Portrayal of Superheroines in Marvel Graphic Novels and Film Adaptations

Abstract

Gender stereotypes have been present in Marvel graphic novels and films to varying degrees over the years, but there have been some efforts to subvert these stereotypes in recent films. In the early days of Marvel films, female characters were often relegated to supporting roles, with limited screen time and character development. They were often portrayed as love interests or damsels in distress, rather than fully realized characters with their own motivations and agency. However, in more recent films like Captain Marvel and Black Widow, there have been efforts to give female characters more prominent roles and to subvert gender stereotypes. Captain Marvel is a powerful superhero who is not defined by her gender, and Black Widow is a skilled and complex character with a rich backstory. That being said, there is still room for improvement in terms of representation and diversity in Marvel graphic novels and film adaptations. The studio has been criticized for its lack of LGBTQ+ representation and its limited representation of characters from underrepresented communities. The paper discusses the gender ideologies and stereotypes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.