Selina KyleIt has always bugged me that most of the origin stories for Catwoman are dependent on the men in her life. Either she was hooker who wanted away from the abuse or she wanted away from an overbearing husband, but it was always up to a guy to make her the badass she is. I think it bugged me because when I first started paying attention to comics, Batman, and her it was because of a guy. I had a giant crush on a guy who liked Batman so to compliment him I wanted to be like Catwoman. The relationship never happened, but my love for comics has grown since then.
The reason I still love Catwoman as a model, despite my interest in her being originally superficial, is because she has taught me so much about being a woman. She may have started out as a means to get freedom, but she has grown so much since then. She messes up, saves lives, loves and hates all with a humanity I can feel. Selina Kyle is just a woman trying to get what she wants in whatever way she can. I’m just a woman trying to figure out how to achieve that same drive and determination without having to wear clawed gloves everyday. Catwoman means ultimate freedom for me and that is why I want to be one.
