Sexualization in the 2010s



The sexualization of this female character has stimmed across media for generations. In 2016, Warner Bros released the live-action version of Suicide Squad. In this portrayal, Harley is "just another bubble-headed blonde bimbo" or so the creators would have you think. From her opening scene, where she is dancing seductively on a pole at Joker's nightclub, Harley is deemed a sex symbol with eyes only for the crown prince himself. Later on, when released from prison to serve on the task force, the camera pans her body as she changes into her attire, emphasizing her shorts. This is the outfit that viewers see her in for the rest of the movie.  Her shirt says "Daddy's Little Monster" and her choker is adorned with her lover's nickname, "Puddin". This all shows the sexualization of Harley as the Joker's property. 



In 2013, DC Comics released an art contest featuring Harley Quinn. This prompt asked artists to draw Harley in 4 different scenarios of her committing suicide. Not only did the entire contest spark outrage about the red flags to the public and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, but the fourth scenario was also called out for being insensitive. The scenario asked artists to draw Harley naked in a bathtub after having just committed suicide. Many spoke out saying that this not only sexualizes Harley but the theme of suicide as well. 

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