My Challenge

           For my respected challenge I reviewed Joseph Powell’s review of “Boys and Girls: Superheroes in the Doll Conrer Vivian Gussin Paley”. I chose this article because it referenced what we had discussed in our last class in regards to why boys are more likely than girls to be comic book purchasers and it talked about , “ boys and girls in their respected roles as superheroes and homemakers” ( Powell 218).In comic books, or at least the majority of them, girls are more submissive than boys. It is the boys that take action and the girls who just watch it happen. He talked about their dynamics and why they choose their respected roles. Society ,thus, has us think we have to be something even though we’re not.

              He states that it happens when were really young. Boys take the more assertive roles of robbers, and girls are the ones being robbed. I think that just goes to show the reason why boys are more so at a young age able to relate to being a superhero and get into reading comic books. Girls don’t see themselves in these comic books and don’t start reading them when their young. By the time their older they are to set in their ways and not as patient at trying to get to understand the comic book.   Therefore, I think this was a good article because it illuminates the reason why girls can not and are not such big fans of comic books. Society tells them it is not their place. Which is really sad, and unless the comic book world can change that, it could be the set thought that brings the comic book industry to its knees.

        In addition, I have a few suggestions in ways the comic book world can make their industry a more female friendly environment. First, I'd like to have many more female heroines. They are so out numbered by male heroes, and I feel a lot of the better writers out there are more hesistant to write for them. In order for girls to want to buy comics, they are going to have to want to emulate the characters in them and with the type of female heroines currently out there I can see why they hesistate. Secondly, the stores have to be set up in a way that is easier for girls to understand the organization. Girls like organization something many comic book stores never tend to have. Why not have like a small brochure explaining to them how everything is laid out so they don't accidently open a comic book that will forever turn them off. Thirdly, come on gentlemen help a girl out? I think the employees at the store have to be willing to walk up to a girl and ask them if they need help with something. So many times comic book employees just sit behind their register not really doing anything. They should be more proactive.
                                                   

Powell, Jerry. Winterthur Portfolio. 2/3 ed. Vol. 21. N.p.: University of Chicago, n.d. 218-19.

JSTOR. Web. 15 Dec. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/1181085>.