By Daniel Bruce and Brianna Gwin
Perhaps one of the most telling scenes of the new Wonder Woman movie is when Diana Prince finds herself in a room filled with the most high-ranking men in Great Britain. As they debate whether or not to save thousands of lives or risk upsetting negotiations of the armistice that will end World War I, Diana bravely intervenes on behalf of the thousands of lives the men seem so quick to give up. After the entire room is set aback at the outburst, one of the officers appropriately wonders, “Who is this woman?” This woman is not only a hero more badass than any Superman, but embodies some of the best qualities that are inherent in almost all women.
We live in a society that sees a new social movement pop up it seems like almost every day. However, one of the movements that has had one of the strongest impacts in our society is the Feminist Movement. At its core is a passion to see women finally equal to men in our society. It is ridiculous that in 2017 there is still a wage gap between men and women in jobs that both can perform equally as well, and while we have come a long way, women are still incredibly mistreated in many circles of our culture. The Feminist Movement has accomplished great things in recent times, however a popular new form of feminism threatens to turn that success on its head. As have many of the movements that have gained ground lately, and backed mainly by the left I might add, this extreme feminism seeks to go far beyond equality. Whether they admit it or not, these movements aim to switch the power balance and put themselves at the top. This shift of power that many deem so necessary will only result in a society that is just as imbalanced as ours is now. This change would end up being just as inconsistent because then it would be the opposite way, with men wanting to be equal. The smartest thing is not to receive more power than the men, but to close the gap of inequality that founds this movement. As movements like these seem to be gaining more and more ground lately, it was refreshing to see Wonder Woman shed a new light on feminism. It depicts a woman who is strong, brave, heroic, and who can do everything a man can do; but who approaches life with distinct characteristics that are inherently woman.
Throughout the movie, it is apparent that Diana is not motivated by any force that we usually see heroes motivated by such as justice, power, revenge, greed, pride, or even the greater good. No, Diana is motivated by something very different: love. This is most apparent when Diana finally comes in contact with the horrific scene of the war. As she and Steve Trevor’s gang travel to the front, they pass wounded soldiers attempting to stitch themselves up, men stuck in mud struggling to get away from the atrocities, and villagers exiled from their homes. As Diana encounters each of these people, she longs to reach out and help them. She doesn’t understand how Steve can keep pushing towards the front, his eyes set only on his mission, when there is so much horror around them. This love for everyone in need, this inherent longing to reach out and help those who desperately need it, no matter what may be going on around them, is a characteristic so often associated with women. While the men in the gang were always focused on the one task at hand, Diana refused to believe that helping those who need it could not also be included in their mission.
Another characteristic that sets Diana apart from the men in the group is her ability to be a nurturer. At first glance one may think, how does a fighting Amazon who’s stood her ground against German soldiers also be a nurturer? Well leave it to a woman to figure out how to be both! Another wonderful scene in the movie is when the gang’s sharpshooter, Charlie, gets too nervous to take out an enemy sniper. While this sets the stage for Diana to save the day, it leaves Charlie with some impending self-doubt. When he then tells the gang that maybe they would be better off without him, Diana steps in saying, “but Charlie, who would sing for us?” This simple act of encouragement, of letting someone know they are loved and wanted, is something women are often gifted at. They have this mind-blowing ability to know exactly what someone needs to hear and how to lift them up when they are down, especially when it comes to men.
Diana Prince is a beautiful portrait of a truly feminist woman. She can do it all, but she does it with the gracefulness of a loving and nurturing woman. These distinctions between men and women should not be something we hide from. They’ve existed for thousands of years and will continue to exist. God created men and women for so much more than to argue over who is better. He created us to take care of this world and glorify Him, and He gave us both distinct characteristics to do so. In fact, without these characteristics, the world would probably be a much crueler place. In order for us to continue doing what we were put here to do, we have to realize that we are not the same people. Men and women are very different, and that is okay because these distinctions make us equally strong, equally capable, and equally powerful. While some of us have yet to see that, in the end it was love that helped Diana save the world, and it is love that will ultimately save us.
About the Authors: This article was cowritten by Brianna Gwin and Daniel Bruce. Brianna is an intern at the Reid Law Firm. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Auburn University. She may be reached at Brianna.reidlawalabama@gmail.com. Daniel is an intern as well and student at Auburn studying Political Science and Economics. Daniel may be reached at Daniel.reidlawalabama@gmail.com. For more information about the Reid Law Firm and its staff, please visit www.reidlawalabama.com.