Wonder Woman's Friends - Downriver Divas
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20 Oct Wonder Woman’s Friends

Posted at 22:53h in tribe by

I love the recent film Wonder Woman!

In my opinion, the most captivating parts of the film, are the beginning scenes in Themyscira, the secret island of the mighty Amazon, all-female warrior clan.  It’s here that Wonder Woman, Diana, is raised by her mother, the Queen of the Amazons and trained in battle by her aunt.  The Amazon clan are amazingly strong and beautiful in a fierce way.  Their acrobatic, graceful and all-around bad-ass training is something seldom viewed in modern culture; women, training women and fighting together.  Watching the scenes on the beautiful island of Themyscira, evoked a sense of empowerment and camaraderie that is similar to the feeling I gain on each Downriver Divas trip.

There is a visceral connection to an ancient wisdom and strength when we work together and have a common goal as women. There is also a freedom gained by the opportunity to revel in all aspects of feminine power; strong yet gentle and fluent, like a mighty river.

In the movie Wonder Woman, Diana and her Amazon clan are whole and complete on their own. Then a plane crashes and Diana comes to the rescue of a drowning WWI pilot who has entered their magical realm.

I do love a good romance story and I appreciate that Diana rescues the pilot, but the story line becomes contrived when Diana decides to accompany the rescued pilot back to his world, the world of mortals, to fight for peace.  The plot careens into a sterile and predictable place, devoid of intrigue as it became the conflict of good vs. evil.

In the end, Wonder Woman completes her journey by defeating the god of war, Ares.  Her love interest pilot, who she’s only known a short time, has sacrificed his life to save the nation and Wonder Woman stands amongst a tattered world experiencing the cessation of war.  She looks amazingly strong in her leather bustier with metal accoutrements; the actress is stunning!

But she is completely alone.

Does this have to be the end of the heroine’s journey?

I’m disappointed by the message that the ultimate sacrifice for a woman standing strong is that she must stand alone.

What if Diana had been able to return to her exotic island of origin.  What if she had the chance to share her story of victory and relish in the friendship, love and camaraderie that made her who she is?   She could celebrate, rejuvenate, and train with her bad-ass clan to march into victory again with her sisters standing behind her; maybe even beside her.

Many iconic heroes have friends; Robinhood has a band of Merrymen, The Lone Ranger has Tonto, Batman has Robin, Harry Potter has Ron Weasley, William Wallace has an entire army of warrior brothers.  Where is Wonder Woman’s girlfriend?  There are some examples of female camaraderie in pop culture.  I applaud the newer series of Tinkerbelle movies in which she has a group of fairy friends to join on adventures.  Nancy Drew and her super sleuth friends Bess and George, are the original can-do sisters.  These examples seem young, however; and there are not many representations of friendship in womanhood.

The underlying message seems to be that once you grow up, you do not need friends.

So far from the truth!

I understand that Diana made a choice to leave her home and it was understood she’d never return if she entered the land of mortals.  What if she, at least, returned to her homeland and her sisterhood tribe in her mind.

This ending would be far more valuable to women and girls today.  A nice dream montage complete with Diana emerging on the shores of a magical island with her Amazon clan of bad-ass sisters greeting her with love and respect.

This is the ending I choose.

I’m not attempting to make a feminist stand.  I love masculine energy and the support and love I experience from my husband and other beautiful men in my life.

I’m merely making a stand for a stronger representation of sisterhood in our culture.

Wonder Woman deserves this and so do all of you!  And so does Hermione, now that I think about it!

You are never alone!  You do not have to isolate yourself and sacrifice the joy, connection and liberation that your tribe of Amazon sisters provides.

It’s always present.

Tapping into a sisterhood world of support is accessible to every woman and a huge part of the mission of Downriver Divas.  Together we are stronger — and we laugh a LOT more too.

With much love and appreciation,

Aimee