Geek Heroines: An Encyclopedia of Female Heroes in Popular Culture by Walsh Karen M.;

Author:Walsh, Karen M.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ABC-CLIO
Published: 2019-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

JESSICA JONES

In 2015, Netflix introduced the world to Jessica Jones. However, female geeks knew her long before and raced to binge the streaming show. Jessica Jones, the superheroine sleuth, owns a private investigation firm, Alias Investigations. Tough as nails, with a drinking problem reminiscent of a noir film detective, Jessica offers female geeks a heroine outside the traditional hypersexualized narrative. As an antihero, Jessica Jones joins the other female geek heroines by presenting a progressive narrative that enables women to view themselves differently.

Created by Brian Michael Bendis in 2001, the original series ran for twenty-eight issues. The book opens with three panels. The first shows a closed door with a single expletive. The second contains a woman smoking a cigarette while a man reuses the expletive. The third includes the character’s inner monologue while readers see the man and a woman’s hand with a cigarette burning. Two text boxes in the bottom right hand corner introduce readers to Jessica Jones as she thinks, “Hands down—the single worst part of my gig. Sitting quietly through their emotional roller coaster” (Bendis 2001). In that first page, Bendis defines Jessica Jones as a female antiheroine outside the traditional gender norms. A female detective who hates the emotional entanglements of her job, Jessica is paradigmatically different from honorable heroines like Wonder Woman.

Hinting at her past, a picture on her desk shows a pink-haired, smiling woman standing with the Avengers, standing with Captain Marvel. However, the broken former superheroine adamantly denies any connection to the heroic group. Jessica sums up her past with the Avengers by responding to a detective’s question by saying, “Just not me.” In a conversation with Steve Rogers, Jessica shares that she walked away from the Avengers because she lacked the illusive “thing” that inspires, yet Rogers tells her that her decision to protect him at his most vulnerable moment proves she deserves to be with the Avengers. Although she rejects the past in words, her actions prove her to be heroic in nature. This self-doubt, prevalent in many women, represents the power within that many women cannot see in themselves. Despite her superstrength and ability to fly, Jessica feels unworthy of protecting herself and others.

This lack of self-worth arises from her past abuse. Mind-controlled by villain Zebedia Killgrave, known as the Purple Man, Jessica attempted to murder Daredevil on his behalf. Instead of Daredevil, however, she attacked the Scarlet Witch. Haunted by her actions, Jessica’s abuse leads her down a path of self-destructive behavior. In the first issue of Alias, she engages in sex as an escape, telling readers that she just wants to feel something. Jessica’s drinking and sexual activities exemplify the way emotional and sexual abuse can lead to destructive behaviors. Overlaying a #MeToo movement lens atop the story lines further entrenches her as a heroine representing many women who have overcome similar abusive relationships.

The Me Too Movement

In 2006, Tarana Burke coined the phrase “Me Too” when she created her Me Too Movement organization for women and girls of color who were rape survivors.

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