Column: Arc of equality bends slowly, but change is visible at Halloween

I have been reading about popular Halloween costumes this year, and I’ve noticed that Wonder Woman and Daenerys Targaryen are at or near the top of most lists.

Does the trend of girls and women dressing up as fictional representations of female power — one from comic books and film, the other a multi-titled ruler in “Game of Thrones” — reflect a broader cultural shift? Does it suggest that more women than ever are daring to embrace images of strength and bravura?

Maybe. One could argue that such costumes are selling well only because they look cool, not because of what they symbolize.

But I choose to believe otherwise, and I doubt I’m alone. Change doesn’t usually happen overnight, but I think we’re seeing evidence of women increasingly speaking up, taking charge and refusing to back down — just like a lasso-twirling superhero and the platinum-haired Mother of Dragons would do.

This shifting dynamic is evident in the recent allegations of sexual harassment against powerful men in media, business and government. With vigorous new authority, woman are demanding to be heard, insisting on respect and calling for those who would demean them to be held accountable.

And more than ever before, these calls are being heeded. Heads are rolling. Workplace cultures are evolving. Widespread condemnations of previously overlooked behavior are becoming more common.

Even a quarterback in the NFL, a macho environment if there ever was one, was compelled to apologize for his misogynistic comments about a female reporter. Such a mea culpa wouldn’t have happened 20 years ago. Probably not even 10 years ago.

Lest I appear too optimistic, allow me to state unequivocally that women still confront sexism to an unacceptable and depressing degree. I haven’t seen any research to back me up on this but I’d bet a bundle that there isn’t a woman alive who hasn’t faced some form of discrimination and/or harassment because of her gender.

What’s more, women are still grossly underrepresented in the halls of power — from Washington, D.C. to Corporate America to the arts.

Will today’s little girls grow up to be women who don’t have to live in a world in which the scales are always tipped against them? Will they not have to worry about predatory men who try to take advantage of them?

Hardly. Despite the progress we’ve made, and will continue to make, this battle won’t be over until the imbalance in our society disappears forever. How long that might take is impossible for any of us to predict.

But when I see women increasingly finding their voices and demanding to be taken seriously, it gives me a glimmer of hope. And when many men add their voices to this chorus — not just because it’s suddenly convenient or advantageous for them to do so but because they are decent human beings — I take it as a sign that we’ve moved a step toward righting some wrongs.

We are also, hopefully, making strides toward dispelling some of the ridiculous defenses used to excuse inappropriate behavior toward women. I’m referring, for one, to the idea that women are “asking for it” if they dress attractively. A hint of skin isn’t an invitation to be groped.

Women are also making it clear that it’s unacceptably boneheaded to blame them for not speaking up sooner or more forcefully about their past mistreatment — the tired old “why is she only saying this now” defense. In case anyone is still clueless about this, allow me to explain just a few reasons why we sometimes only hear about abuse years later: Because the victims did say something before but no one cared; because they were scared, intimidated and traumatized; because they were warned their careers would be wrecked if they complained. The list goes on.

While we’re at it, let’s also please get rid of the patronizing “I have a daughter” line, which is often uttered by men who are trying way too hard to convince us that they’ve got our backs. Guys who suggest that they understand it’s bad to mistreat females because they happened to have fathered one only appear obtuse and egocentric. Such insulting condescension only increases our impatience for meaningful change.

Despite that impatience, the harsh reality is that we women are forced to play a game of inches, one in which progress will continue to be hard-won and incremental. Many of us chafe at the slow pace of our march toward equality, while still able to appreciate those moments when we see signs of our growing sense of command, as we do now.

So whether or not it represents something meaningful about girl power, I’m hoping a little Wonder Woman comes to my door on Halloween. If she does, I won’t tell her she’s cute or pretty. I’ll tell her she looks strong.

Indeed, it might be appropriate to put a modern twist on the quip about Ginger Rogers doing everything that Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in high heels. After all, Wonder Woman roundhouse kicks just as many bad guys as Batman, all while keeping her bustier perfectly in place.

Now that’s impressive.

PATRICE APODACA is a former Newport-Mesa public school parent and former Los Angeles Times staff writer. She lives in Newport Beach.