Being A Superhero: Is It An Easy Task
The Struggle to Be a Superhero
Most children dreamed to become superheroes, but not all. Superheroes are loved by people for their ability to fight crime and save the day. But, if one really considers it, is it possible to still dream of being a superhero? It would be difficult to be a superhuman mutant living in our modern world. I don’t think I would want to be a superhero in our current world. I would be stereotypicald and would be subject to prejudice.
Being a superhero would make me stereotyped in many ways in today’s society. Chuck Tate writes in his essay “The Stereotypical Wonder Woman”, that girls don’t want to be women if their feminine archetype lacks strength and force. Because men are generally seen as the dominant and most powerful in society, being a woman is difficult enough. It would be hard for a female superhero to succeed today because of all the opinions and familiarity with super heroes. People would expect her to do well as a woman and as a superhero. Tate says that gender stereotypes are common in all cultures (154). Women are more vulnerable to negative stereotypes than men due to their past experiences as the weakest, least powerful, or most troubled woman. While women have gained respect over the years and I am grateful for that, I can’t accept being subject to negative stereotypes. Today’s society views superheroes as clichés and targets for discrimination and prejudice. Scott Fishman’s article titled, “Getting Inside Heroes’ Minds” explains that the popular X-Men series is more about prejudice, segregation, and how a dominant cultural, social, and financial group effectively ostracizes, and creates, through images and language, the ‘other.’ (par 2). Although they are a diverse and multicultural group, many people had negative opinions about them because they were considered mutants. People are less likely to have an opinion negative toward people who see them as different than they are because they lack the knowledge and ability to make objective judgments. I wouldn’t wish to be a super hero, saving the lives of those around me, to then get criticised and victimized just for being different. Mikhail Lyubansky’s essay titled “Prejudice lessons from the Xavier Institute” suggested that anti-mutant bias developed because people were predisposed not to recognize the humanity and follow the demands made by the fanatical few (80). Even though they may not be judging another person, human nature is naturally judgmental. My personality makes it difficult for me to accept negative opinions or judgments about myself. To be criticized as a mutant or a woman with superpowers unlike other people would make me look like an X-Men superhero. This is why being a hero would be an invitation to discrimination.
Superheroes have more responsibility than most people can handle. Nansook Park and Christopher Peterson in their essay “The Positive Psychology for Superheroes” state that “one of one’s defining characteristics is a mission to serve and defend the greater world” (8). If I were a superhero, I would admit that fighting crime also means destroying areas of the city. Superheroes save and protect lives. While saving multiple lives can be a great feeling, it is not the same as any other feeling. However, I would have to take responsibility for the lives of others. Wind Goodfriend wrote an essay entitled “The Social Psychology of Justice League of America”. She stated that heroes can bond with one another and learn from each other after such a frightening and dangerous experience (24). It is quite intimidating for superheroes to be placed in situations beyond the control of police and government. While having a strong team is always good for heroes, it’s not common for them to share the same responsibility as the others. I would be incapable of handling the large responsibility that comes with being a superhero.
Many people admire superheroes. Their powers and abilities are extraordinary, and they inspire admiration. I didn’t think I could ever be a superhero. I knew that I wouldn’t have the same powers as superheroes. Many critics also view them negatively as they are placed in dangerous situations. While I wouldn’t desire to be a super hero in our modern society, the idea is intriguing and sparks interest.
