Chachula

Lauren Chachula
Prof. Beadle
English 115
8 December 2015
From Normal to Heroine
Through time we are progressively leaning towards a more equalized society on the basis
of gender expectations and what that equality initially entails. This can be seen in the comic
Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona, where the protagonist Kamala challenges
this ideal when she gains super powers and becomes a super hero. Superheroes are generally
portrayed by brute male characters. But, by becoming a super hero does that mean that Kamala is
breaking the barrier of female inferiority or just merely scratching the surface on trying to be
seen as a strong woman? In many aspects it is easily arguable that Kamala does in fact break
the norm of female expectations by attaining super powers. This is evident due to the fact that
Kamala is still seen as weak due to her being female but proves those who make this assumption
wrong, the ability that she is able to become the protector rather than the protected, the way that
when she has her super powers she attacks the idea that women should not be seen as weak
compared to men, and that Kamala breaks societies ideal woman focus. Due to these reasons,
Kamala does in fact transgress gender norms by attaining super powers.
In the comic, it is made aware that Kamala is required to stay within a small box of
female expectation in order to be secure.. This idea of women not being able to go out due to
others fear of them getting hurt, can be seen when Abu tells Kamala that Its not safe for a
young girl to be out late at night with strange boys (Wilson & Alphona 4). In which Kamala
replies that If I were a boy you would let me got to the party (Wilson & Alphona 4). Abus

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remark brought up the point that women are viewed as too frail compared to men, thus women
must be safe and men can do practically whatever they desire. Abu tends to have this reoccurring
theme of trying to keep Kamala submissive which can be seen when Kamalas father exclaims
My precious Kamala has suddenly become a reckless, disobedient girl I barely recognize
(Wilson & Alphona 37). By stating this the father is unintentionally showing that he views
women to be obedient and safe at all times. Although it might not have been his intention, one
can view it as a strike on gender expectations and what he expects of women. By Kamala
gaining super powers she is not only able to protect herself but others as well rather than relying
on a strong protective male character to keep her out of harms way like the men in her family.
This same ideal that submissiveness starts in the family is visible in Hegemonic
Masculinity and Black Gender Ideology by Patricia Hill Collins when it is written that The
theme of female submissiveness also shapes private, domestic sphere activities of family and
community. (Collins 234). Female submissiveness starts in the family thus by the father
making constant female submissive remarks, he is adding to the societal issue of women being
seen as weak and inferior to the brute-ness of man. As women we are brought up to be obedient
and to listen to the man, Kamalas father shows thats also how he raised her and is acting
according to how Kamala is acting out of character for he raised her to be just that way. And the
idea that women are suppose to act in that way in order to be accepted. But, what if the roles
were to be reversed?
Kamala is seen as starting to take on a role mostly portrayed as manly, being a
protector. It is common knowledge that when in a dangerous situation, the man or men involved
are the ones to be strong and protect a woman if need be. This is due to the fact that women are
seen as damsels in distress. Even if the man is afraid himself, he must put it aside because of

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not only societal expectation, but also the womens expectation of the man. This can be seen on
pages 28-31 when Kamala saves Zoe because the male character, being Josh, is under the
influence and thus cannot perform the act himself. Kamala challenged this when she says to
Bruno that You protect me from stuff all the time but now Im is the stronger one and Im
going to protect you and that totally freaks you out (Wilson & Alphona 74). Kamala is aware
of her new found strength and thus feels as though it is her turn to crawl from the lower part of
the societal hierarchy to the top and take on the role of a man. This idea of a man more
accurately defined as being analytical, responsible, willing to exert authority, all qualities that
women seemingly lack (Collins 226). By gaining super powers Kamala feels empowered and
that now since she is strong enough to assume a mans role and protect anyone who needs it,
such as Bruno and her friends. By gaining super powers it is showing that men are supposedly
the ones with super powers not literally but figuratively and women are seen as inferior or not
capable of meeting that generalized male stature. Since Kamala gains super powers she is able to
be seen as being capable of a mans duty that, where as, without the super powers, she would not
be able to. She becomes stronger but is still seen as being just a strong woman.
Kamala becomes a stronger being but isnt viewed as such due to her gender. This is
seen when the inventor crosses Kamalas path and due to her physique and gender he sees her
as a less capable opponent but due to this misstep of societal expectation he is proven wrong to
assume and base his view off of societal categorization of gender roles. This can be seen when
Doyle states that theres no back exit bendy girl. The only way out of here is through me and
my kitties (Wilson & Alphona 95). By stating this, Doyle is nonchalantly stating that he simply
views Kamala as a bendy girl and his casual remark that they must fight makes a slight jab at
how that, since she is a girl, he views her as less competition compared to him. It is not unknown

