By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
'Wonder Woman' powerful for young women and young men
cd7a108c190937aeb2602bd7b6f0c68e2883e70ef919d57187ed7b2d11399237
Amy Rees Anderson (left) and Chris Pine at the U.S. premiere of "Wonder Woman" in Los Angeles on May 25. Pine plays Steve Trevor in the new movie, which was released on June 2. - photo by Kaitlyn Bancroft
Wonder Woman is a traditionally feminist icon, teaching young women that theyre capable, courageous, and strong but to lifelong Wonder Woman fan Jacki Zehner, the new Wonder Woman movies message is just as valuable to young men.

(The movie is), in some ways, a more important film for boys and men than it is for women and girls, Zehner said.

Zehner is a co-founder of Women Moving Millions, a philanthropic organization that donates to womens programs, and a founder of Utah Wonder Women, a professional networking organization that brings "together successful women from all walks of life to connect with each other and inspire the next generation of leaders, according to its website. She also said shes been collecting any and all Wonder Woman paraphernalia for the last 20 years everything from T-shirts, toothbrushes and scissors to the first issue of Ms. Magazine. And if all of that wasn't enough, in 2012, Zehner wrote a 70-page report on why Wonder Woman deserved her own movie. Seeing the U.S. premiere of the new feature film in Los Angeles with friend and entrepreneur Amy Rees Anderson last month was a long time coming.

However, amidst discussion of Wonder Woman currently portrayed on the big screen by Gal Gadot as a role model for girls, Zehner referenced the movies male lead, Steve Trevor (played by Chris Pine), and said he teaches young men that being vulnerable is being strong.

You want to be Steve Trevor as much as you want to be Wonder Woman, Zehner said. ... (Hes this) strong, gorgeous, amazing male who shows vulnerability, who is in the presence of literally Wonder Woman, and holds his own space in the most respectable way, so its challenging gender norms on both sides.

In addition, ... Most films that show sensitive guys, theyre portrayed as being weak or as being wimps This is not true for Steve Trevors character, Zehner said. He is a strong man with a strong woman, and shows vulnerability in a powerful way.

Amy Rees Anderson, founder of REES Capital and the IPOP Foundation, agreed that the film matters just as much to young men as it does to young women.

(Steve Trevor) was not at all intimidated or threatened by (Wonder Woman) being strong, Anderson said. ... The reason he loved her was because she was strong and courageous and all of those things and I think thats good for the young men because a lot of time the young men out there are taught Oh, youre supposed to be more capable than women. Its not about whos more capable.

Anderson is also a lifelong Wonder Woman fan and avid memorabilia collector who connected with Zehner through their mutual love for Wonder Woman. Her collection began with her career nearly 20 years ago, when she began keeping a Wonder Woman doll on her desk to remind herself that she was capable of being an entrepreneur.

I would step aside and in my mind kind of close my eyes and say OK, you are Wonder Woman going into this meeting, and do this, just be her while youre in there, and come out (and) be yourself again, Anderson said. ... Id always have some Wonder Woman paraphernalia around because theres always those moments that youre like Oh, am I capable of doing this? If I wasnt, she was, so thats what I would do.

That message of believing in ones own capability is not exclusive to either sex, Anderson said.

(Wonder Woman) is just a strong woman, and its not her against anybody else, Anderson said. ... We have different talents as men and women, but theyre equally important and were both equally capable.

Ultimately, Zehner said, Wonder Woman is about standing for something and making a difference.

She (stands) for truth, she (stands) for justice, she (stands) for doing the right thing always and she (stands) for love, Zehner said. I want to live in a world where every person knows (they) can be smart and strong and powerful and kind and all the things that Wonder Woman is.