Karen at Girl Wonder and Ill Iterate Anne have already dealt with this but I had to add my ''WTF???'' Seriously, cosmetics and ''I love boys'' tees? Broken heart necklaces? Is that the best you could come up with Marvel? Can I please see your inspiration for these products aimed at FEMALES! (sorry, I assume they become loud and robotic every time they have to acknowledge the 'other' gender) as I'm certain it's not the FEMALE comic readers I know.
So, lets take a look at the merchandise on offer for us wimmins.
Firstly, the pendants;
Now usually these things are for 'BFF' or maybe 'True Love' type necklaces so I'm not understanding the characters chosen......so if I give the Spidey half to Mr McScamp, he gets to be all clever, witty and heroic and I keep the Gwen half so I end up..........oh.....I don't have much to aspire to there now do I?
Onto the 'cosmetics'
Flavoured lipgloss. I like make up, I am a feeble female after all who just likes to put sparkly things on my face, but these aren't doing it for me. I am a grown woman fully capable of making my own decisions within the realm of cosmetics and these just wouldn't make the cut for any practical or aesthetic reason. I can only come to the conclusion that they are marketed towards young girls who have not yet formed any opinion on make up and therefore need to be told that they must conform to the beauty myth as soon as possible. It's all about the male gaze little wimmins, not your opinions on the works of Ellis or Bendis.
And lastly the T-shirts....
*sigh* I love boys......? I'm not certain why they rock as I've never known them to be accomplished musicians but please tell me why women can only show affection for the male characters rather than aspire to be just like them or an awesome female character? And what's with the v-neck and infantilised characterisations? I suppose the former could be attributed to reading a ''clothes to suit your shape'' article in Cosmo but the latter? We like babies.....or baby versions of the men we want to have sexual relations with but not be equal to? Very confusing messages there.
In conclusion all I can say is way to go Marvel! You've managed to ignore for years and now when you finally acknowledge our existence and loyalty to your creations you patronise us with cheap tat, thanks for that.
I'm not sure if the boys over at Marvel are completely clueless but I can only assume they are so here's some advice: T-shirts in womens sizes. I know, I know, it might seem like a controversial idea but it's the way forward, it's pretty much what every FEMALE comic lover I've ever spoken to wants....oh.......and to quit it with that whole Women In Refrigerators thing, but you know, baby steps.
