Suicide Squad has many people upset about how Harley is treated, especially by the Joker. Articles state frustration over why Harley is treated and how she continues to go back to her abuser (or finds other abusive relationships) and further more, how the movie glorifies this with Harley.
A quick Google search with the terms "Harley Quinn Joker" has search suggestions of "Harley Quinn Joker abusive relationship".
Side note: If the movie gets people fired up, where is the outrage in this as the cartoons are aimed at children?
It it does not take very much searching either on Google or Youtube to discover that domestic violence between Harley and the Joker are reoccurring themes. Joker can be seen kicking Harley out of buildings, pushing her in pools of acid, or otherwise berating and blaming her for his frustrations and missed opportunities of assassinating Batman. One specific event in the comic book involves Harley foiling Joker's plans to kill her. Harley, given the chance to kill the Joker, instead shoots him in the shoulder for all of the abuse she has endured. Throughout their history, Harley leaves Joker but them comes back to him after he apologizes (spoiler alert, this also happens after she shoots him).
This is the character's history, and while it might be unsettling, it is a reality that will be experienced by over 30% of the US population in some point in their lifetime (Wihbey, 2015; Devries, Mak, Garcia-Moreno, Petzold, Child, Falder, Lim, Bacchus, Engell, Rosenfeld, Pallitto, Vos, Abrahams & Watts, 2013). One research article indicates that worldwide numbers in some regions were up to 70 percent (Alejo, 2014). The annual cost of domestic violence relationships in the United States with 2008 statistics were close $5.8 billion (Payne & Wermeling, 2009).
Harley and the Joker's relationship follows the typical patterns and phases of domestic violence. In 1979, Lenore Walker developed the theory that domestic violence occurs in cycles (Micah Projects Inc).
 |
| Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County (2016). |
This cycle has three phases. The frequency and number of cycles can vary from multiple times in a day, to weeks or months (Domestic Violence Roundtable, 2008). The relationship between Harley and Joker appears to easily fall in this cycle throughout the comic books and animated series.
The Joker is portrayed in a movie scene as about to give Harley electric shocks. She asks if he is going to kill her. He states he does not want to kill her, only to hurt her "really, really bad." Harley responds she can take the pain and the scene ends. In another scene, he asks Harley to prove he loves her by jumping in a pool of acid and "living for him". She does and he then jumps in the pool and saves her. Apparently the cartoon/comic version is that Harley was pushed into the pool.
I do not personally share the outrage of domestic violence being shown in Suicide Squad among the two characters, especially compared to what I have read and remember about the cartoon and comic books. Instead, I am glad that it is bringing attention to the issue. Abusive relationships are not fiction.
The characters from the movie all come with their own baggage, which reflected in their violent acts. Harley is no exception as she is accused by her other squad members in the movie of being "pretty on the outside but being ugly on the inside".
Harley is clearly affected psychologically from her treatment by the Joker. She acts characteristicly of somebody who is experiencing psychological trauma. This is the same reality for the millions of people affected by domestic violence. It is not uncommon for the abused to leave their abusers only to return over and over again and have sense of dependance on the abuser (Payne et. al. 2009).
Whether you love or hate the movie, we are talking about characters in world that are obviously fictitious. I love the passion that the movie is creating. Although I do not agree with what is being said per say, it is about time we start talking about the issue and what it looks like. If this movie gets awareness out, then at the end of the day, maybe the disturbing interactions between Harley and the Joker can be construed as beneficial in raising awareness.
Sources:
Alejo, K. (2014). Long-Term Physical and Mental Health Effects of Domestic Violence. Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science. 2 (1)
Available at: http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/themis/vol2/iss1/5
Domestic Violence Roundtable (2008). The Cycle of Domestic Violence. Available at: http://www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org/domestic-violence-cycle.html
Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County. (2008). The cycle of violence. Available at: http://www.dvsolutions.org/info/cycle.aspx
Micah Projects Inc. The Cycle of Violence. Brisbane Domestic Violence Service. Available at: http://www.bdvs.org.au/resource_files/bdvas/IR_5_Cycle-of-violence-factsheet.pdf
Payne, D. & Wermeling, L. (2009). Domestic violence and the female victim: The real reason why women stay! Journal of Multicultural, Gender, and Minority Studies 3 (1). Available at: http://www.scientificjournals.org/journals2009/articles/1420.pdf
Wihbey, J. (2015). "Domestic violence and abusive relationships: Research review," Journalists Resource. Available at: http://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/gender-society/domestic-violence-abusive-relationships-research-review. August 17, 2015
