ABC at Spui25.

Monday March 27th 17:00

Sam Maggs is here to empower girls and young women to be whatever they want and to tell them that even though you don’t hear or read about female heroes all that much there is plenty of female representation in all kinds of fields. Women who don’t look like Superman but who are “kicking ass” all over the world and throughout history. Sam wants to motivate you to learn about these women, to find your own female heroes and become a Wonder Woman yourself!

SAM MAGGS is an Assistant Writer at BioWare and the bestselling author of WONDER WOMEN and THE FANGIRL’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, both from Quirk Books.

An authority on women in pop culture, Sam was named “Awesome Geek Feminist of the Year” by Women Write About Comics and has spoken on the topic for The New York Times, Vulture, NPR, the CBC, Space Channel, and more. Her first comic is forthcoming from IDW. Among others, Sam has also been published by Marie Claire, PC Gamer, The Guardian, and the National Post. Sometimes you might see her on TV and movie screens. She loves YA lit, Pacific Rim, Mass Effect, Carol Danvers, and Jeff Goldblum.

Introduction from the book:

Representation is important
“Media critics use this phrase all the time. We say it to drive home the point that everyone—no matter their gender, sexuality, race, ability, or any part of their identity—deserves to see characters like them on the page and onscreen. Why? Because when media is full of diverse heroes, every gal will unconsciously learn that she too can be the star of the story, that “hero” status isn’t reserved for people who look like Superman, that she’s not stuck as a damsel in distress. If she wants to foil the enemy or save the day or rescue herself, she can. But something we often forget is that representation matters
everywhere, not just in fiction but also in our everyday lives. The bummer is that although we’re making significant strides in the media, the same cannot yet be said for the office or the class-room. Lack of representation is why, when I ask you to think of a scientist, the first person who comes to mind is a white-jacketed, messy-haired man. It’s why women’s historical impact is tradition-ally explored in an optional course called Women’s Studies, whereas compulsory classes on the historical impact of men are simply called History. It’s why only 30 percent of employees at Google are wom-en, only 22 percent of game developers are women, only 5 percent of U.S. patents include a woman’s name. In this kind of social climate, it’s easy to grow up thinking that women don’t get involved in tech or science or medicine or engineering, because who among us really ever has? Of course, awesome, accomplished, successful women have existed since humans started painting on stones with their extrem-ities. Yet somehow we never seem to hear about these noteworthy heroines.”

“It’s time to shake off the bogus fear that pursuing any interest that falls outside the traditionally “feminine”—say, working in a STEM field, exploring the world, designing a video game—will make us complete pariahs. It’s time for women to take our place in a long line of brilliant, patri-archy-smashing, butt-kicking chicks. First, though, we have to get the stories of these women out into the world. Because representation matters.
And we ladies need real inspiration for the next time we find ourselves doubting our ability to invent something, the next time we fear learning how to code, the next time we feel like we just don’t belong.So join me on a journey into the history of bad-as-heck babes. Just keep in mind that these are only some of the amazing women in the history of our world. Many more are out there, and many more are to come. In fact, you know what? You’re next!” – Sam Maggs

Reserve here.