Looking through my Facebook Feed today I saw an interesting article that my cousin had posted about comics for girls:
"10 Great Comics for Adolescent Girls: Graphic Novels and Collections" by Hillary Brown.
While this articles does not specifically relate to superheroes, I thought it was an interesting read and wanted to share it, especially considering the gendered readings that have been done with The Superman Chrinocles in class.
The article itself poses the question of gendering in society. There have been debates about the marketing used for toys, such as the location of the boys toys versus the girls toys, the re-branding of iconic toys, like the Nerf line, to "make it girly", and the broad topic of color (blue for boys and pink for girls), which also fits into the re-branding of certain toys.
Brown, using data collected and published by Scott McCloud and Brett Schenker, argues that the idea of comics being solely for boys is shifting- almost half of the demographic is now girls, according to the article. McCloud claims that the rise in female readers is due to two things: comics being made for all ages and the "homegrown sensibilities and homegrown settings". While the realm of comics has expanded to a wider age range, I find myself questioning the "homegrown" comment that McCloud makes.
Following Brown's link, however, did not help to clarify his comment since it went to a page about an interview with the main editor of Best American Comics. I can only postulate as to what McCloud means from this article, though I would like to find the original source to read this comment in the correct context. With that being said, the editor, Bill Kartalopoulos, did state that each Series Editor for Best American Comics considers each submission carefully and that guest editors, which is McCloud's role this time around, are chosen to get a variety of view points on the project.
After this research is quoted, the article goes through a list of "female approved" comics, from "serious stuff and goofier stuff", including titles like Spiderman Loved Mary-Jane, Wandering Son, Runaways, and Anya's Ghost. While some may consider a title or two offensive because it gives off an almost condescending tone, like Superman Loves Mary-Jane, Brown does include comics that promote equal viewing of the sexes and the importance of brain over beauty.
While I can see the reasoning behind the choices, I am left a little annoyed that the premise of this article seems to be on the fact that girls need "girly" comics. I know that a few of the comics chosen promote the idea that it is "inside-not-outside" that counts, but why should a character like Batgirl not be included? Because Brown felt that costume was too skin-tight? Brown seems to dismiss any superheroine from the past simply because of costume choice.
Yes, there needs to be an equalization in costumes for most heroines. However, their costumes do not make them weak. By ignoring the tough women in comics who wear, say, a black burglar suit (Catwoman), Brown is ignoring not only the source of the problem she wants to eradicate but is ignoring the female characters that are stronger and smarter than their male counterparts simply based on their costumes.
This directly relates to the gendered toys issue- why should something be made "girly" in order for girls to be ok with it? Why should the only heroines girls read about be the ones who dress conservatively? Perhaps part of this "homegrown sensibility" that McCloud refers to should be informing young women about how they do not have to dress like a tramp in order to make it in life. Show them Ivy, and Catwoman, and Harley, and Batgirl, and Wonder Woman, as well as Mary-Jane and Astra. To solve the problem of sexist drawings, one must first be made aware that they exist.
"10 Great Comics for Adolescent Girls: Graphic Novels and Collections" by Hillary Brown.
While this articles does not specifically relate to superheroes, I thought it was an interesting read and wanted to share it, especially considering the gendered readings that have been done with The Superman Chrinocles in class.
The article itself poses the question of gendering in society. There have been debates about the marketing used for toys, such as the location of the boys toys versus the girls toys, the re-branding of iconic toys, like the Nerf line, to "make it girly", and the broad topic of color (blue for boys and pink for girls), which also fits into the re-branding of certain toys.
Brown, using data collected and published by Scott McCloud and Brett Schenker, argues that the idea of comics being solely for boys is shifting- almost half of the demographic is now girls, according to the article. McCloud claims that the rise in female readers is due to two things: comics being made for all ages and the "homegrown sensibilities and homegrown settings". While the realm of comics has expanded to a wider age range, I find myself questioning the "homegrown" comment that McCloud makes.
Following Brown's link, however, did not help to clarify his comment since it went to a page about an interview with the main editor of Best American Comics. I can only postulate as to what McCloud means from this article, though I would like to find the original source to read this comment in the correct context. With that being said, the editor, Bill Kartalopoulos, did state that each Series Editor for Best American Comics considers each submission carefully and that guest editors, which is McCloud's role this time around, are chosen to get a variety of view points on the project.
After this research is quoted, the article goes through a list of "female approved" comics, from "serious stuff and goofier stuff", including titles like Spiderman Loved Mary-Jane, Wandering Son, Runaways, and Anya's Ghost. While some may consider a title or two offensive because it gives off an almost condescending tone, like Superman Loves Mary-Jane, Brown does include comics that promote equal viewing of the sexes and the importance of brain over beauty.
While I can see the reasoning behind the choices, I am left a little annoyed that the premise of this article seems to be on the fact that girls need "girly" comics. I know that a few of the comics chosen promote the idea that it is "inside-not-outside" that counts, but why should a character like Batgirl not be included? Because Brown felt that costume was too skin-tight? Brown seems to dismiss any superheroine from the past simply because of costume choice.
Yes, there needs to be an equalization in costumes for most heroines. However, their costumes do not make them weak. By ignoring the tough women in comics who wear, say, a black burglar suit (Catwoman), Brown is ignoring not only the source of the problem she wants to eradicate but is ignoring the female characters that are stronger and smarter than their male counterparts simply based on their costumes.
This directly relates to the gendered toys issue- why should something be made "girly" in order for girls to be ok with it? Why should the only heroines girls read about be the ones who dress conservatively? Perhaps part of this "homegrown sensibility" that McCloud refers to should be informing young women about how they do not have to dress like a tramp in order to make it in life. Show them Ivy, and Catwoman, and Harley, and Batgirl, and Wonder Woman, as well as Mary-Jane and Astra. To solve the problem of sexist drawings, one must first be made aware that they exist.