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I love The Avengers. A lot. So when it came to my attention that some Marvel Avengers shirts might be sexist, I didn’t want to believe it because it made me sad. I have a bunch of Marvel merch–one t-shirt I wear all the time with the male Avengers on it that says “I love men in uniform” (get it?), a Thor shirt that says “It’s Hammer Time” and another Marvel hoodie. I sort of really love the franchise and have no problem showing it on my shirts, none of which I think are sexist at all.
But when you look at the shirts they’re talking about, you can kind of see it. Let’s go through the two in question.
I will note, however, that people who previously called out Marvel on these shirts being sexist also complained that the boys’ shirt was cheaper than the girls’ shirt, but there’s a legit reason behind that: The boys’ shirt is for young boys and toddlers, whereas the girls’ shirt is in the juniors’ section, which is designed and cut for people our age–and those are always pricier, and a young men’s shirt would likely be similar in price, too. So if we’re gonna criticize, we’re gonna do it fairly.
In any case, here goes.
In this boys’ shirt, it says “Be a Hero” and has the most caustic of the Avengers, Iron Man, emblazoned across the front. Pretty badass, right?
Source: DisneyStore.com
Now take a gander at this cute red number for the ladies. It has all of the Avengers present … except Black Widow. That’s a little irritating in itself, but also look at the words: “I need a hero.”
Source: Superhero Stuff
Now, knowing how much I love the Avengers–I can totally see it. And it bugs me. If you wear the second shirt, then yes, you do need a hero. Like Gloria Steinem, who will remind you that you can be your own hero and don’t need some dude in a cape or with a shield to save you. But more importantly, you also need a hero on your shirt to complete it, because you’re missing a crucial part of the Avengers Assembly.
Do you think the girls’ Avengers shirt is sexist? Do you think Avengers’ merch unfairly leaves Black Widow out? Who’s your favorite Marvel hero? Tell us in the comments!
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This is just silly. There’s nothing wrong with the shirt.
I have to agree it’s not’ if ANYTHING it’s probably just a refrence from Bonnie Tyler’s song from thr 80′s. >___>
ITS NOT SEXIST
I find it ridiculous that if something isn’t fair it’s sexist. So what if it says you need a hero? Think of how the Disney princesses all needed their prince or knight in shining armor. Many girls grow up wanting that, in no way does it mean we are helpless, but who wouldn’t want someone to be there for them when we need them the most? If I was trapped in a burning building I wouldn’t reject the help of a man just because I’m too much of an independent woman and can be my own hero. That’s foolish. And like Penny said there are other avengers not on it. But the ones that are on there are obviously the more popular ones that sell.
On a side note, I think it’d be pretty cool if a women’s shirt was released with Black Widow and also said, “Be a Hero.”
(“Good luck with that,” I say to myself…”
@Penny: The graphic does exclude what I must assume are the two least popular avengers (since lots of merchandise leaves them both out), but leaving Black Widow out wasn’t the only sexist part of the shirt. “I Need a Hero,” a women’s shirt sold contemporaneously with a men’s shirt which said “Be a Hero,” was the part which the writer argued was sexist. I do agree that the omission of Black Widow wasn’t necessarily to omit a woman from the shirt, but the shirt could still be construed as sexist, either way.
I don’t get it. Everything is sexist to you guys. Take a pill and chill it.
Nope doesn’t bother me at all. I think you guys are just over reacting
From a 15 year old girl
This is absolutely ridiculous. I’m becoming really pissed of at this site. You guys are BEYOND feminist. You go looking for stupid little issues that aren’t even important. I would wear this shirt in heart beat, I don’t see what’s sexist about it. Like the other girl said, Hawkeye is missing as well as AntMan who appears in the comics, and he is NOT a girl. You guys are getting extremely irritating by taking this stuff too far.
How bout it’s just a shirt an we leave it at that?
The red shirt for women is actually excluding TWO avengers members, black widow and HAWKEYE! So that shirts isn’t being sexist becuase Hawkeye is a man and he was excluded also, it wasn’t just black widow. It’s very frustrating when people make accusations when they don’t have all their facts right.