As an X-Men fan myself, as well as a supporter of female superheroes, I am doing sort of a research project on Jean Grey's presentation through the ages, and her status as a "strong female comic book character." So I ask: what does Jean's character signify to you about strong female comic book characters, and in your eyes, how does she (and the powers she possesses) challenge traditional notions of femininity? Does she pave the way strong female characters in the future?

@newton_10817: lol nemesis disagrees.

I think it depends on what you classify as "Strong female comic book character". For me she definitely exemplifies that on any standard, but I'm a fan so my view may be a little jaded. But I find her story and her character to be the making of a great female character. She isnt tormented by a tarnished past ( listen before you get into the many deaths and resurrections lol ). Before the phoenix entered her live she was raised as a normal child. She had a 2 parent household with a sibling. She wasnt dropped off out of simply fear and uncontrollable powers. She was sent to Xaviers because of her parents genuine concern for her best chance at what they knew to be a "normal" life. By standards of other female characters she lived a spoiled life. Loved and cherished by her birth family. And protected loved and doted on by her suurogate family at Xaviers. Of course she had trials in her life, Annie dying, many missions with the team but it never changed or waivered her core. For a women.. with the most to lose then essentially anyone, She decided to sacrifice herself to save Earth and her friends. That is a strong female character. I rarely have seen such resolve and selflessness in any other woman in comics.

@newton_10817: Sorry if I’m late. This is a good question and if you finished that research project, I hope it went well.

From my take, Jean represents more of the every day person than most comic book characters in my opinion in the sense of like the suburban class. She was raised in a good family, with hopes and dreams, and a down-to-earth personality. While some might find this uninteresting, it goes without saying that people who stay as respectable as Jean does when talking to others are looked favorably upon in real life. She is the girl-next-door archetype to the point of being seemingly beautiful, but not at all remarkable in comparison to Storm or Emma Frost. Yet, her personality is a role model to those whopay attention, displaying all the qualities that people should display:

•Jeans main strength comes in as a confidant. The person to confide in for advice when life seems so difficult and lost. It might be Jeans empathic abilities that help her understand others feelings, but she definitely makes sure to love with all her heart.

https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/13/130537/4395983-sklml.png

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Xf1KPssmdcE/Sp9DwBUH_5I/AAAAAAAABXs/tWtTrswpU0w/s1600/Astonishing+X-Men+%232(2).jpg

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/MavThmFg0IbUnO2XP2COvrB4uIj_FmBz58YloVWpJ8Xzav5cF4d9ttvbKjcFVQgIBXFRg84wmxTc=s1600

http://38.media.tumblr.com/7bae1201e907149643bdd3c230eaef3e/tumblr_mw8juk7vL41rur0aro1_1280.jpg

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_aP4hnuZ1w/WnubgnGAiyI/AAAAAAAACn8/ifQO8vmqUSk8STsHRKyKuWZ9AHShzVFKACHMYCw/s1600/RCO015.jpg

•Jean also plays the disciplinarian from time to time. Granted, it doesn’t always go well, but Jean is usually the one to be the referee and the person who teaches good moral values, having little patience for immature selfishness.

http://www.animanga.com/comics/xfactor-62.jpg

https://i1.wp.com/www.comicbookrevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/X-Men-Red-Annual-1-7.jpg

https://2e0a24317f4a9294563f-26c3b154822345d9dde0204930c49e9c.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/19853506_cassandra-nova-returns-in-x-men-red--1_t85744ad2.jpg

•With the disciplinarian/peacekeeper role, Jean needs power. And man, does she have it.

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/8/85507/2968158-tele.jpg

http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab194/znop/Uncanny%20X-Men%20300_B_zps3rgzv93n.jpg~original

http://pm1.narvii.com/6415/7cf10eac9ecd98617c24642a470fee37bff54399_00.jpg

•Needless to say, you can’t write a story of someone perfect right? The thing about Jean Grey is, everyone, including the X-Men themselves find Jean to be someone precious, pure, sacred (which made her downward spiral into Dark Phoenix all the more shocking)

https://78.media.tumblr.com/b3a5483d036f5392b9ce5aaa64a247cb/tumblr_my6n3956uq1raik27o1_500.jpg

Few realize though that Jean is still human (minus for when she is the Phoenix, which even then, she still has her humanity to deal with) She makes mistakes, she gets scared, and gets angry.

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-4cd1ad9562f2f9253691cf2edbaa934a

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/cmx-images-prod/Item/570990/Previews/7acf02a0ed23c728a551c78b3b16ddb1._SX1280_QL80_TTD_.jpg

https://uncannyxmen.net/sites/default/files/images/spotlight2/rachel25.jpg

She has even had to make the hard choices in her life that many have trouble with

https://uncannyxmen.net/sites/default/files/images/characters/cyclops/cyclops35.jpg

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QCjvsFAkqSE/Wl4yOpwefFI/AAAAAAAAhHE/DIAxql3pwAkAcUvKhn7_axNdZiZR2s5bwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Excalibur%2B%252371%2B-%2BRachel%2B%2526%2BJean.png

She has even had to deal with both sides of death

https://i0.wp.com/farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5463561798_a1cf9653c8_b.jpg

http://insidepulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Phoenix-Resurrection-The-Return-Of-Adult-Jean-Grey-5-Marvel-Comics-Legacy-spoilers-12-e1517415334734.jpg

For someone who has wielded powers like that of a god, Jean Grey represents the most human aspects a person can have: Love, passion, hope, and dreams.

http://www.scottandjean.com/xfactor/fantastic4/images/ff286_12.jpg

https://psychodadcomics.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/jean.jpg

https://uncannyxmen.net/sites/default/files/images/article/love/love01.jpg

It was always quite apparent that Jean would have been a catalyst to Professors dream.

http://insidepulse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/X-Men-Red-1-Marvel-Comics-Legacy-spoilers-7-e1518456278497.jpg

To me, Jean is indeed, the most powerful female character.

100% whatever pyrofn said.