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[annathepiper]

Black Widow

I just spotted this report of Black Widow flash mobs all over the world today, all in the name of encouraging Marvel and Disney that yes, dammit, there is a market for female superhero merchandise, and that superheroes are not just for boys.

I’m not a cosplayer so I can’t really join the flash mobs–even though according to the Mary Sue’s report, there’s one right here in Seattle. To wit: AWESOME. But I love me some Natasha. She is the direct and specific reason that I started digitally subscribing to several of Marvel’s titles. And she’s also the reason that at least two different times, I’ve been complimented on a t-shirt choice–because I found this Black Widow t-shirt on WeLoveFine.com. About THE only place to date that I’ve been able to find any Black Widow shirts at all. And that’s a crying shame.

Because it’s insulting to young girls who might want a Black Widow toy to replace her with Iron Man or Captain America on her own motorcycle. Sure, Iron Man and Captain America are awesome, but y’know what? If you’re a young girl wanting a Widow toy, you want Black Widow.

And if you’re a girl–or a woman, or hell, a Marvel fan of any gender–who wants Natasha on a T-shirt, your money is just as good as the people who’re buying the shirts with the rest of the Avengers on ’em. So it boggles my mind that Marvel and Disney can’t see their way clear to releasing some official shirts. THIS IS NOT DIFFICULT.

In the meantime, WeLoveFine.com has our backs. And I may just have to go give them more of my money.

Mirrored from angelahighland.com.

Comments

[ariaflame.livejournal.com]

Do they seriously think that the girls who want Natasha merch will just buy Disney princess stuff instead?

[annathepiper]

Damned if I know, but that certainly seems to be the strategy they're trying to follow--based on what the Mary Sue has been reporting, anyway.

It's like _damn_, people, embrace the power of AND! Little girls can buy princess merch AND superhero merch! So can their parents! People can be VERSATILE that way!

[stickmaker.livejournal.com]

Also, why *wouldn't* boys be interested in a an attractive, competent woman who holds her own in the company of folks like Thor and Captain America?

[annathepiper]

Well, keep in mind that "attractive, competent woman" is a phrase that's going to be way more interesting to boys at puberty or older, and not so much necessarily the target market for actual toys. And the toys are what they want to sell here.

Also keep in mind that not all boys are straight, so "attractive, competent woman" won't necessarily mean squat to a queer kid, who may in fact specifically be WAY more interested in Thor or Captain America. ;)

Still though there are infuriating gender assumptions here that impact both girls and boys. Assumptions that equate "toys that represent girls" with "dolls", and that by extension, boys shouldn't be playing with "dolls" because it means they're sissies. Or maybe queer. Or whatever. Assuming that a boy won't want to play with a Black Widow toy is the same kind of toxic bullshit as assuming that a little girl won't want to cosplay as Thor or Captain America. It's all bullshit, no matter how you slice it.

[annathepiper]

(Though yes, it's stupid of Marvel and Disney to not assume that older male fans won't welcome the chance to show off their approval of Black Widow-related merchandise, either. A lot of the geek crowd very happily plays with toys, after all. And one of the two compliments I got on my shirt was in fact from a guy.)