About Sexism in Comics

I'm new in the whole blogging business and not sure what's the correct etiquette when you have a lengthy answer to another blog - do you post it in a comment there, or in your own blog?
Since I'm egotistic I chose to do it here. ;)

I'm going to say my opinion about a blog entry here, linked from When Fangirls Attack.
Anon, A Mouse claims there that DC and Marvel have no responsibility to stop sexism in their comics because it's only comics, it's not real and doesn't hurt anyone. (I'm paraphrasing.)

I find that reasoning very strange. Sure, political correctness in the media probably won't make sexism in real life disappear, but it's reasonable to assume it might contribute to that.
And the other way around, sexism in the media is without doubt going to support and even create sexism in real life.

Sexism is a way of thinking, and to get rid of it, you have to change the way people think. I don't see how you can do that without the media, and yes, comics are a part of that. First step is to make people AWARE of the problem. And if it's NOT a self-understood requirement that the male hero has to save his girlfriend from the villain in any adventure story, that is quite an important step in my opinion.

That's not the same as some elitist assumption that people are sheep and will believe anything they hear. Who on earth would deny that people are influenced by the media? By the news selection they get presented, by the opinions they get to hear, and maybe most of all by subliminal prejudices they are fed.

Sexist comics are a form of propaganda. Propaganda for the status quo is also propaganda. And I prefer if I'm not manipulated. I prefer intelligent entertainment that somehow reflects the real world and real people.
Sure entertainment will never be totally "realistic". But that doesn't mean it has to be stupid or full of prejudice, or even less that stupid prejudice would be more entertaining - not even to the ones who benefit from it (males like me).

Personally I can't stand that in old Hollywood romantic comedies nearly always the woman first pretends to be proud and independent, but later melts and submits to the male hero: "Oh I was so silly. Just protect me and dominate me, that's what I really need to be happy."
It's just so STUPID and predictable that it makes me cringe.

Same goes for comics. I don't find witnessing oppression in progress entertaining. Sure, the original argument was that it won't affect the real world if it's only comics, and nobody gets hurt, just like the real New York will still stand after World War Hulk.
But sexism feeds you an opinion. Sure also in literature you often find that the author has opinions you don't share, but if it's good literature there is a lot of room for discussion and disagreement. Sexism however is about things you are not supposed to think and not supposed to notice. Thought control, in other words. Force-fed opinions.

And personally I don't find being force-fed very pleasant.