Girls have Barbie, boys have Batman. Both are equally unattainable body shapes – a Superhero Six-Pack is as hard to achieve as a Barbie waist, as my husband often complains with his paw in the Kettle Chips. But that doesn’t stop my sons aspiring.
With Great Power Comes Great Risk of A&E
Granted, looking like Batman is a lot easier than looking like Barbie. You can wear a mask, for a start. And a full bodysuit with built-in abs. And a cape. No one’s bum looks big in a cape. But kids want to be their idols, don’t they? For Barbie, that means a trip to the nail bar, maybe a little pastry-making, before a pool party at her girlfriend’s house. All unbelievably stereotyped (I nearly exploded with feminism when I Googled what Barbies do – good grief!), but within the realms of possibility. Batman, on the other hand, can fly. Therefore, so can my sons! “Look at me, mummy! I’m at the top of the stairs! I’m Batman!” Before I can say “specially-designed electronic wings”, they are in a heap on the hall floor.
Barnacles – Captain Of All He Misleads
We are huge Octofans in our house. I even used to have a crush on Captain Barnacles till he shattered my illusion with his singing voice on Creature Reports. Think Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia. But my sons’ delusions of “polar bear strength” are a menace. The other day my four-year-old tried to get the baby (a hefty 20 month-old) up from his cot while standing in it himself – luckily I came in before we had to sound the 999. And both my older boys spend their whole bathtime submerged in the murky depths of probably three different flavours of wee – great for their water confidence, shocking for my heart. You can aspire to a bouncy blonde Barbie ’do but an oxygen tank that shoots over your head at first contact with water? Impossible, my friend. Also like Barnacles, they act as though they’re in charge, know everything and must be obeyed at all times. But they’ve been like that since birth. Yoda
If ever there was an example of “don’t judge by appearances”, Yoda is it. This little green creature is the most powerful character in Star Wars. How are my boys supposed to look like him? They haven’t a chance. Now that is an unrealistic body image.
Angry Birds Yoda doesn’t even have a body!
I’m well aware that males are as susceptible to body image issues as females. And that girls play with Octonauts too. As they get older, I know my boys may feel pressure to either be Harry-Styles-skinny or Wolverine-beefy. One day they too will bemoan the inefficacy of stomach crunches while turning steaks on the barbie drinking lager. Until then, I will teach them that they have the perfect bodies to be what they are: themselves.
As a keen fan of Star Wars, the bit about Yoda cracked me up! Great post – so out of the box, it’s refreshing! x 🙂
Thanks lovely!x
Love this – funny but also true. I often feel boys are overlooked in all the (understandable) worrying about unrealistic female body image.I don’t want my boys to ever feel the pressure to go all wolverine any more than I’d want my (imaginary) daughters to be like barbie!
Exactly!
What a fantastic post and so very true, sadly. It’s often the boys I teach that are more concerned about the way they look. It’s so upsetting isn’t it at such a young age. Media and stereotypes need to be far less controversial and much more ‘normal’ only then will every body type be seen as acceptable. X
It’s a good point actually as we often moan about the role models that girls aspire to and now the male superheroes are all rather buff and invincible aren’t they. I’m not sure I would put Captain Barncles in that category though; Thor yes, Captain Barnacles no! I did have a crush on Mr Bloom though
I know several mums who would fight you for the green-fingered one 😉
In my house try as I might I cannot get the boy to play with anything other than bloomin ‘girls’ toys! He is always dressed as a fairy or playing with Cinderalla! So god knows what he wants to be when he’s older! xxx
Good point about batman! I think boys are just born with the in built no fear- and some girls! Surely Yoda should teach them it doesn’t matter what they look like, they can be powerful using their brains!? Rx
Great post as always *sighs* :o)….. but actually you make a very strong point, that boys also have these gender stereotypes thrust down their throats from a young age too… and the Octonauts are fab! X
Thanks lovely!x
Great post. You forgot Tree Fu Tom, though. Magical powers AND the ability to zumba? Nobody can live up to that!
Ah, you’re so right!
This made me smile, but it’s true, boys can and do worry about their bodies. We’ve had a couple of incidents with my younger son where he has dramatically reduced his eating for worry about his body – one at the age of 5 – after the Wii Fit said he was ‘at risk of becoming overweight’. Needless to say he never went on that again!
This is fun and true, the toy industry (and society in general) does fill our kids heads with vain and impossible ambitions. That said, I was surprised by my son’s six pack in training (I call it a 2Pac) and even more surprised when he announced it to me as his ’s*xy pack’. I blame LMFAO for all this s*xy talk!
Great post, made me laugh. Something I worry about for the future with my son #brilliantblogposts
Such a fab post hon! A lighter hearted look at an oh-so-important topic #brilliantblogposts
One of the scarier part of being a parent is this. Media presenting what a hero, superhero body is suppose to be. Hopefully by the time that my son will be aware of this I have given him enough knowledge to know what really is beautiful and whats not. #brilliantblogposts
Such a good point of view, as I only have a daughter I have never thought of it from this point of view before brilliant post #PoCoLo
Hilarious as always!!! Fabulous #PoCoLo xx
Amazing wise lady and an important point made through humour (the most powerful in my book)-Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts
Love this Jess. I am still waiting for a ‘barbie’ out of my three. Skateboards over skipping ropes at the mo. Saying that though Rosa attached my makeup bag the other day. Aunt Sally??!
Thanks Sarah! Aunt Sally – ha ha! Glad to hear Barbie isn’t a role model, hope it stays that way.
Very true, boys are given ‘sexualised’ costumes as well as girls, and yet no-one really notices? The internet explodes when a toddler wears a bikini but not so much when small boys run around in fake 6 packs. Cute post!