The classic ‘men’s only’ is a theme that has persisted since the dawn of time: look only as far as the modern Gentlemen’s Club. If you remain unconvinced, think then of the typical post-dinner activity in the 1800s of women retreating to the drawing room while men smoked cigars and drank port.
2017 is the time for all social norms to be further challenged. Heavily disputed political climates breed social change, frequently allowing people the gumption to speak their minds.
Wonder Woman is coming at a perfect time
The Wonder Woman movie releases officially on June 2, but one Texas Drafthouse is hosting a screening.
The catch? It’s a women-only screening. The reason for this is to celebrate the pivotal moment in our entertainment history where the “first female Superhero in Warner Bros. DC Universe [gets] her own movie.” It’s about time.
Not only is this exclusive screening a celebration of female superheroes, it’s a celebration of being female. In a world where gender inequality still exists -- and even more so on an intersectional level -- it is terribly important to have a reminder and a uniting of the people who love what you love, and believe what you believe.
The reminder being that womanhood is as essential as manhood, and that a woman can be a savior. In terms of this movie, those important instances are feminine bravery, power, independence, and comics.
This movie is a social necessity
While all of the previously listed ideas remain integral parts of the evolution of American society, there are, without fail, those who feel like the female-only screening is an instance of reverse-sexism. On Facebook, men sarcastically pleaded for a male-only screening of the movie, and wondered if equality is selective.
The Drafthouse handed out suggestions that the commenters rent a screening room, providing a valid solution.
In a world where real women are living out Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and viral body-shaming by exposing vulnerable bodies doesn't result in jail time, moments like the one Alamo Drafthouse Austin are providing seems like a refuge from reality.
The men throwing out the male-centric comments on Facebook fail to realize that they were born with an advantage from the moment that they breathed air, simply because they were not born with female genitalia.
Men have been given movie after movie where a male is the main character, and a male saves the day. Wonder Woman challenges the idea that a female must be saved by a man. The movie also opens the floodgate for more female-led DC or Marvel movie to be produced and to be shown: Catwoman (2004) and Elektra (2005) both acting as predecessors for Wonder Woman.
For many attending this screening of Wonder Woman, the comic books about this “Amazonian princess" who lives on an island without men” who seriously kicks butt previously provided this sacred escape from reality.
It’s about time that these super females get their screen time. It’s only fair after lifetimes of adhering to moments in which women were placed below the male of the species that they get to have the simple pleasure of existing in a female-dominated space — even if it’s only for a movie.