Andrew Wheeler

First, it tells us women must always fulfil a sexual role in order to have value. Yes, one can be sexy and ALSO be other things, but if you can never NOT be sexy, sexiness must be fundamental to your value, and that's demeaning.

Second, it suggests that the women in these stories lack agency. They do not dress for themselves; they dress for the eyes of a reader. Fictional worlds are always contrived, yes, but putting all women in sexy costumes creates the impression that all women are objects.

Third, it robs these women of individuality. Costume speaks to character. If every woman, from spy to assassin to pilot, leaps into battle in a breast-cupping skin suit that titillates the straight male gaze, that erodes these characters' unique personalities.

Let's assume that aaaaall of these women had the same idea about wanting to dress sexy, because sometimes people want to dress sexy, and that's OK. Why do they all have the same idea about what sexy looks like? Some women feel most sexy in a tux.

Fourth, it reinforces inequality. Male characters do not all have to wear sexy costumes. Well, why not? If sexy costumes are harmless fun, surely it's just MORE harmless fun if Batman fights crime in assless chaps and Captain America dons a star-spangled jock?

Or... is that not fun? Would it make some fans uncomfortable if the art always drew your eye to Batman's pert naked ass or Cap's muscular inner thighs? Would that feel... cheapening? Most artists still never even draw a dick bulge! Why do you think that is?

(Namor is maybe the only high profile male hero who wears a sexy costume, but evidently there's some insecurity about whether even HE can be taken seriously enough if he just wears speedos, because writers and artists frequently put him in more modest costumes.)

"Butts", I hear you say, because I always hear the word "butts"; "butts Andrew, aren't male heroes all buff dudes in skintight costumes?" No, they're not, but I understand your point. Generally speaking, male costumes afford heroes more dignity than female costumes.

Male costumes are typically LESS revealing than those of male tennis players. Female costumes are typically MORE revealing than those of female tennis players. And that's a sport with a sexist dress code! What does that tell you?

Now, as it happens, I agree that liking sex and sexy things is okay. It's not for everyone, but it's definitely a thing. And I think that sex, glamour, and beauty have a place in superhero comics. "Sexy" is something the genre does well.

Also, I'm a queer person; I have more reason than any straight dude to bristle at the idea of policing peoples' desires, because I'm the canary in your coal mine there. (That's not a sex thing, unless you want it to be.) My sexual freedom is much more fragile than yours.

I'm not asking for censorship. Sexual content is an important part of a balanced media diet, so long as it's not ubiquitous or dehumanising. In fact, our media should cater to and encourage a diverse range of sexual interests!

But look at these toxic ideas: Your value is tied to your sex appeal. You have no agency. You have no individuality. You are not entitled to equality. These are the insidious messages that are conveyed when all female heroes are presented as sexy.

And these messages are not just in superhero comics! Women face these messages throughout their lives, in much of the media they consume! Fellas, just imagine being told these things in every movie, every show, every ad, every music video. It would get you down.

It's not "harmless and fun and no real persons get hurt". You say you don't like being made to feel like a "horrible person" for liking these costumes. Imagine if all the media you consumed was telling you you're worthless, every day. Is that something you want to perpetuate?

You're not a horrible person for enjoying sexy costumes on female heroes. But if sexy costumes are so ubiquitous that they leave people feeling demeaned and excluded, and you decide you're okay with that, then you need to know; that's horrible.

Postscript: A lot of very similar comments are coming in saying "you're ignoring lesbians, you homophobe", so presumably a redditor somewhere has decided this is the killer rejoinder for this conversation. No, brah; superhero comics is ignoring them, not me.

I'm acknowledging that these heroes are styled for the straight male gaze. If you think queer women should be grateful to be along for that ride, that's not the progressive talking point you think it is. Superheroes for queer women would be a lot more diverse.