Goodbye Superheroes

When we begin to look at all of the superhero action figurines and posters, you can not help but see the body images that the media has surrounded children with. According to research done by The Adonis Complex, twenty five percent of boys between ages 10 and 14 are dieting to lose weight. It seems apparent that boys would rather choose a body with twenty more pounds of muscle than the body that they have now. Through advertising and other forms of media, children get the idea of a lean and muscular body image. Forms of media such as television, movies, and toys all instill the ideal of what a perfect body looks like. I believe that superheroes are the essence of masculinity in children's popular culture. The superheroes show masculinity by flying or swinging through the urban cities taking down criminals with ease. The ability to perform these tasks require a certain physique that is depicted in today's ''animated heroes." Watching the documentary "Bigger, Faster, Stronger" by Christopher Bell has really shed light on the problems our boys and men face as their childhood idols have turned to steroids in order to achieve the ideal bodies. These boys take steroids in order in increase their testosterone levels and muscle growth. However, many are unaware of the detrimental side affects steroids at such a young age. Steroid consumption can lead to rage attacks, depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety. 

While talking about the steroid use, the documentary also talks about the evolution of action figures. Over the years these figurines have bulked up in size. When translated into human terms, the chest of these Superheroes were 55 inches and his biceps were an unrealistic 27 inches. These impractical body image extremes expose young boys to the dangers that they are unable to answer. Body image is mainly tied to the self-esteem of many children in the US. Studies have shown it is more important for teenage boys to be aesthetically appealing than academically proficient.Due to the rising issues of body images, boys with these ideals instilled in their minds are more prone to depression.