20 September 2012
Superwoman had a hideous costume if you ask me. Strong criticism? Yes. Why? She begins her career as Superman's wife in 1947 (fully clothed, by the way). Her powers always temporary and story always short lived. No one knows quite what to do with her. A strong woman on her own couldn't be allowed.
Comic book fans, I hear you. Her original costume reflected her husband's. Her identity forms first out of a dream, then out of a "spell", around her connection to a man. Her identity came out of Superman. Lois Lane turned into Superwoman only when Superman gave her his powers for 24 hours. I guess if you Superman's wife, you marry into certain role expectations.
Different groups try and take possession of her story. She turned into an evil counterpart to Wonder Woman (by 1964) who existed in a parallel universe. 1979 she takes it all off in an adult film. 1980 plays her in the future (1999/2000) with a split roles (in my opinion almost personality/identity) as Governor of Florida by day/Superwoman by night. This is taken into 1998's graphic novel where her nickname is "Queen Bitch".(1. Source for Super Woman history.)
My point? A human Superwoman doesn't exist. We each make her over in our own image and try and take possession of her for our own advantage/demise. Let her go. Culture tried to warp, manipulate, control, and brainwash her.
Our model can only be the One in Whose Image we are created...God. God is God and we are not (thank God!). We are called to approach life in her Spirit, but not expected to fully be Her. We reflect Her in our lives and give thanks to Her for working for peace, justice, and peace.
Today, I rest in Her image and Marvel at how we still seek to control her. Let Her Be...Let Her BE!
For those of you reading the Bible, we often get caught up with Proverbs 31 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+31&version=NIV)2.
Yet, like many things, we need to do our homework instead of just drawing conclusions at a glance. This point the fact that we are describing attributes of God. "In fact, some argue that the "capable wife" of verses 10-31 does not refer to any actual woman (she's too good to be true!) but to the ideal of Woman Wisdom herself. Indeed, several verses are reminiscent of earlier depictions of Woman Wisdom in Proverbs. " 3 Professor Coen also points out that what isn't mentioned is just as powerful as what is mentioned. Her worth isn't connected to a man, pregnancy isn't mentioned (how women's worth was often calculated), and it doesn't describe her physical appearance...often how "superwoman" is valued today.
Keep this in mind when you read Proverbs 31. :)
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superwoman
2. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+31&version=NIV
3. http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=9/23/2012&tab=2
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