Challenging gender stereotypes?: The representation of women in two Ecuadorian comics

Abstract

Th e comic, the cartoon and the graphic novel are little-known genres in Ecuador despite the loyalty of their readers. In recent times, a handful of scriptwriters/illustrators have managed to open the way and publish their comic strips, either with help from the private sector or in publishing houses specifically created for this purpose. Th is study evaluates the representations of women in two Ecuadorian comic genres infl uenced by American comic tradition, and refl ects on the predominant view of women in the Ecuadorian society. Female characters will be analyzed in the works of scriptwriters and cartoonists José Daniel Santibáñez, the author of Guayaquil de mis temores (Guayaquil of my Fears), and Fabián Patinho, the author of Axioma (Axiom). Firstly, this study will off er a brief historical view of the state of Ecuadorian comics. Subsequently, there will be a preliminary presentation of the works of Santibáñez and Patinho. Th e female representation will be studied based on previous refl ections of theorists such as Karen McGrath, who has focused on the Latin American heroine of the comic book Araña; Meenakshi Gigi Durham, who refl ects over women in popular culture; and Sarah Brabant and Linda Mooney, who have studied the female roles from the perspective of stereotypes. Finally, there will be a section for conclusions.