Athletic Women Blog

Doubtless people visiting this blog sometimes ask themselves, "Why so much talk about superheroines?" My short answer: Because they matter.

Long(er) answer: Superheroines both reflect and shape our culture, our values, our priorities. Consequently, their correct depiction is important (which is what I harp most about). If female superheroes aren't given the same reverence and respect that male superheroes get, we as a society show ourselves wanting right along with them.

The new documentary Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines is premiering this week at the SXSW Film Festival. Hopefully, it will make its way around the country and over my way soon—looks interesting:

I believe it. Way to go girls!


(Video by Strongman Athletics)

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

In another story for the Mrs. Grundy files, a high-school administrator bans a coed bodybuilding contest, saying that she doesn't want the school associated with "scantily clad women."

This is, of course, foolish on many levels. But why is it that men can wear next to nothing without anyone saying a word against it, yet women get scorn to no end for wearing as much or more?

If this doesn't put to rest the canard that women can't be strong, like really strong, then nothing will. Former basketball standout Nikki Rouillard in an impressive display of strength:

Dancing with the Stars has wisely given us a good reason to watch this fall.

Who better to channel Esther Williams than Natalie Coughlin? The connection is so obvious: two fantastically gifted athletes in the same sport, and camera friendly as she is, we should expect that someday Natalie will have a movie career to match Esther's as well.

So, recently Natalie took on the role of Esther Williams with the help of award-winning make-up artist Melanie Mills. The results, needless to say, are stunning. What is more, the photo shoot was itself eventful, as seen in this cleverly edited footage:

Theater, arm wrestling, philanthropy—three things that don't often come to mind together. But in toto they do describe CLAW (Charlottesville Lady Arm Wrestlers, or more generally, Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers), as seen in the group's About page:

About

CLAW is a loose (and we do mean loose) affiliation of superbad women arm wrestling each other to raise money for women-initiated causes. We used to hold tournaments once a month at Blue Moon Diner until we got too big. Now we’re aiming for every 2-3 months. We are committed to supporting our community in and around Charlottesville, Virginia.

We have a facebook page, where you can become a fan and get all the latest CLAW news and updates.

Our Official Mission

CLAW exists to empower all women and strengthen communities through theater, arm wrestling, and philanthropy.

I learned about CLAW from Brian Wimer, who is making a documentary about it ("the revolution currently happening in women's arm wrestling"). The project's Kickstarter video gives a sense of the fun and madness that takes place at a CLAW event:

I think it a shame that Angela Bassett hasn't been given more action roles. Truly she is everything you could want in an action star: a great actor with commanding physical presence.

In 1995 Bassett was given one opportunity to flex her muscles, in Strange Days (a sci-fi film that deserves more than the scant attention it has received). Here she tosses co-star Ralph Fiennes into a wall, and the action looks seamless, because you sense that in real life she could:

A phrase I'm quite tired of repeating—we'll have to wait to see a live-action Wonder Woman.

Except this time, though I'm pained to say it, it's probably for the best. From casting right through to the writing it was becoming evident that this was going to be a weak, light-headed (the typical Hollywood treatment given to heroines) presentation of the classic superhero.

It is better that Wonder Woman retain some of her majesty and live to fight another day.

This ably crafted tribute to female athletes was created by VashtisVoice. You might find it inspiring. I did—the music notwithstanding:

Version 1.0 of the new Wonder Woman outfit didn't go over so well. That being the case, Wonder Woman producers and NBC have made a few tweaks.

Just to refresh your memory, here is the before image:



And now the latest, as seen during filming in LA last week:



I'll let the fashion police judge the design's merits as just that, fashion, since Wonder Woman's fashion sense doesn't rate a high concern with me. But there has been analysis combining both aesthetic and functional issues, like Sequential Tart's, that is worthwhile. And I do think it odd that they put Wonder Woman in pants but didn't bother to put straps on her top. Pants rarely ease movement, and sturdy legs can be a sign of power. Having the additional concern that your top might fall off while fighting the bad guys, however, seems more a problem.

Nor do I think much about whether Adrianne Palicki is "beautiful" enough or whether she compares favorably with Lynda Carter. My only concern regarding imagery is that she be convincing as a formidable heroine and potent as a symbol of physical strength to girls and women, nay, to all of us.

Watching the NCAA basketball tournament yesterday, I caught this segment from ESPN's Sport Science. Pretty cool! It is wonderful to see a female athlete spotlighted for her redoubtable athleticism; and thankfully, that happens much more often nowadays:

It's not as though in popular culture girls and women have symbols of strength to spare. Perhaps if they did what David E. Kelley and NBC are doing to Wonder Woman wouldn't be quite as hurtful. The new Wonder Woman costume, as it will be worn by the actress playing Wonder Woman, was revealed Friday (in truth, probably floated as a trial balloon). Does this give you the impression of a super-strong heroine?



I suspect it doesn't. Indeed, it seems not to have for hundreds of commenters at EW.com, Facebook, and elsewhere:

Leo: "I agree! I do hate the costume, but I think she should be more toned. She looks frail and way to thin. This looks way too pin up and less Female Empowerment. This costume makes Linda Carter’s look like a pair of military fatigues."

Shaa-chan: "I agree 100%! I don’t ask much, she doesn’t have to look like a bodybuilder or anything, I would just like her to look like she has strength at all!"

Wilhemina: "Holy crap. Cheap Halloween costume-meets XXX parody costuming meets the tranny Kardashian. And those boobs are obviously, distractingly fake. Looks cheap all around. To think that this is comics’ premiere female hero. While Supes and Bats get big-budget films, reboots, and Oscar-winning franchises, the alleged third part of DC’s comic Trinity gets a crappy Ally McBeal Meets Smallville TV Pilot that already looks like a disaster."

Lisa: "I completely agree. I am so disappointed,because Wonder Woman was my favorite growing up. I watched the series religiously and even had a Wonder Woman Barbie. I was excited to be able to introduce my young daughter to an empowering female superhero….guess I’ll have to look elsewhere."

Still, we need to make absolutely certain this great heroine isn't ruined by Hollywood hacks. So, if you think it important that media represent women as athletes and physically capable beings, and I assume readers of this blog do, make your voice heard as well. Join the fight!

March is Women's History Month. Right in line, literally and figuratively, with this year's theme ("Our History is Our Strength") is David Chapman and Patricia Vertinsky's new book, Venus with Biceps: A Pictorial History of Muscular Women.

I can't review Venus with Biceps in this post, as I haven't gotten my hands on a copy yet (though it seems to get generally positive reviews—even the New Yorker). Its having been published alone warrants attention here—for books exploring this neglected and marginalized aspect of women's lives and history are few and far between. Put this special book in your to-read list.

I couldn't resist sharing this wonderfully done tribute to Angela Mao. A star in many 1970s martial arts films, Mao is sometimes regarded as the first world-famous female action star. It may only be the movies, but prodigious martial arts skills are on display here: