Galstian

Mari Galstian
Professor Beadle
English 115
15 October 2015

Best of Both Worlds

Society shapes each sex with their ideal gender, but does one have to follow what society
expects them to? Societys expectations form these genders, with females being feminine and
males being masculine. In her article, Particia Hill Collins discusses the topic, Hegemonic
Masculinity and Black Gender Identity and Claire Renzettis and Emily W. Kanes article,
From Women, Men, and Society also discusses this topic. Gender expectations can associate
with ones faith and nationality. Kamala, from Wilsons and Alphoras comic book, Ms. Marvel
No Normal, is a Muslim Pakistani American teenager who gains super powers in order for her to
save and prevent her friends from getting themselves into trouble. Kamala transgressed
prescribed gender expectations before she gained super powers because she rebelled against not
only her own culture, but also against the societal norm of femininity. Hence, her resistance was
portrayed in a form of her gaining super powers and taking over the role of a vigilante.
Kamala had always had a masculine side of her, she was not physically masculine but
she had interest in action figures and comic books even before she had gained her superpowers.
Kamala would read comic books that would consist of female characters, such as caption
Marvel. As caption Marvel served as Kamalas idol; she developed a sense of loyalty toward the
heroic character and wished to be as great as her. Her awareness toward caption Marvels comics

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are seen in Ms. Marvel No Normal, first volume when her mother called her down to dinner but
she was too busy reading Caption Marvels comic. Society expects girls to be interested in
Barbies and fairytales, as Renzetti and Curran had stated, The dolls boys were pictured with
were referred to as action figures and included Superheros (Renzetti and Curran 81).
Kamala had adopted these boy traits, thus she was highly interested in comics than girly fairy
tale stories. Kamala did not quite fit into the girl stereotype, that society accepts, but instead she
had encountered one of boys. Not only did she read comics, Kamala also played video games
with her best friend, Bruno. He stated that, Youre the coolest girl Ive ever met, you say what
you mean and kick butt at video games Bruno accepted her for whom she was and did not
care if she did not meet gender expectations (Wilson and Alphona 18). Most might give
reasoning that if she hung out with a girl and did not associate with Bruno, she would not show
such interested towards comic books; instead shed be sassy and be interested in fairytales and
Barbies like most girls. But Kamala should not have to forget her loyal friend in order for her to
be seen as more feminine and socially accepted. It is unusual to see a boy and a girl be just
friends because society will always have them paired up, even if they are not. These friendships
often times do not last as long as expected because society does not accept opposing genders to
be just friends. This might be another reason why Kamala has male traits, because she hangs out
with Bruno and adopts his character. These previously mentioned examples show that Kamalas
character is naturally reformed against the social definition of a female.
Sex differentiations are set by each genders society-based expectations. Kamala came
from a family where there were specific set of rules that one should not cross, rules primarily
based of off religion and status. Kamala neglects these rules at times; such as the time when a
white preppy girl named Zoe invited her to a party, in issue one. As soon as Kamala asked her

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father if she was allowed to attend the party, the first question he asked was where? and if it
was with boys? he had to know who she was going to be out with and what type of people
were going to attend the party on the lakefront in order to make his final decision (Wilson and
Alphona 7). After asking all these questions he did not allow her to attend the party because she
was a teenage girl and teenage girls are not suppose to attend such parties but instead they are
suppose to get their homework out of the way and then watch movies (Wilson and Alphona 8)
as her father said. Kamala was angry and replied back saying; If I was a boy, youd let me go to
the party she was upset with her fathers stereotypical response (Wilson and Alphona 8). These
set of rules were not only associated with her faith and nationality, but they were also associated
with her fathers mentality, which collaborates with their cultural beliefs. Kamala did not obey her
fathers words and snuck out of the house to attend the party on the waterfront. She showed a
great sign of not only disobedience to her father but also to her faith and nationality due to the
fact that his response associated with it. A typical young Muslim Pakistani American lady would
not allow herself to perform such things; sneaking out of the house to attend a party her father
did not allow her to because there were boys, however she thinks her father would have allowed
her if she was a boy. She thought this way because she was raised in a family where the male
figures of the household are seen as royalty. Being raised in a Middle Eastern family, I can
relate to Kamalas response, most Middle Eastern parents allow their sons to do as they please
but their daughters have to follow rules and regulations in order for them not to cross both
societal and cultural boundaries or better yet humiliate their family with their actions outside of
the house. Thus Kamala was born into a Muslim Pakistani family, where women are seen lower,
she was also seen lower by her society members due to her gender, female. Even though Kamala
transgresses and situates herself into a masculine female and attends the party, most might argue

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that she just snuck out only because she wanted to attend a party with her new friend Zoe but
Kamala mentioned to her father that if she were a boy he would have allowed her and due to that
she disobeyed him and attempted to sneak out and show her masculine side; that she too could
go attend the party even though she is a female.
Nonetheless, when she received super powers, Captain Marvel granted her with long
blonde hair and a politically incorrect costume and she wanted to kick butt in giant
wedge heels, as Kamala had asked for (Wilson and Alphona 18). As Renzetti and Curran stated,
Clothing, then, plays a significant part in gender socialization clothing helps differentiate
between genders (Renzetti and Curran 77). Kamala wanted to wear boots, have long blonde hair,
and wear a body suit; her femininity was exposed during this scene due to her orders based on
her physical appearance. Females pay more significance towards their physical appearance.
Hence, Kamalas expression that she wants to dress in this certain way. Since Caption Marvel
was her idol, her attire reflected onto Kamalas. Kamala was not ones typical girly girl when it
comes to her interests but as a female super hero she feminized her appearance in order to
differentiate from male superheroes. By adding feminine accessories to her super hero self,
Kamala would add a feminine twist onto her masculine figure as Ms. Marvel, the super hero.
Women super heroes are always looked down upon because stereotypes shape them this way.
Typically super heroes are males and most of them have simple uniforms, but women super
heroes add accessories to add a twist into the ideal super heros look besides the fact that they are
different sexes. However, regardless of a woman superhero or a standard woman, women have
continually been looked down upon by society; they constantly have to prove themselves to the
society in order for their voice to have some sort of significance in the society. Even though
shed be saving the world she wanted to look great at the same time. This shows how even after

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gaining super powers Kamala is still the same girl that she was, however this time she illustrates
her femininity by proving that even though she rather hang out with boys and play video games,
she still owns the dominant generic qualities that define her as a female.
Furthermore, in the third issue of the Ms. Marvel No Normal, Kamala and her brother,
Aamir, attended a youth lecture at the mosque. During this lecture a wall separated males and the
females and the women were sitting on a lower ground level than the men. Kamala had a hard
time paying attention to the preacher and was caught talking to her friend, Nakia. She later
explained to the preacher, Sheikh Abdullah, that it would be easier if they could actually see him
speaking instead of staring at a blank wall. He replied saying; women are there to preserve
your modesty and dignity women were not allowed to associate with men inside the mosque but
instead to preserve their manners and self- esteem (Wilson and Alphona 48). Kamala would
recognize the great differences set between males and females in the religion she follows. She
was the only girl complaining about the wall separation, unlike the other girls that sat besides
her. She was always different and had the audacity to talk back to a preacher in that way or tone,
not to mention her gender played significant role on how she is not allowed to word her opinion,
especially to a religious figure. It was made obvious that in a Muslim household women do not
serve as the heads of the household and their opinions are neglected. The male of the household
makes all the rules and can speak his mind freely without hesitation. As Collins mentioned in
her article men who seem too closely aligned with women, who lack authority with women
of their racial ethnic group and/or social class, or, worst yet, who seem to be dominated by
women suffer from a loss of manhood men who depend on women or even acknowledge
womens opinions grieve from the loss of manhood (Collins 223). Humanity expects men to be
the ideal protectors of women under any circumstance but if for any reason a women has taken

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over this role the male in their life has no right to call himself a man because he has lost his
gender censorship. One might say that Kamala should change her ways and start being more
respectful toward religious leaders, especially one she follows. Although this maybe true,
Kamala is fighting for her voice to be heard, therefore she takes on these manly traits in order for
her family and friends to understand that she can play both roles and still be a part of the Muslim
society.
Throughout the comic book Kamala shows different sides of herself by carrying both
male and female traits. Not only is she feminine but also she is masculine. She adds a feminine
twist into any of the masculine tasks she takes upon due to her being biologically female. Even
though at times this affects her nationality and religion, Kamala cannot hide her true self in order
to respect both her faith and social status. She had to complete these tasks in her own way in
order for them to suit her. Starting from the beginning of the book, she showed her gender
transgression but her contravention was also present after she gained her super powers. Kamala
does as she likes, by adding her own twist she is able to stand out from the other girls, especially
because she is not the ideal feminine female but instead she shares both traits and uses them
equally; notably this is seen throughout the books text and pictures. She identifies herself as an
equal within her cultural and social life, thereupon her culture and the society should accept her
for who she is.

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Works Cited

Collins, Patricia Hill, Hegemonic Masculinity and Black Gender Ideology. Composing
Gender. Rachael Groner and John F. OHara. New York: Bedford St. Martins, 2014.
222-240. Print.

Curran, Daniel and Renzetti, Claire, Women, Men, and Society. Composing Gender. Rachael
Groner and John F. OHara. New York: Bedford St. Martins, 2014. 76-87. Print.

Wilson, G. Willow, Alphona Adrian, Ms. Marvel, No normal, volume 1-5, Marvel Worldwide
Inc., (2015). Print.