Note: This week’s column is strictly my opinion, and, hopefully, it’s a good one!

Hi, Wonder-Philes! I’d first like to express gratitude to the people who follow this column: to those who like my writing or to those who just eat up everything Wonder Woman; to those who occasionally read it and to those who read it every week. If it’s your first time joining us, I’d like to invite you to join us every week. It’s a Wonder Woman love fest for certain!


I’d also like to express gratitude to my friends Barbra and Bryant Dillon, the head honchos at Fanbase Press. They have helped me through many growing pains as a writer, and I love them to death.  Barbra is my editor for this column, and I’m not sure how she hasn’t gone blind or mad from the task for the past few years. They sent me the most beautiful flowers in regards to my beloved ailing mother. After a long and painful, but rewarding, week in Ohio, I can’t express how much it meant to me to come home to L.A. after a long flight home and see the most beautiful bouquet of sunflowers waiting for me. It really touched me so much. Thanks, guys!


Now, on to this week’s column!


Speaking of Bryant Dillon, I’d like to thank him for a Facebook post he made as inspiration for this week’s column.


“These boots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you!”


I think the Nancy Sinatra female empowerment anthem from the ’60s says it all, but I’ve got something to say.


It seems there’s a bit of controversy about Wonder Woman wearing high heeled boots in the Wonder Woman film. Ahem. First of all, as a gay man and former fashion aficionado, I’d like to point out that they are “wedges”- a far cry from high heels or stilettos.


Secondly, Patty Jenkins, a woman and the director of one of the best female-driven films ever, certainly had a say in the footwear Gal Gadot would be wearing to portray our beloved Amazon Warrior. If she didn’t have a problem with it, why should we?


Third of all, why is it when the dust settles, it’s human nature to take one of the summer’s most celebrated movies and try to pick it apart and diminish it? This a positive thing in a society that is regressing in how we treat women.


Wonder Woman has worn sandals or heels or a variation thereof for most of her illustrious career. I think it was George Perez for Wonder Woman’s post Crisis on Infinite Earths re-boot (See what I did there?) who decided to nix the heel in place of a more practical boot. And I believe he came to that decision due to his love of the character and his desire to portray a group of powerful women in the most respectful way. I mean why would a group of women who fled in isolation from patriarchal oppression deem it necessary to wear an invention meant to objectify women?


Well, if you indulge me I think I have a few explanations/reasons/cop outs, what have you. Don’t the Amazons wear bracelets as a reminder to the times they were forcibly held under male oppression? Why can’t the same be said for heels? Just because they are a man-made invention doesn’t mean that women can’t take it back and own it.


I’m friends with a lot of amazing, strong, beautiful, talented, and creative women (You know who you are!), and a lot of them would crush you like a bug if you took away their heels. My sister is one of the most powerful women I know, and she has a beautiful collection of heels. They are an art form, don’tcha know? They like how beautiful and strong they make them feel. Heels have an odd way of instilling confidence, and there ain’t nothing wrong with that.


I know this from personal experience. I wore platform shoes for a character in one of my webshows. As a 5′, 7 and 3/4″-tall male, I’m pretty petite, and donning those “heels” made me feel like an Amazon Warrior. Tantamount to the meme of the baby kitten looking in the mirror at a reflection a mighty lion.


One of the most iconic moments in television history is Carrie Bradshaw hauling ass down the streets of NYC in heels. Who didn’t cheer in awe and wonder for that?! Wearing heels is a super power in itself, let alone running down the street without face planting on the sidewalk.


Wonder Woman puts on her boots one wedge heel at a time, just like everyone else and that is her decision. So, stop judging women in heels… unless it’s Bryce Dallas Howard in Jurassic World… that was just ridiculous!


Thanks for reading, Wonder Peeps! I’ll see you next week and be sure to check out our sister Facebook page, “I Am Wonder Fan,” and follow me on instagram (@michaelfitztroy).



Art Credit for this piece: J.G. Jones’ stunning and iconic cover to the Wonder Woman: Hiketeia Graphic Novel