In 2012, Carolyn Noe started a small Meetup group with the simple idea of connecting to other nerdy women in St. Louis. The early meetups were fun and informal, and the spark of Super Heroines, Etc. was beginning: bringing superheroines together to use their powers for good.

Today, Super Heroines, Etc. is a non-profit organization using the power of fandom to fight for equity and representation. We gather superheroines together in safe environments for empowering events and creative change in their communities. In addition, we attend local, regional, and national conventions to discuss representation in media and through our Agents of Change program, we provide tools and support for superheroines to be agents of positive change and create movement toward a more inclusive and equitable social transformation.  

Mission: Empower women to embrace their inner nerd.

Mission: Empower women to embrace their inner nerd.

Vision: A world in which all women are celebrated in the nerdy community.

Vision: A world in which all women are celebrated in the nerdy community.

Values:

Values:

Education

As nerds and geeks, we love to learn. We thrive on diving deep into a specific subject or broadening our horizons by seeking out knowledge in unfamiliar areas. We enthusiastically pursue new experiences. As individuals and an organization, we passionately share our interests, provide educational opportunities, and seek opportunities to learn from others. We believe education is a fundamental human right that empowers women and underrepresented communities.

Inclusiveness

The “nerdy” umbrella covers a wide spectrum of interests, from comic book readers to sci-fi movie lovers to beekeepers. We believe inclusiveness means all are welcome, without exception. SHE values the diversity of our members, volunteers, and speakers because with different voices (that have had different backgrounds and experiences), the stronger our ideas become. It is by listening and connecting to these varied points of view that our organization can flourish and evolve.

Nerdy

Nerdiness is about being passionate about a topic and expressing that passion through a devotion and pursuit that goes beyond casual interest. While we do have a focus on areas that are traditionally seen as nerdy – such as comic books, super heroines, technology, films, video games, and television fandoms – we welcome members to bring and share their passions and nerdy interests with us and each other so that we can share, learn, grow and transform our nerdy community.

Feminism 

Feminism is a social movement characterized by the inclusion of, equity for, and liberation of all genders in our society, coupled with the dismantling of structures of oppression and patriarchy. We stand for the dignified representation of all forms of gender and marginalized identities, not as token images on the sidelines or figures for the benefit of others, but as agents of their own narratives and leaders of their lives. We recognize the danger in ascribing to historic gender binary norms, as well as the intersections of oppression that occur with multiple identities. As such, we also seek representation by, advocacy for, and co-conspiracy with, those who have been historically underrepresented or oppressed, echoing Lila Watson’s call: “if your liberation is bound with mine, let us work together.” 

Activism

Raising awareness of and sharing new ideas, addressing cultural issues, and providing tools for action in the pursuit of positive social change.