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that when a man and woman are put in a fighting situation, most expect the man to win due to
their gender being categorized as having strong physique, brutal tendencies, and violent behavior
where as women are categorized as weak, fragile, and peaceful beings. Thus, due to this lens, it
is a common misconception that women are less likely to win due to unfair circumstance. This
misconception is initially brought up at a young age in children due to parental interactions. In
from Women, Men, and Society by Claire Renzetti and Daniel Curran it is stated that in a
study, researchers found that adults tended to respond to boys when they forced attention
by being aggressive where as similar attempts by girls were usually ignored (Renzetti &
Curran 78). By reacting this way, it creates a disconnect between the two genders by creating a
gender expectation which both Kamala, and Doyle portray in this scene. Kamala is seen as lesser
due to being a girl and being more gentle where as Doyle being a white male, views himself as
better based on societies perception of the two opponents and thus acts as though he is superior
to Kamala. When it comes to societies view on women, appearance plays a large role.
Likewise, Kamala attacks societies portrayal of what a beautiful woman is, being
[a] young wom[a]n, with milky white skin, long blonde hair, and slimed figures [which] were
deemed to be the most beautiful (Collins 232). On page 42 the male officer describes Ms.
Marvel as Tall, blonde, with the bigpowers (Wilson & Alphona 42). Thus emphasizing
the appeal in appearance of Ms. Marvel by drawing out the big aspect insinuating that he was
going to say something perhaps vulgar shows how looks and body can play a large part as to how
one is seen by others. Kamala breaks this ideal through time, one cant say initially because on
page 20 she is seen as just that, a tall, slim blonde. But, as the story progresses, she abandons this
alter ego and resembles herself rather then what society deems acceptable and beautiful. This
is shown on page 50 where as instead of being seen as her usual tall blonde self, she still looks

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like herself, meaning she still sports her normal brown hair, plumper figure and shorter height as
oppose to her shape-shifting blonde self. She also denies societies exploitation of women by
changing her once promiscuous costume to a more body covering outfit. As Collins states,
femininity isfocused on womens bodies (Collins 232). Thus, it is only natural for
Kamalas initial costume to be more scandalous then most getups, which is seen on page 20
where she is wearing a skin-tight leotard, thigh high heeled boots, and a cape around her waist.
This outfit is viewed as risqu which is emphasized when Kamala encounters a homeless man
who tells her to put some pants on (Wilson & Alphona 34). Kamala changes her costume on
page 50 to a more suitable and rational fight-crime outfit where she has a fanny pack, leggings,
combat boots, long sleeve shirt and a dress. This new change is much more reasonable for
someone trying to fight wrong doers where as the other seemed irrational and ineffective. The
first outfit seemed as though it were intended more for looks rather than for sustainability. It
plays with the idea that society values the way something looks rather than its use. Generally,
society tends to judge a book by its cover which can be seen with Kamala first attire. Kamala
herself states that with the first outfit the boots pinch and the leotard is giving [Kamala] an
epic wedgie (Wilson & Alphona 33). By achieving super powers Kamala transgresses societies
idea of a perfect woman where as, if she did not achieve them, she would most likely not have
intervened. Although, some may argue that Kamalas shape shifting into a tall, blonde, slim
woman in the beginning causes one to view her atonement of super powers to be more obedient
to society rather than transgressive, it is arguable that due to her changing this image later on, she
does in-fact breach that gender expectation and even perseveres beyond it. By initially turning
into what society views as beautiful and then changing that display back to her normal self,

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Kamala challenges societal view and attacks it head on from changing from what society wants
to what she personally wants.
Society has a tendency to reflect on others values by warping their perception and forcing
the idea that gender must act a certain way in order to be an accepted member in ones society
and community whether it be general, or racial. Most tend to turn a blind eye to this effect rather
than take it at face value and challenge the ideas and reasoning behind certain gender
categorizations. These aspects can be seen in both from Women, Men, and Society by Claire
Renzetti and Daniel Curran and Hegemonic Masculinity and Black Gender Ideology by
Patricia Hill Collins. Moreover, in the comic Ms. Marvel, the protagonist Kamala Khan does this
by infringing upon general gender expectations through the gaining of super powers. She does
so by proving those who view her as lesser based on her gender wrong, by becoming the
protector rather than the protected, by advancing the idea that women should not be viewed as
inferior, and by breaking societies ideal woman focus. It is not wrong to view Kamala Khans
transgression as exemplary and brave but, one must think, why do we live in a society where the
only way to bypass gender norms is to achieve something that, realistically is unachievable? We
as a whole must change our ethics on gender roles in order to progress past the close-mindedness
that plaques our lives. Kamala Khan in a fictional story was able to do so, so why not make that
fantasy, a reality?

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Works Cited

Collins, Patricia Hills. Hegemonic Masculinity and Black Gender Ideology. Composing
Gender. Ed. Rachael Groner and John OHara.. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2014. Print.

Renzetti, Claire. Curran, Daniel Women, Men, and Society by Composing Gender. Ed.
Rachael Groner and John OHara.. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2014. Print.

Willow, Adrian Alphona, Ian Herring, and Joe Caramanga. Ms. Marvel. Vol. 1. New York:
MARVEL WORLDWIDE, 2015. Print.