by Juana Bordas
Wonder Woman was popularized by DC comics in the 1940’s during WWII. She was a woman warrior with power and strength encouraging women to work and support the war effort. Wonder Woman was one of the first icons depicting women as leaders who fought for what was right and just.
Wonder Woman was revitalized 40 years ago for a new generation in the exciting 1975 TV series. A new Wonder Woman movie will be released in June!!!
WONDER WOMAN BROKE THE CHAINS LIMITING WOMEN
During WWII women ran the economy while men went off to fight the good fight. Rosie the Riveter and Wonder Woman were created to change women’s perceptions about what we could accomplish.
Before the 1940’s women were encouraged to stay at home – and told a Woman’s Place is the Home – Women are the weaker sex – it’s a Man’s World.
And yet today we know that a Woman’s place is in the House (and Senate) and in the near future the Big White House. Research shows women are indeed the stronger sex. We live longer; have greater stamina and better health. Mother nature simply would not choose “the weaker sex” to give birth and keep the species going. No way Jose! And as far as this being a man’s world – well I think it’s time to create a world that works for everybody especially women and children.
Wonder Woman broke the old paradigms that limited what a woman can be and do. She was initially depicted as a warrior that fought the evil axis military forces. WOW! Women could see themselves as leaders with power and strength. Wonder Woman also had superhuman powers – two are particularly important for women today.
1. Her lasso of truth forced anyone it captured to obey and tell the truth. Imagine having one of those today – how different would our society would be if our leaders told the truth and obeyed what was good and just.
2. She also had psychic abilities – telepathy and ESP – “Well we women don’t know how we know what we know we just know we know it” It’s our intuition. We have trust this special inner compass. We know what is right for our children, our communities, our country and our future…
What Wonder Woman means to leaders today
In 3 short years we will celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage. Yet 40 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act, women still earn 80 cents to a man’s dollar. Latinas earn 60 cents. 30% of female-headed households are in poverty – and in the richest country in the world – more than 1 in 5 of our children are poor. Today the most common job for women is still secretaries! A woman with a college degree will earn1.2 million less over her lifetime than her male counterparts. And AARP members listen up -elder women are one of the fastest growing poverty groups. Their income is $8,000 a year less than retired men. The US ranks 98th for women’s national political representation – just behind Kenya and Indonesia, and barely ahead of the United Arab Emirates.
Denver – Jan. 21, 2017. Image courtesy of Juana Bordas.
Let the 100th years of women’s right to vote be a call to sustain the momentum of the Women’s March- to revive Wonder Woman leadership and ignite our warrior spirit. It is time to take out our lassos of truth – and to use our array of intuitive abilities to create a just, equitable and inclusive world for our children and grandchildren.
There was another old saying they use to tell women — ” A Woman’s Work is never done!!” Yep that is right! So let’s finish the Job Ladies!! We have the power, we are warriors, we have Wonder Woman leadership!
Juana Bordas is the author of two award winning books: Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age and The Power of Latino Leadership. You can connect with her on Juanabordas.com.