--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's only recently women got to be action…" description: "\"It's only recently women got to be action heroes on TV. Progress is slow, and often non-existent. There's plenty of cool comics with female characters...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/joss-whedon-480_action_it-s-only-recently-women-got-to-be-actio_2610042.png" --- # It's only recently women got to be action heroes on TV… ![“It's only recently women got to be action heroes on TV. Progress is slow, and often non-existent. There's plenty of cool comics with female characters... But all it takes is one Catwoman to set the cause back a decade.” quote by Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/joss-whedon-480_action_it-s-only-recently-women-got-to-be-actio_2610042.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/joss-whedon-480_action_it-s-only-recently-women-got-to-be-actio_2610042.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84c/joss-whedon-480_action_it-s-only-recently-women-got-to-be-actio_2610042.png) > “It's only recently women got to be action heroes on TV. Progress is slow, and often non-existent. There's plenty of cool comics with female characters... But all it takes is one Catwoman to set the cause back a decade.” [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Female heroes are rare on TV; a single setback can erase progress for years. **In simple terms:** Women heroes are scarce; one misstep can set back progress. Key Takeaway Support diverse representation and protect gains. Themes gender media representation Mood determined hopeful Type critical observational When to use this quote - television - comic books - industry trends Key Concepts feminism media studies Questions to Reflect On - What can viewers do to demand better representation? - How can creators avoid tokenism? A Different Perspective Industry inertia often resists change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-hero/) [Catwoman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catwoman/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Comics Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comics-female-1500484/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Female character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-character/) [Female characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-characters/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Plenty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plenty/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Recently Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recently-women-1632925/) [Takes Catwoman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-catwoman-2020037/) [Tvs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tvs/) [Women Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-got-874445/) ## Related quotes > [There are 10-20 times more male comics than female comics; it's something to do with the social structure of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/there-are-10-20-times-more-male-comics-than-female-comics-it-s/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [It's only very recently that women have succeeded in entering those professions which, as Muses, they typified for the Greeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-only-very-recently-that-women-have-succeeded-in-entering-those/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I read recently that women still make 30% less than men in the workplace. Which I think is fine, cause if we didn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-read-recently-that-women-still-make-30-less-than-men-in-the/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [Anything can be good. Even Last Action Hero could’ve been good. There’s an idea somewhere in almost any movie : if you can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/anything-can-be-good-even-last-action-hero-could-ve-been-good-there-s/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I was writing songs as a kid about leprechauns and Catwoman and teapots - whatever it is that little girls wanna sing about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-mckee/i-was-writing-songs-as-a-kid-about-leprechauns-and-catwoman-and-3/) [Bonnie McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-mckee/) > [In 1992, fans of our feline temptress got another chance to sink their claws into the new and exciting tales of Catwoman in Batman:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/in-1992-fans-of-our-feline-temptress-got-another-chance-to-sink-their/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [As you've witnessed, Catwoman is the ultimate diva. From the pages of comic books to both small and big screens, Catwoman continues to evolve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/as-you-ve-witnessed-catwoman-is-the-ultimate-diva-from-the-pages-of/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [I wasn't terribly aware of Catwoman. She was a DC comics character and as a kid, I wasn't terribly fond of the DC comics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-bratt/i-wasn-t-terribly-aware-of-catwoman-she-was-a-dc-comics-character-and/) [Benjamin Bratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-bratt/) > [I'd always thought I was pretty healthy and I always thought I had worked hard in the gym and it turns out that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-d-always-thought-i-was-pretty-healthy-and-i-always-thought-i-had/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I was writing songs as a kid about leprechauns and Catwoman and teapots - whatever it is that little girls wanna sing about. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-mckee/i-was-writing-songs-as-a-kid-about-leprechauns-and-catwoman-and/) [Bonnie McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-mckee/) > [I thought, 'I loved Batman, I loved Spider-Man, I love all these characters, but Catwoman is really different from any other one.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-di-novi/i-thought-i-loved-batman-i-loved-spider-man-i-love-all-these/) [Denise Di Novi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-di-novi/) > [As the Batman TV series was returning to ABC for its second season in 1967, the TV bosses decided to take Catwoman into another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/as-the-batman-tv-series-was-returning-to-abc-for-its-second-season-in/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) > [Each Catwoman is specific to the Gotham City she lives in and the director that helps shape her. So it's kind of hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/each-catwoman-is-specific-to-the-gotham-city-she-lives-in-and-the/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [I've always had a thing for Catwoman. Michelle Pfeiffer or Halle Berry in tight leather pants, with the boots - I'm pretty good with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-ve-always-had-a-thing-for-catwoman-michelle-pfeiffer-or-halle-berry/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [When the Batman TV series was taken to the silver screen, one of America's favourite sweethearts would don the mask and claws of Catwoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/when-the-batman-tv-series-was-taken-to-the-silver-screen-one-of/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) ## More by Joss Whedon > [I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I'd done that ... even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-do-remember-what-i-said-the-promise-to-protect-her-if-i-d-done-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Every vampire fiction reinvents vampires to its own needs. You take what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/every-vampire-fiction-reinvents-vampires-to-its-own-needs-you-take/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [When you're making a film, you have an obligation to fill the frame with life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/when-you-re-making-a-film-you-have-an-obligation-to-fill-the-frame/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Everything we do really is just a little marker on the long road to death. And sometimes that’s overwhelmingly depressing to me, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/everything-we-do-really-is-just-a-little-marker-on-the-long-road-to/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [At the end of the day I have many answers for it. It has to do with my mom, who was an extraordinary woman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-have-many-answers-for-it-it-has-to-do-with-my/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Why aren’t you asking a hundred other guys why they don’t write strong women characters? I believe that what I’m doing should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/why-aren-t-you-asking-a-hundred-other-guys-why-they-don-t-write/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [People feel removed from sexism. 'I'm not a sexist, but I'm not a feminist.' They think there's this fuzzy middle ground. There's no fuzzy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/people-feel-removed-from-sexism-i-m-not-a-sexist-but-i-m-not-a/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Even in the darkness, every color can be found. And every day of rain brings water flowing to things growing in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/even-in-the-darkness-every-color-can-be-found-and-every-day-of-rain/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I never tire of the heroes that I knew growing up. The fun is not that much different from doing a television show: You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-never-tire-of-the-heroes-that-i-knew-growing-up-the-fun-is-not-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Don't just be yourself. Be all of your selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/don-t-just-be-yourself-be-all-of-your-selves/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I always watch what I say. I am what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-always-watch-what-i-say-i-am-what-i-say/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/remember-to-always-be-yourself-unless-you-suck/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I've become less cynical, which is appalling but kind of cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-ve-become-less-cynical-which-is-appalling-but-kind-of-cool/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Xander: It could be witches, some evil witches, which is ridiculous cause witched they were persecuted, women power, love the eatrh, and I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/xander-it-could-be-witches-some-evil-witches-which-is-ridiculous/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [There's a lot of anger in the Twitter-verse, as I've discovered. But there's a lot of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/there-s-a-lot-of-anger-in-the-twitter-verse-as-i-ve-discovered-but/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) [Explore all 529 Joss Whedon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. 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