Not All Supermen
Sexism, Toxic Masculinity, and the Complex History of Superheroes
Zusammenfassung
An eye-opening exploration of the toxic masculinity and sexism that pervades the superhero genre.
Superheroes have been exciting and inspirational cultural icons for decades, dating back to the debut of Superman in the 1930s. The earliest tales have been held up as cornerstones of the genre, looked upon with nostalgic reverence. However, enshrining these tales also enshrines many outdated values that have allowed sexist gender dynamics to thrive.
In Not All Supermen: Sexism, Toxic Masculinity, and the Complex History of Superheroes, Tim Hanley examines how anger, aggression, and violence became the norm in superhero comics, paired with a disdain for women that the industry has yet to fully move beyond. The sporadic addition of new female heroes over the years proved largely ineffective, the characters often underused and objectified. Hanley also reveals how the genre’s sexism has had real-world implications, with many creators being outed as sexual harassers and bigots, while intolerant fan movements are awash with misogynistic hate speech.
Superheroes can be a force for good, representing truth, justice, and courage, but the industry is laden with excessive baggage. The future of the genre depends on what elements of its past are celebrated and what is left behind. Not All Supermen unravels this complex history and shows how superheroes can become more relevant and inspiring for everyone.
Schlagworte
inclusion Sexism Racism Comics Marvel homophobia Superman Metoo Spider-Man Thor Wonder Woman X-Men Aquaman Avengers Iron Man Batman Captain America DC comic books graphic novels Supergirl Teen Titans The Hulk The Wasp Watchmen Wolverine Marvel Cinematic Universe Image Comics Ant-man Batgirl Jean Gray Captain Marvel sexualization of women superheroes toxic masculinityKeywords
masculinity- 1–12 1: Origins 1–12
- 13–22 2: Codification 13–22
- 23–34 3: Marvelous 23–34
- 35–44 4: Mania 35–44
- 45–56 5: Divergence 45–56
- 57–66 6: Overpowered 57–66
- 67–76 7: Despair 67–76
- 77–88 8: Caliber 77–88
- 89–100 9: Exaggeration 89–100
- 101–110 10: Breakdown 101–110
- 111–122 11: Frozen 111–122
- 123–132 12: Barriers 123–132
- 133–142 13: Pride 133–142
- 143–152 14: Supremacy 143–152
- 153–164 15: Assemble 153–164
- 165–174 16: Power 165–174
- 175–184 17: Instigate 175–184
- 185–188 Conclusion 185–188
- 189–190 Acknowledgments 189–190
- 191–226 Notes 191–226
- 227–228 Bibliography 227–228
- 229–238 Index 229–238
- 239–240 About the Author 239–240