An Analysis of the Cultural Dismissal of Wonder Woman
noted how the network wanted Steve ’ s shirt off on Paradise Island . But Carter “ really wasn ’ t thinking about being sexy ... this was the ban the bra time , this was sexual freedom time .” She was somewhat uncomfortable with what she referred to as her “ bullet breasts ” top in the first season ( Carter and Cramer ; Beauty , Brawn , and Bulletproof Bracelets ). In the pilot , a general also refers to the costume as a “ uniform .”
Carter said that those in power on the production “ were afraid of casting ... any female in a leading role ,” and both Carter and Cramer reflected that leading roles for women in television at the time were rare , including for work behind the scenes ( Beauty , Brawn , and Bulletproof Bracelets ; Carter and Cramer ). Cramer had many conversations with the network , where many men were concerned that the show was going too far with some of the feminist statements , and Cramer reflected that he was “ very glad we said it all ... and went too far in some people ’ s eyes ” ( Carter and Cramer ). At the time , Shull referred to a fear at ABC of “ super-women ” leads in 1976 (“ TV Mailbag ”). This was all in spite of the significant role of women in the American marketplace , in relation to Wonder Woman or otherwise ( Berlatsky ; Carter ; Emad ; United States ). In her audio commentary for the Season 3 DVD , Carter said :
The one thing that I regret in the present day Wonder Woman [ referring to Seasons 2 and 3 ] was that they lost some of the feminism , particularly because it was such an era of feminism , and I think the networks were afraid that we would lose viewers if it was too feminist , and I really wish that , as we did in the first season , that we had had a stronger feminist message , and that they had trusted me enough to realize that Won-
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