The King’s Women: Black Panther and Female Empowerment
For today’s Musings Monday, yes, I’m still talking about Black Panther. Though it’s entertaining, this movie also made me think. And since the Oscars just aired, the movie happens to still be relevant. Plus, I have one last angle to explore before moving on to something else. If you haven’t read them yet and are interested, here are parts one, two, and three in my Black Panther blog series.
Before I dig in to today’s topic, I want to say congratulations to everyone involved with Black Panther’s production. At the time of this posting, Black Panther just won three different Oscars, which is more than any other superhero film to date.
If you haven’t seen it yet, you can buy or rent it here on Amazon [Full disclosure: This is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases].
Celebrating this success, and commemorating the last Monday of Black History Month, and to lead in to the beginning of March—Women’s History Month—today, our focus shifts to the women.
The Role of Women in Wakanda
As we’ve discussed previously, Wakanda is a near-perfect nation anyone would want to be a part of. Its citizens are free from restraint or oppression, and they have full access to their “vibranium”—symbolic for raw beauty, creativity, and ingenuity. This natural resource is harnessed by Wakanda’s culture and all its inhabitants to create its dreamlike utopia.
An integral aspect of this utopia is its treatment and empowerment of women.
Wakanda sets a unique example for the world. It’s no secret that women have a history of being mistreated. This oppression can be as blatant as forced marriages treating women like property or as subtle as social structures that limit women’s roles in society to be in relation to her family and husband. Black Panther subverts these common themes by placing women in powerful roles that extend beyond stereotypes.
This is particular to three characters.
One: Nakia—The King’s Support
“I never freeze,” said T’Challa, before his onscreen reunion with Nakia—a reunion during which he promptly freezes. But this freeze-inducing spy is more than a superhero’s love interest. And she’s not a personality-less princess bending to her prince’s every whim.
What I like about Nakia is her willingness to stand up to T’Challa. When you think of a monarchy, most people would assume it’s like a dictatorship where the subjects are subjugated to the ruler’s every fancy. Wakanda’s kingdom, however, is markedly different.
T’Challa can take criticism. He doesn’t see Nakia’s disagreement as a threat, either. Nakia and T’Challa’s chemistry is more than just romantic; it’s empowered by a real give-and-take relationship of two equals.
Nakia doesn’t serve her king out of compulsion, and she doesn’t bend to pressure. She fights for what she believes in, and is willing to do so beyond Wakanda and without T’Challa’s help if necessary. She wants what’s best for Wakanda, and doesn’t do anything out of personal gain. Instead of taking the heart-shaped herb for herself, she was willing to give it to M’Baku, because she knew it would be best for Wakanda.
Nakia is an amazing support to T’Challa because she’s treated as an equal, and she has the moral fortitude and integrity to serve him in a way that shows her love as a person. Her loyalty is beautiful because it stems from empowerment and not out of duty or subjugation.
Two: Okoye and the Dora Milaje—The King’s Protection
The Dora Milaje are one of the coolest aspects of Wakanda’s culture and government. Equal parts secret service and special forces, these elite warriors are the ultimate symbol of female empowerment. Okoye, their leader, is fierce and faithful to Wakanda, even above her sketchy husband (am I the only one who doesn’t like W’Kabi?).
Now, I know many people with traditional views on gender roles may be uncomfortable with women in the military, let alone women serving in the front lines with the superhero-king. What happened to chivalry? What happened to “Never hit a girl”?
Yes, it is noble for men to put their lives on the line to protect the women and children. For Christians, some of this attitude comes from biblical gender roles, where husbands are instructed to love their wives like Christ loved the church.
But there is a problem with grouping women with children: Women aren’t children.
If you group them together too much, you may end up limiting them on accident. Women are invaluable, not valuable. Invaluable means “not able to be valued,” as in not quantifiably valuable. Women are humans, equal to men, and cannot be limited or ignored. If you treat women as “valuable”—meaning “able to be valued”, you may be quantifying their worth and thereby objectifying them and trading them as possessions instead of equal humans.
The Dora Milaje utilize these female warriors to their full potential, encouraging them to be who they’re meant to be.
In my analysis, the Dora Milaje is also a symbol of motherhood.
As the Dora Milaje protect the king, Wakanda, and its vibranium, so do mothers guard their children, nurse their children’s talents (vibranium) to help them excel, and foster a familial culture (Wakanda) to instill values of discipline and right and wrong.
Yes, men are traditionally seen as protectors, but if you take a cub from its den, it’s momma bear you have to worry about.
To the mothers: You are powerful and important. Your influence will determine whether your children use their vibranium like Killmonger or like T’Challa (see: How to Use Your Vibranium).
Three: Shuri—The King’s Equal
When you think princess, who do you envision? A dainty, lovesick teen with no common sense? Shuri, T’Challa’s younger sister, is the opposite. Yes, she’s young, and yes, she has a fun little-sister dynamic with T’Challa, but she’s also a brilliant inventor.
What I like about Shuri is her fearlessness. She’s audacious and unashamed. She creates what she wants and she knows her strength. Shuri loves her family and her heritage. She knows she’s a princess, but she doesn’t use her royalty for the sake of being pampered or coddled; if anything, she uses her royalty to maximize her strengths and opportunities.
Like many Disney movies, Black Panther reminds us that every woman is a princess, but Shuri takes the princess metaphor to a new level—she’s a princess of more than bloodline and privilege, but she’s also a princess with authority.
Shuri is given a lab and uses it, along with her vibranium, to do and accomplish everything her creative mind sets itself to do.
She knows her place, but her place is power.
The Application
Like Nakia, faithfulness is expressed not in subjugation but in bold support. Like Okoye, loyalty is not expressed in limitation and blind submission but in determined action. Like all the Dora Milage, motherhood is an elite call to protect and sacrifice, not to be looked down upon. Like Shuri, royalty is not respected in the coddling of objectified, dainty, personality-less robots, but it is respected when women are given the authority and opportunity to excel in their natural giftings, passions, and responsibilities.
Black Panther reminds us that womanhood is both beauty and power.
It also reminds me, as a man, to treat women with the respect they deserve. Women are to be empowered, not limited; encouraged, not controlled.
T’Challa would be nobody without the women around him. And neither would you without those around you. So, what do we do about it?
It’s simple. For the men, treat women like the royalty they are. Edify them, protect them, and sacrifice for them—but don’t hurt, manipulate, intimidate, or limit them. And watch your mouth; when you’re talking to a lady, you’re talking to a queen.
And for the ladies: Know your worth. Know your authority. Know your purpose, and step into it. No man can define you. Your identity and beauty come from your creator. You are invaluable royalty.
