This past weekend amid the Kentucky Derby, Game 7 of the NBA Quarterfinals and the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight, The Avengers: Age of Ultron opened in the theaters. This it the second installment in this series and one of many more Marvel films coming out in the next few years.
The characters of these stories have left the comic books and on to the big screen and are now used in marketing and advertisements. From soda cans and t-shirts, smart phone apps and toothbrushes, the Avengers are everywhere and more than likely they will not be going away anytime soon.
In this world of super heroes and world dominating seeking super villains an interesting trend has emerged. As noted by Rev. David Hansen, a Lutheran minister in the Houston area, girls are being left out. Below is what can only we described as an epic father looking out for his daughter and girls everywhere Twitter rant. This is not the type of rant we normally see on Twitter; Rev. David is not complaining about his Starbucks order or how much he will miss Zanye from One Direction, rather it is a heart-felt complaint about the lack of girls in the Avengers marketing.
In the first Avengers film there was only one character that was female, Black Widow. In the sequel they add Scarlet Witch but as you see these characters are being marketed the same way as the “big boys” Thor and Iron Man. Even Ultron the super villain gets more press than these two female characters.
I’ll let Rev. David take it from here.
Can you tell what's missing from this @Marvel Avengers set at @Target? #ShesAnAvenger #heros4girls http://t.co/qWfNLROqPs
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David L Hansen (@rev_david) April 24, 2015Seriously, @Marvel @Target. Get it together. How many Avengers toys? And not ONE of Black Widow or Scarlet Witch? #fail #heros4girls
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David L Hansen (@rev_david) April 24, 2015It can't be just marketing - there are plenty of us who would buy items branded with female heroes - so why? #heros4girls Marvel @Target
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David L Hansen (@rev_david) April 24, 2015I get it. A big corporation isn't gonna do the right thing *just because* it's the right thing ... @Target @Marvel
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David L Hansen (@rev_david) April 24, 2015So let me speak your language: It's costing you sales - there's an eager audience. #heros4girls @Target @Marvel
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David L Hansen (@rev_david) April 24, 2015Yes, I will continue to enjoy the @Marvel universe. @Target
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David L Hansen (@rev_david) April 24, 2015But when looking for things to geek out ab with my daughter, it's things with female leads featured. Will you lose a generation? @Marvel
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David L Hansen (@rev_david) April 24, 2015Related: Check out @YatesComics new series: @BlueJuiceComics Anne Bonnie. Great comic, strong lead, child friendly http://t.co/Vn0MwTqFmE
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David L Hansen (@rev_david) April 24, 2015</endrant>
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David L Hansen (@rev_david) April 24, 2015
Rev. David wants his daughter and I want my daughter and every girl to have someone to be their ‘super hero’ or even have something in common with their family members. This weekend my daughter and I watched the Star Wars Clone Wars animated series and she loved it. Had I told her “that’s a boy show” we would have never had a good time just sitting with each other watching something in common. You haven’t lived until you have to explain to a five-year old what the force is.
The delineation of “boy” toys and “girl” toys needs to stop. We have to stop categorizing toys, career options and colors to a dichotomy of this or that. If my daughter wants to watch Star Wars then she will, if she wants to watch My Little Ponies then she will.
We can not tell children especially girls that they can do whatever they want when they grow up but then do not give them options that promote strong female leads in society and even in fantasy. We can not lose a another generation to gender stereotyping.
Marvel has several more movies coming out in the next few years and they need to remember that girls are fans of Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch and the Hulk as well.
We need to remember not only today but everyday that girls need heroes too.
In Christ,
Rev. Evan
Rev. Dr. Evan M. Dolive 
