Amber Love 30-MAR-2012 It’s National Cleavage Day a “holiday” started by the Wonderbra company. Can you embrace the fun and still speak out against sexism? I say yes.

Women have many issues with their own bodies and the bodies they see. When I “sprouted,” at first I loved my breasts because they looked great. Then I tried doing activities like a sport or yoga or shopping for clothes; I also got the shoulder and back pain common with large breasts. I began to hate them and wanted them reduced.

I’m back to loving my own breasts because it’s one of the few areas of my body that I don’t hate. It’s still hard to shop for clothes or do yoga/activities. The fact that throughout time, I’ve had a roller coaster relationship with my body means something – at least to me – that today, I have some comfort level with at least one body part.

Yes, I see sexism in SOME comics but certainly not in all. And I’m fine pointing out which titles someone might prefer if they don’t want to see characters that look like Starfire. I’m glad someone on twitter brought up the question about people tweeting their cleavage but being advocates against abundant sexism in comics because I think it can be explained. That person has a protected account and I love her feed so I’m not about to link to a protected user.

You may not know the story behind a woman’s pride in her own body parts. Maybe she had a cancer scare. Maybe she was raised to be ashamed of her body. You don’t know. I’m glad there are some people who are willing to talk about it. Despite the fact that there isn’t a Wonderbra out there I could buy in my size, I don’t feel degraded posting pictures of my cleavage.

I don’t think it’s required that women be modest buttoned up to the neck with skirt hemlines at the ankles in order to be a proponent of comics that include modest female characters. Recently, I interviewed the creators of CRAZY MARY where we discuss some great female characters that are relatable characters, strong women, flawed in personality and capable of doing great things. Rather than ALWAYS pointing out where the comics industry fails women, I think it’s more important to bring light to the projects that succeed. It’s usually comics you’ve never heard of and that’s what’s sad. If you know of a comic book that does an adequate job of including a female character or two that is more than fanboy fap fodder, please help promote that book.

Some Reading Suggestions:

  • * Fallen Angel by Peter David and J.K. Woodward
  • * Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn and Pia Guerra
  • * Batwoman by J.H.Williams and Amy Reeder
  • * Lady Mechanika by Joe Benitez and Peter Steigerwald
  • * Girl Genius by Phil Foglio
  • * Athena Voltaire by Steve Bryant
  • * Love and Capes by Thom Zahler
  • * Madame Xanadu by Matt Wagner
  • * Twilight Guardian by Troy Hickman
  • * Womanthology  

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