Dear Marvel,
I know it has been a whole month since my last physical, on a printed out piece of paper, letter arrived in your offices. I'm still planning on writing you a May letter, but, in the meantime, I wanted to remind you that there are January, February, and April letters that you must have 'lost'--you can read them here though--and my contact information is on this site, so you can respond.
Now that spring is here, the Small Hero is going to her "fortress of solitude/rescue center" at the top of the play house, where she flies a rocket to Mars.
The Small Hero is not yet 4, and, unfortunately, is becoming increasingly aware of the gender messages that society throws at her. She will not go into the other bathroom because it's 'for boys'; she lays on 'the girls' pillow' when she climbs into my bed on Saturday mornings. We counteract that as much as we can, reminding her that "there are many ways to be a girl" , but it's an uphill battle. Messages are subtle and pervasive.
For the moment, at least, her favorite superhero is still Ms. Marvel--and if I had to guess, I would say that it's probably because there are only 2 female superheroes routinely displayed on the show --Ms. Marvel and Scarlet Witch, and she looks a little more like Ms. Marvel.
If she decides to become a doctor, she'll have a long row to hoe--the uphill battle that women in the sciences get to take on is nothing new. I'm hoping that along the way she still loves superheroes and comic books and cartoons. So won't you consider letting her SEE herself in these mediums? Won't you let her have a picture to color that looks like her?
When you cut the girls out of the pictures on Saturday morning cartoons and in the products you sell, you send a clear message, read loud and clear by the kids, that you only want boy fans and tells the Small Hero that she is an anomaly.
You can fix that. You can show girls you want to include them.
-D
#Marvel, #DearMarvel, #MsMarvel, #SuperheroSquad
I know it has been a whole month since my last physical, on a printed out piece of paper, letter arrived in your offices. I'm still planning on writing you a May letter, but, in the meantime, I wanted to remind you that there are January, February, and April letters that you must have 'lost'--you can read them here though--and my contact information is on this site, so you can respond.
Now that spring is here, the Small Hero is going to her "fortress of solitude/rescue center" at the top of the play house, where she flies a rocket to Mars.
The Small Hero is not yet 4, and, unfortunately, is becoming increasingly aware of the gender messages that society throws at her. She will not go into the other bathroom because it's 'for boys'; she lays on 'the girls' pillow' when she climbs into my bed on Saturday mornings. We counteract that as much as we can, reminding her that "there are many ways to be a girl" , but it's an uphill battle. Messages are subtle and pervasive.
For the moment, at least, her favorite superhero is still Ms. Marvel--and if I had to guess, I would say that it's probably because there are only 2 female superheroes routinely displayed on the show --Ms. Marvel and Scarlet Witch, and she looks a little more like Ms. Marvel.
If she decides to become a doctor, she'll have a long row to hoe--the uphill battle that women in the sciences get to take on is nothing new. I'm hoping that along the way she still loves superheroes and comic books and cartoons. So won't you consider letting her SEE herself in these mediums? Won't you let her have a picture to color that looks like her?
When you cut the girls out of the pictures on Saturday morning cartoons and in the products you sell, you send a clear message, read loud and clear by the kids, that you only want boy fans and tells the Small Hero that she is an anomaly.
You can fix that. You can show girls you want to include them.
-D
#Marvel, #DearMarvel, #MsMarvel, #SuperheroSquad