Wonder Woman Was Named an Honorary Ambassador to the UN, & Non-Fictional Women Aren't Happy About It

The United Nations drew attention recently when it turned down seven living female candidates for the top position of secretary general—then named the fictional Wonder Woman an Honorary Ambassador. According to The New York Times, the comic book character-turned-ambassador was selected to promote “the empowerment of women and girls.” However, an online petition is quickly proving that empowered is the opposite of how many U.N. staff members are feeling.

The Care2 petition was created by “Concerned United Nations staff members.” The New York Times reports that the group’s ultimate goal is to push Secretary General (and feminist) Ban Ki-moon to pick a new U.N. ambassador because Wonder Woman is not representative of women’s empowerment.

“Wonder Woman was created 75 years ago,” the petition says. “Although the original creators may have intended Wonder Woman to represent a strong and independent 'warrior' woman with a feminist message, the reality is that the character’s current iteration is that of a large breasted, white woman of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a shimmery, thigh-baring body suit with an American flag motif and knee high boots –the epitome of a 'pin-up' girl.”

Wonder Woman's appointment isn't helping people's aggravation over the fact that the U.N.’s next secretary general will, yet again, be a man. The selection of Portugal’s Antonio Guterres over his female competitors leaves the U.N. far from equality in gender representation.

To date, more than a thousand people have pledged their support to the petition.