Research Essay

Self Identity Matters: Think Outside Stereotypes

Alicia Bhooklall December 11, 2018

In today’s society there are stereotypical images of every personality, and it has become a norm to accept which one you fall under without questions. The idea of the self and the body are crucial to one’s identity. Every human has a variety of body changes, some being ordinary and others being unexpected. These body changes affect people’s identity, changes in the body alter not only your image but your personality. Individuals should embrace all of their changes and ask questions when it comes to their identity. Superhero’s have been a relatable topic when it comes to identity.

Comics and superhero stories have become more culturally diverse, and they have expanded its audience. This expansion has affected young adolescents from different backgrounds. Being able to relate to a superhero character helps these adolescents develop their identities. Personal stories about people’s disabilities are also relatable to young audiences. You don’t have to necessarily have a disability to relate, many young children have the same issues just because of stereotypes and society’s image. There’s ideas that for a young boy to be a man he must be super tough, and have a lack of emotion.

All of these small ideas, and images affect the identity of the audience. In this time and century people are built around everyone else’s opinion. In my opinion, I find it to be odd that we feel so characterized by what other people think. We tend to be entertained by what we watch because we identify with these types of entertainment, even if it’s not noticeable that we are identifying with it.

Cece Bell wrote a narrative about her struggle with becoming deaf and how it affected her self mentally, and emotionally. Cece got sick with meningitis, after battling her sickness she lost her hearing. Cece eventually got hearing aids, but they had wires that came out of her ears and it made her feel self conscious. She wasn’t sure if she would make new friends. When her family moves she develops new friendships, some toxic, and some that are good for her. Cece now in a new neighborhood has to adapt to not only the changes around her, but the changes within her body.

Cece made up a superhero persona that helped her cope with her changes. “Cece’s life is full of the drama and trials of any school-child, but deafness complicates them, and she sometimes feels she exists in a bubble of loneliness.” (Bouton Aug 22, 2014). Cece’s friendships consisted of others treating her differently because she’s deaf. Cece made friends with Laura, and Laura belittles Cece, for example when the girls decided to wear matching outfits Laura makes her feel bad about herself, “This color green looks better on me you know.” (Bell 56). Cece didn’t say anything back to her but she thought to herself, “I know Laura looks better! And it’s not the stupid color! She doesn’t have to wear this stupid hearing aid all the time! It’s not fair!” (Bell 56). Cece was discouraged, and self conscious, and these emotions are shown visually throughout the novel.

Cece was given new hearing aid, this hearing aid was more powerful than the one she had before. Cece didn’t want to wear it because it was so big, but her hearing was so much better. She soon figured out that she could hear where her teacher was and what she was doing anywhere in the building. After realized she had this ability she created “El Deafo” her superhero persona.

Having this persona made her feel safe. It also gave her confidence and it helped her find her identity outside of the stereotypes.

“Sara Bright states,“There is literally no other place besides comix where you can find women speaking the truth and using their pictures to show you, in vivid detail, what it means to live your life outside of the stereotypes and delusions” (As cited in Chute, 2011, p. 4).” (Kersten 2018).

Cece soon enough found friends that would accept her the way she is, and she is no longer feels discouraged when it comes to her disability.”According to Rudine Sims-Bishop (1990), children’s literature has the possibility to be a window into unfamiliar experiences; a mirror reflecting back recognizable experiences; and even a sliding glass door where readers can walk through to become part of the world the author has created or described.” (Kersten 2018). This graphic novel narrative is easy for the younger audience to understand. For most that don’t have a disability it’s still a relatable story for young kids that feel like outcasts.

Men of color have been neglected in superhero stories, and comics but that has began to change, the stereotype is being broken. The stereotypical superhero comes in the shade of white, the recent movie “Black Panther” has changed this stereotype in many ways,

“The black superheroes appeal to readers because the characters act as heroes and as men. This is in contrast to the stereotypical images of superheroes as whites with hyper-masculine characteristics.” (Brown 2018).

No doubt that this movie has created a new cultural experience for those that don’t know much of African culture. This movie creates a platform for young boys of color to feel comfortable. This platform also allows these young boys to feel like they belong and allows them to identify with a superhero.

