I’m writing this in response to the whole “well Jason Todd was naked in that one issue of Red Hood and the Outlaws and you all loved it so now you’re a whole bunch of hypocrites for hating on Starfire!” argument that’s going around the internet. This whole argument rests on the basis that Jason Todd was objectified and sexualized in the same way that Starfire has been, just because he was seen without clothes on in a few panels. Let’s talk about why this isn’t true.
First of all, anyone who thinks people are upset just because Starfire was half naked in RHatO, clearly isn’t paying attention. If you look at the treatment of Starfire and Jason side by side, there is no way you can say each has been portrayed equally, either in personality or in the way they’ve been drawn. For those of you who are having a hard time understanding this concept, let’s break it down for you. I’m only going to stick with the physical aspects of the situation, because I could seriously write an essay about this if I included characterization and dialogue.
Jason
- Is not(at any point) posed in a way that accentuates his sexually appealing body parts(butt, genitals, chest, etc). He is drawn in natural positions, that don’t make him look like he’s trying to show off his physical attributes.
- Most of the “camera angles” of Jason’s nudity are far away, and are view of him is not positioned in a way that he looks like he could be in an issue of Playgirl
- Looks physically uncomfortable with his nudity. He tries to cover his genitals, and he walks/stands in a very closed off and protective way.
- This is the only time we’ve seen Jason either semi or fully naked. Every other panel he’s been in during the new 52, he has been fully clothed.
- He is naked in issue #6, after his personality, history, and relationship to other characters are already established.
Starfire
- When she is in her bikini, she is posing in a way that is not only uncomfortable, but also physically impossible for a real person. They are unnatural positions to be standing/bending over in, and I think it’s safe to assume a real living being wouldn’t put themselves in such positions unless they were…oh let’s say, posing for Playboy. Starfire is not posing in playboy, she’s getting out of the water, and then later talking to Roy.
- Her (semi)nudity is drawn so that her sexually attractive features(breasts, butt, hips) are most prominent to the viewer.
- Several shot of her in her bikini are close up, and angled in a way that the view can see all of her assets
- Starfire at no point tries to cover herself up. In fact, it seems as though she would put herself in uncomfortable stances just so that she can show off her breasts, stomach, and butt.*
- Starfire is never seen fully clothed, save for one instance where she wears a mini skirt and long sleeve shirt(issue #1). Her everyday “fighting outfit” is the most revealing we’ve ever seen her in, and exposes most of her breasts, butt, stomach, and back.
- The bikini shots happen in issue #1, pretty much before we even hear her have a full conversation. Her personality, history, and relationship to other characters are not even close to being established at this point.
*This isn’t a problem in itself. There’s nothing wrong with being proud of your body, and I don’t think anyone is calling for Starfire to be ashamed of her sensuality or her nudity. The reason so many people have a problem with the way Starfire(and other women in comics) have been portrayed, is because these characters are clearly and overtly being manipulated to satisfy the male gaze. It’s not the nudity that’s the problem. It’s the fact that women are drawn as semi-nude or nude much more often than men are. It’s the fact that even when women and men are both semi or fully nude(ex. Jason and Starfire), the woman’s nudity is depicted in a sexualized manner, and the man’s nudity is portrayed much more naturally. It’s the fact that most woman superheros aren’t even given the chance to be fully clothed when they’re in battle, or in everyday dress.
Another point that I think is important, is that nobody is judging anyone for thinking a character is sexy, or wanting to see them with less clothes or in sexual situations. Thinking Starfire is hot and being excited to see her naked is not bad. Thinking Jason is hot and being excited to see him naked is not bad. The problem is that we are forced to look at Starfire in a sexual manner because of the way she is drawn and written. Nobody is forced to see Jason’s nudity as sexy. Most men will not feel uncomfortable or awkward when reading the latest issue of RHatO, because Jason is not purposefully displaying his naked body so that all viewers are hit in the face with his man-bits or sexy booty. He has not been drawn for the sole purpose of titillation, and that makes his nudity seem more natural. When this happens, the viewer is free to see the character in a sexual way, or they can see the situation as humorous, or they can ignore it and move on with the story. It’s not imposing or opressive.
I think the main problem here is that it’s not an isolated incident. Woman(and sometimes men) are actively and openly complaining about the fact that women are not being treated equally or fairly in comics. We’re bringing up the fact that we feel objectified and that we feel uncomfortable and embarassed when reading certain comics because of the way women are drawn and written. THIS IS PROOF THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. There aren’t any men complaining about male characters being objectified or being sexualized, BECAUSE IT DOESN’T HAPPEN. And even if it does happen, it’s not a problem if nobody has an issue with it. But woman do have a problem with the way their gender is being portrayed in comics, so we are going to talk about it.
If you feel like I’m wrong in this, or if you have anything to add, feel free to drop me a message! I think it’s good to keep this discussion going until something is changed within the industry, so let’s keep talking about it!
