Wonder Woman should stick to what she’s good at — being a superhero on the pages of comic books, according to some women at the United Nations.
The superhero character was recently appointed by the UN as Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls, and her image will be used on the UN’s social media and in other material to promote women’s empowerment.
Some people at the UN, however, are not happy with the choice.
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More than 1,000 United Nations members have signed an online petition calling on Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a professed feminist, to reconsider the decision.
“A large-breasted white woman of impossible proportions, scantily clad in a shimmery, thigh-baring bodysuit with an American flag motif and knee-high boots” is not an appropriate spokeswoman for the United Nations, the petition reads.
Raimonda Murmokaite, the permanent representative of Lithuania, tweeted out her concern:
@pass_blue I'd rather go for #Brave. But seriously, there should be plenty real life women and girls to inspire the rest of us pic.twitter.com/ZiysQ9sbPm
— RaiMurmoka (@PRLTUN) October 19, 2016
Anne Marie Goetz, an academic and a former adviser to the United Nations who had campaigned for a woman to be secretary general, called the choice “disgusting” on Twitter.
Disgusting that the UN substitutes sexualized fake for real woman leader. Hope Wonder Woman's lasso of truth reveals hypocrisy @riotwomennnhttps://t.co/h1V68jmMNB
— anne marie goetz (@amgoetz) October 15, 2016
According to the New York Times, the petition appears to have been started anonymously by a UN staff member and includes many anonymous signatures, perhaps due to fear about jeopardizing their jobs.
Those in favor of the decision argue the fictional character would be a creative way to reach young girls who are awaiting the new Wonder Woman Hollywood film starring Gal Gadot, though to many that reason does not deem credible enough.
“The message the United Nations is sending to the world with this appointment is extremely disappointing,” the petition reads.
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Stéphane Dujarric, a United Nations spokesman, explained that the concerns are being heard. The UN has changed the public campaign to “bring a celebration of real-life women and girls making a difference every day into the core messaging.”
In previous years, fictional characters like Winnie the Pooh and Tinkerbell have represented other branches in the UN, but neither caused a controversy like this.