Rescuing Women from American Mythology

Book excerpt: This book explores American mythology through the lens of comic books and superheroes, specifically exploring the subject from an historical perspective in order to capture the origins of sexism and misogyny, as found in the comic book stories that have shaped so many young people and their attitudes. It provides a detailed analysis of America’s inextricable relationship with sexist institutions, specific historical events, and cultural attitudes, all of which are captured by, and perpetuated, in comic books, TV, film, and advertising. The implicit argument this book makes is that sexism and misogyny are not the product of nefarious individuals with overt agendas; instead, sexism and misogyny are products of our mythology and the associated archetypal components that shape a fabricated design of the world, a design shaped by men and unwittingly agreed to by women, thus, perpetuating a male-dominated mythological, religious, and historical social structure.