating Veld, Steve turns to Diana and says, “You did this.” She responds, “We did.” While all the soldiers did help overtake the Germans, Wonder Woman’s power is undeniable. She could do what the soldiers hadn’t been able to do in a year of fighting, but nevertheless, she emphasizes everyone’s importance. Charlie, who froze in battle because of his PTSD, suggests he should go home because he is a hindrance. Diana smiles at him and says, “No, Charlie, who will sing for us?” Even in this case, where Charlie truly did fumble, Diana reminds him of his importance and value as part of the group.
Diana’s reaction contradicts how a fictional general or drill sergeant might have treated Charlie. Fundamentally, it was her sensitivity and empathy that made Diana a good leader. Unfortunately, in the real world, characteristically feminine people are disregarded as poor leaders. (For example, during the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton’s leadership ability was questioned on the basis that, as a woman, she would be “too emotional” to lead, and that her period would make her dangerously moody.)
However, these feminine traits are actually a major strength in management and leadership. One survey found that “employees who work for a female manager are 1.26 times more likely than those who work for a male boss to strongly agree that “there is someone at work who encourages my development.'”(( Smith, Jacquelyn. “Study Finds Women Are Better Bosses Than Men – Here’s Why.” Business Insider, April 3, 2015. )) Similarly to Diana’s treatment of Charlie, female bosses may take more care to empathize with and encourage their employees.
Wonder Woman suggests that these feminine traits are an asset and inextricable from Diana’s success in the film. (Please note that while traits like empathy and humility are stereotypically “feminine,” that is not to say that male-identifying people cannot possess these traits. Rather, gender roles hurt everyone by boxing people into ideas about what they can and cannot be.)
Diana’s humility and kindness make her a more likable character to many audiences. While some might argue that she is more likable because she is simply a ‘nicer’ character, I would argue that niceness is a standard that women are held to but that is more optional for men. Characters like Loki, Tony Stark, and Deadpool are adored by MCU fans, and those characters are not overly nice. While Diana’s niceness is an asset, the standard of niceness can just as easily be a cage for women who are more assertive and dominant.
She’s The Man
Unlike Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel has a more quote-unquote “masculine” characterization. In contrast with Diana, Carol Danvers is significantly less concerned with emotions and feelings. She spends no time complimenting people or affirming them for what they do or don’t do. Instead, she prefers sarcastic quips such as “Arm wrestle for the Tesseract?” Her characterization is similar to that of Tony Stark. Both are quick-witted, confident, and natural leaders. Both struggle with guilt since they have used their powers to hurt people, even though they thought they were doing right. Despite these similarities, Tony is loved and Carol is hated.
One of the most common critiques of Captain Marvel that we have come across is “Captain Marvel is dislikable.” Whenever we hear “dislikable” used to dismiss women, we always question why they are dislikable. Women are commonly assumed to be more humble and compassionate than men, and so women who are less concerned with emotions can be misconstrued as mean or unfriendly. However, I do not think Carol Danvers is more unfriendly than other Avengers. This is an instance where the ‘niceness’ standard hurts women who don’t conform. Carol Danvers is assertive and down-to-business, but never purposefully mean.
Carol Danvers is comfortable in leadership positions, giving orders without the formalities of ‘pleases’ and ‘thank yous.’ In large battles, she is quick to give orders to her costars. Captain Marvel is aware of her immense power, and consequently views herself as an authority figure. This isn’t a bad thing, it is what heroes are supposed to do: come in and take control when circumstances develop beyond human capability. However, her assertiveness and confidence are more stereotypically masculine traits. While these characteristics are very positive and helpful, because she is a woman, some find that these traits make her seem rude and bossy.
She Soldiers On
Another frequent criticism of Captain Marvel is “Brie Larson is a bad actress!” This critique seems wholly unfounded as Larson won an Oscar for her performance in Room. Still, trolls commonly cite Carol Danvers’ stoicism and lack of emotion as evidence that “Brie Larson is a bad actress.” This accusation relies heavily on the assumption that women are more emotional than men. In just one instance of this double standard, following the release of the Captain Marvel trailer, some fans were upset that Captain Marvel did not smile more. One fan went so far as to photoshop a smile onto Brie Larson’s face. (( Abad-Santos, Alex. “Not Even Captain Marvel is Safe From the ‘Smile More’ Catcall.” Vox, September 20, 2018. ))
Despite the obvious sexism of this critique, it disregards Carol Danvers’ entire backstory. Carol Danvers trained in the military. Female soldiers are commonly subject to gender-based harassment and discrimination. To fit in and advance within the ranks of the military, women have been forced to “downplay … attributes that are traditionally considered feminine, such as open displays of emotion.” (( Maples, Sarah. “The Inconvenience of Being a Woman Veteran.” The Atlantic, November 22, 2017. )) The value of masculinity within the military is depicted in Captain Marvel. Comments such as “you do know why they call it a cockpit, don’t you,” “you’re too emotional,” and “you aren’t strong enough,” all demonstrate the lack of community and support that Carol Danvers endured in her training.