The movie also covers the topic of skin color, which is very important to the audiences and how they relate the topic of skin color to their identity. The fact that Black Panther is an African, allows young African-American and African boys to identify with their skin color, and even culture. “Black Panther is not a superhero who happens to be black. His blackness — and the fact that he is African, not African-American — goes to the absolute center of his identity and the overarching theme of the movie. Moreover, Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger (the best, most nuanced “villain” in superhero-movie history) represents the African-American experience that, yes, skin color absolutely does matter.”(Kirby-Page 2018).

Jeffery A. Brown said “The audience for comics is truly multicultural one; in fact, it is more ethnically diverse than are the heroes the young people read about.” (Brown 2018). Brown conducted research on Milestone Inc. that he based “ not only on young black readers of milestone, but on fans from diverse cultural backgrounds.” (Brown 2018). He studied how the idea of masculinity also affects young boys and how they identify themselves. “I like Icon and Static and Hardware because they’re tough guys, but not too tough, if you know what I mean.” At the time, I did not know what he meant (“tough guys, but not too tough”?!?), but as I spoke with more comic book readers it became increasingly apparent that masculinity in contemporary comic books is understood according to the medium’s quintessential depiction of masculine duality.”(Brown 2018). The idea that men as superhero’s are suppose to be super strong. This idea is uncanny to the young audience, and the image that these superhero’s from Milestone aren’t “too tough” seemingly shows that there’s a pressure for young boys to be oddly masculine.

Ms. Marvel, also known Kamala Khan, is a Muslim Pakistani-American teenager that was confused about her life. She was then granted powers by Captain Marvel and she experienced many body changes. Kamala goes through physical changes when she transforms into Ms.Marvel. There’s things about her appearance as Ms.Marvel she not comfortable with so she decides to change it. Kamala had a wish to be normal, she didn’t feel like she fit in. This idea of not fitting in is common in the younger audience, and that’s the main audience.

In the beginning of “Ms. Marvel: No Normal” by Wilson Alphona, before Kamala gets her powers she is upset with her life, “Why am I the only one who gets signed out of health class? Why do I have to bring pakoras to school for lunch? Why am I stuck with the weird holidays? Everybody else gets to be normal. Why can’t I?” (Alphona No Normal 1). Kamala wanted to be like her friends, I believe that every young child at a point wants to be like their friends. Marla Desat from the escapist magazine wrote, “Everyone has experienced a moment where something about their life, their family, their religion, or themselves has made them wish they could cast off their differences and just be normal.” (Desat 2014)

Kamala gets what she wants, she’s given super powers, but she’s not comfortable. Kamala feels uncomfortable in the outfit she’s wearing. She finds it too revealing so she changes it to her style. She soon starts to realize that she is her own normal.

“Kamala begins to realize that there is no normal. To be a good person, to be a hero, she doesn’t need to change herself. She just needs to choose to act.” (Desat 2014).

Kamala enters the unknown, like every other teenager that enters a stage in their life where they aren’t sure what is going on. She has new found powers but she doesn’t know how she is suppose to use them.

“Feeling betrayed by her friend and confused by her body’s new ability to change shape, Kamala turns to the internet to try to research her new morphing powers. Kamala’s powers let her change her shape by growing large, shrinking small, or changing her look to become a doppelganger.” (Desat 2014).

Kamala soon decides to use her power to become a superhero, this is relatable for the audience. When entering the unknown and starting to learn about what you’re entering you adapt and soon after it’s not an unknown, but a comfort zone.

 If you are ever confused about who you are, or you’re struggling with your identity and body changes that are like an unknown to you, just know you’re not alone. There’s so many generations that have identified themselves through their experiences, adaptations, and body changes and they have turned out alright. Always ask your questions, you are not a stereotype you are who you want to be, don’t be afraid to be you.

Works Cited

 

  • Alphona, Wilson. “Ms. Marvel: No  Normal”. Published 2015.
  • Bell, Cece. “El Deafo”. Published 2014.

 

 

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