Woman... or Monster?
The final chapter of Gotham City Sirens addresses the relationship between Catwoman and her sister, Margaret. Margaret knows of her sister’s identity as Catwoman. However, Margaret believes her sister to be possessed by a demon. Margaret eventually becomes possessed by the spirit of a MALE angel and goes after destroying Catwoman. Margaret sees the cat demon whenever she looks at her sister. There is even as instance where she holds a rosary over Harley Quinn that places Harley in a trance. Harley begins to see the cat demon when she looks at Catwoman, and thus aids Margaret in the battle.
Interestingly enough, Austin claims that “the threat of female dominance is so prominent and such a danger to men that frequently the men portray female villains as less than human- almost monstrous” (289). This coincides with Catwoman’s monstrous appearance in the chapter with Margaret. Austin continues on to explain the stereotype of a cat. While originally honored through instances of Egyptian religion, cats are now associated with “sex, seducation and witchcraft” (Austin 291). Catwoman embraces this archetype and with that, the danger that one may associate with her. The tendency to present a strong woman as monstrous is a further form of oppression that is emphasized within this chapter of Dini's work.