I don’t think many audience members consciously disliked Carol Danvers’ because she was trained in the US military. Staunch patriotism in the US would suggest otherwise. Still, her consequent masculine characterization, which is the direct result of her training, came under fire anyway. Unfortunately, aside from blatant harassment, this is a phenomenon that many female veterans experience when they return home. One female veteran wrote:
Operating in male-dominated environments and doing traditionally male activities, up to and including combat, are so different from the experiences of civilian women that the two sides often cannot relate. Moreover, the behaviors—male behaviors—that women veterans learned were correct in the military are now at odds with the expectations civilians have for women. Instead of helping them fit in, these same behaviors now make them stand out, often in ways that make other people uncomfortable. (( Maples, Sarah. “The Inconvenience of Being a Woman Veteran.” The Atlantic, November 22, 2017. ))
-Sarah Maples, “The Inconvenience of Being a Woman Veteran,” The Atlantic, November 22, 2017
The assumption that Carol Danvers’ should be smiling more throughout her film is ridiculous. Male heroes are never critiqued for being unemotional. Their stoicism is understood as brave and serious. As a soldier, Carol Danvers’ would have been trained to stay calm in intense and dangerous situations. Obviously, serious stoicism and intensity are to be expected from her background. Still, when Brie Larson performs these traits, audiences are uncomfortable with her characterization.
Seen And Not Heard
Beyond just her career, Carol Danvers’ entire character arc is built on her learning to use and accept her emotions. For the whole film, she is told to think with her head, not her heart, and to get her emotions under control. Yet when she acts this way, cool and collected in most situations, Brie Larson is accused of being a bad actress and not showing enough emotion. These critiques are ironic in the face of a movie about a woman coming to terms with her own emotionality after years of being told how and when she can express herself.
Of course, it can’t be ignored that one of the largest reasons that many MCU fans take issue with Captain Marvel is because they dislike her political activism. Many Twitter users have been quick to call Brie Larson a “preachy SJW.” Even the film Captain Marvel came under fire for being “man-hating” due to a scene where a man tells Captain Marvel to smile. Despite the fact that sexist comments such as “smile more” are sadly a common part of women’s experiences, the depiction of this experience was written off as man-hating feminist propaganda.
While Brie Larson has come under heavy fire for her political beliefs, other politically active MCU actors have yet to endure serious criticism for their politics. As just one example, Mark Ruffalo uses his platform to discuss political issues without significant backlash. This discrepancy is just another example of how Captain Marvel’s hate is more motivated by misogyny than legitimate film criticism.
There Is No Right Way To Be A Woman
All in all, despite being sisters in arms, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel are extremely different characters. However, they are both pioneers of their respective franchises and together they fight the good fight for on-screen representation. While some may argue that feminism wasn’t necessary for the 21st-century, the backlash that Captain Marvel received highlights the obvious sexism that still plagues U.S. society.
Some people will critique Wonder Woman for being too stereotypically “girly,” and many others will criticize Captain Marvel for being a “dislikable b****.” The rules and frameworks that so rigidly define femininity in modern America not only inhibit women but deeply harm transgender and non-binary individuals as well. My hope is that revolutionary characters like Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel continue to pave the way for increased on-screen diversity and representation. I’d like to end with an excerpt from one of the many petitions floating around on the internet trying to get Marvel to recast Brie Larson. This particular petition has nearly 5,000 signatures.
In their diatribe against Brie Larson, the so-called ‘Concerned Citizen’ writes of female characters nowadays, in general, though specifically referencing Rey from Star Wars. They write, “She never had to earn her place in the universe.” (( “Pull Brie Larson From Captain Marvel,” Change.org. )) The irony of using this quote to criticize Brie Larson as Captain Marvel is twofold. First, it criticizes the backstory of the character, something which Brie Larson had no control over. Second, this quote stunningly misses the point of the entire Captain Marvel film.
“I have nothing to prove to you.”
Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel (2019)
