Wonder Woman named a special UN ambassador, despite protests

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations celebrated Wonder Woman’s 75th birthday on Friday (Oct 21) by naming the comic book character as its new Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Woman and Girls, despite frustration from both inside and outside the world organization that the spot should go to a real — and less sexualised — woman.

The carefully choreographed ceremony was marred by some 50 UN staffers protesting by the visitors’ entrance to the UN, who then went inside the Economic and Social Council chamber and silently turned their back to the stage during the opening speech, some with their fists in the air.

UN staffer Cass DuRant, who held a sign saying “Real Women Deserve a Real Ambassador”, said the protesters “don’t think that a fictitious comic book characters wearing basically what looks like a Playboy-type bunny outfit is really the right message we need to send to girls or even boys for that matter.” 

The super heroine’s image will be used by the UN on social media platforms to promote women’s empowerment, including on gender-based violence and the fuller participation of women in public life (using the hashtag WithWonderWoman). The push, hoping to reach young people, is backed by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros, which produce both comics and films featuring Wonder Woman.

But an online petition , started by UN staffers, asked the secretary-general to reconsider the appointment, saying, “The message the United Nations is sending to the world with this appointment is extremely disappointing.” As of Friday afternoon (Oct 21), it had more than 1,100 signatures.

Honorary ambassadors — as opposed to goodwill ambassadors like Nicole Kidman and Anne Hathaway — are fictional characters. The UN previously tapped Winnie the Pooh to be an honorary Ambassador of Friendship in 1998, and Tinker Bell as the honorary Ambassador of Green in 2009. But the protest on Friday seemed to unnerve many of the UN’s press officers. 

The Friday event brought together actress Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series, and Gal Gadot, who has taken on the role in the forthcoming Wonder Woman film, as well as Girl Scouts in Wonder Woman T-shirts and UN staffers’ kids who skipped school, with one girl wearing a full Wonder Woman costume, complete with head piece. Ms Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment, gave a speech in which she argued that stories — even comic book stories — can “inspire, teach and reveal injustices”.

Ms Carter, who gave a moving speech about how Wonder Woman embodies the inner strength of every woman, was the only one to acknowledge the protesters in her remarks, saying “Please embrace her,” she said. “To all those who don’t think it’s a good idea, stand up and be counted.”

As for Ms Gadot, she said after the event: “I’m the kind of person who always looks at the half-full glass. I care for the people who care and I’m here for a wonderful cause today.” She added, through a thin smile: “That’s all what my focus is.”

But among those thinking the glass was half empty was Ms Shazia Z Rafi, managing director of the consulting firm Global Parliamentary Services. She argued that the choice of Wonder Woman was tone deaf at a time when real women are fighting against sexual exploitation and abuse.

“I think it’s a lot of rubbish that you can appoint a cartoon female to represent gender equality in this day and age, even if it is to reach younger women,” said Ms Rafi. 

Ms Rafi said there were plenty of real heroines that could be the face for gender equality.

The Wonder Woman appointment came after many women were dismayed that another man, Mr Antonio Guterres, the former prime minister of Portugal, was chosen to be the next secretary-general, even though more than half the candidates were women. 

Ms Rafi, who had campaigned for a woman to be appointed the world’s diplomat-in-chief, said the decision to name Wonder Woman as an ambassador was effort to appease disappointed staffers.

Ms Rafi and the petition also take issue with Wonder Woman’s skimpy outfit, arguing that the world might not embrace a scantily clad character in a thigh-baring body suit with an American flag motif and knee high boots.

It is not the first time the United Nations has partnered with a huge media company. In March, the UN appointed Red, the leader of the Angry Birds mobile game characters, as an envoy to tackle climate change. That campaign is in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment. AP