Bring on the female superheroes! | Christopher Bell

Why is it so hard to find female superhero merchandise? In this passionate, sparkling talk, media studies scholar (and father of a Star Wars-obsessed daughter) Christopher Bell addresses the alarming lack of female superheroes in the toys and products marketed to kids -- and what it means for how we teach them about the world.
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[@AguzSuiCaedere]

How many people actually WATCHED the video instead of just the title before commenting?

[@kulik03]

I ain't watching that crap

[@durpface1087]

Then you're an intellectual coward.

[@CadmonAlima]

The first ten seconds didn't help either.

[@jazzalterio692]

OMG YAAASSS, I'm so grateful for this talk

[@sirMAXX77]

Or down voted even. This is a good lecture and brings up some really good points.

[@Yoshermon]

I came to this video expecting to laugh and cringe at someone getting overly offended by things that don't matter, but after watching it I realized that he's actually bringing up some fair points. He's not just whining about the usual "hurr durr everything is sexist male superheroes are sexist and female superheroes are sexist" crap, he's pointing out that the female characters in movies like The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy barely exist in any form of merchandise, from either being completely absent to having toys representing major scenes they were in straight up replacing them with one of the male characters. I think it's weird for any major character in a film to be completely absent from said film's merchandise, male or female. So unless there is a solid reason why Disney and others have completely given the girl characters the shaft, then I'd say that this is probably one of the few cases of actual sexism going on that isn't completely blown out of proportion.

[@minion8]

+

[@MartchZ]

+

[@HoneyBadgerRadio]

Women are victims of merchandising!

[@ksng767]

The solid reason is money. The market for females interested in comic book toys is far smaller compared to males. And there isn't even a lack in female super hero toys, do an actual search on ebay and amazon and you'll get countless female superhero toys. And there's even Barbie doll versions of superheroes but no Ken versions of super heroes, or for any other doll in general.

[@Shangori]

It's basic supply and demand. Why would you create toys that won't sell? Every company explores the possibility of creating the largest profit. That means that if you create exactly enough of a product, keeping the production costs low by increasing the amount of toys you make, but limiting the amount so you won't over-produce and have to write off a bunch of toys: that's when you make the most money. Now, what if they researched the target audience for what toys they would buy and found that they would not sell enough of the toys of specific characters to make the production cost low enough to be worth the investment? Why would they still invest? Just to make it 'fair' towards those who attach themselves to the groups they think the character is tied to? Why? Whats in it for them? A good feeling? In short: its basic economics thats keeping them from creating these toys. It really is that easy. And if people would actually use their brain, they couldve found that out by themselves

[@cierrablue]

I don't really understand why people hate this video so much.

[@pussypuffs]

as with every other point in life, people dive into hate before understanding. those people just didnt watch the video and either mistook it for something else, or wanted it to be something they can complain about. theyre really no better than those horrible "fsjw's" they love to hate: constructing an opinion based on what they want and feel and putting everything into black and white categories with no in-depth knowledge of and no stakes in the current situation.

[@jahkrmusic]

Actually kinda. People may jumped the gun on this BUT it is well warranted. TED talk has recently becoming more and more like buzzfeed in their Social Justice agenda as opposed to Science, Technology, and global economics. The last video posted last week was a prime example of how low they have sunken. So when this video was posted with it's title, people have already distrusted TED and disliked it immediately to prove that point. It is not out of loving to hate, but just look at the other videos and see for yourself. I was even pleasantly surprised by this video and reassured.

[@Miranox2]

People understand it very well. It's yet another social justice propaganda video which makes a lot of empty claims and spreads disinformation. That is why people dislike it.

[@Cryptonymicus]

Sexism.

[@anasilviatelleriamartinez1812]

I think it is because they grow in a society with the same problem he is describing, and because they are still alive they thoughts are like melt in that wrong way of thinking.

[@Gabeleeen]

If you guys would fucking watch the video before disliking, thanks!

[@notsquirrel8141]

Agreed

[@Miranox2]

People also like the video before watching but I don't see you complaining about that. Double standards much?

[@shubhraagarwal9250]

Miranox people will dislike the video if they decide they don't like it after they watch it (even if they liked it b4 watching it) ... can't say the same for many of the ones who dislike as they don't even finish watching the whole thing.

[@Awsomeman123321]

I don't see why people are mad about this?

[@Drudenfusz]

I guess it is because they assume it is just the same old feminist propaganda with which most people have become fed up with. Feminism just has ruined any reasonable gender debate.

[@Deathmachine513]

The title put everyone off before they saw the video. I almost just dropped a dislike and left until I saw comments that indicated that it was not merely someone saying toys women sexist racist oppression of homeless transexual badgers LGBTQDOEKLDOIWQDLKLXMNM+++*x^2.

[@Mooseplatoon]

That's of course assuming that there were reasonable gender debates before feminism, of which I've seen none. I mean, feminism existed in the 1960's, where spousal abuse was actively encouraged in advertising. It only gets more terrifying the further back you go.

[@davidsirmons]

Not me. I love female action heroes. Always have.

[@supershinigami1]

I just KNEW that there would be so many dislikes for literally no reason.

[@emilyhancock3456]

+Aaron Shotwell but it's hardly an extreme proposition that he's putting forward, he's just saying that although female superheroes appear in movies like the Avengers, there's next to no merchandise for their characters and there are a lot of kids who'd like to buy toys/costumes etc of those characters so it would be cool to provide that

[@emilyhancock3456]

***** I don't know, maybe that will happen, maybe it won't..some people thought the new Star Wars would tank because a girl was the lead and the film was traditionally geared towards a male audience (which is weird since I know many girls/women, like myself, who love Star Wars (though not Episodes I through III - those were just freaking terrible) and also guys who would have zero problem whether the lead was a girl or a guy, so long as the movie itself was cool) and it did awesomely at the box office. Sometimes you've got to take a risk to create a new market.

[@badlydrawnturtle8484]

I watched the video and counted 5 distinct false claims. So no, they aren't for ‘literally no reason’. They're just for a reason you don't agree with.

[@thesquishedelf1301]

+Badly Drawn Turtle The video is also at least a year old. What is false now was not necessarily false when he gathered his information. It is unreasonable to assume, in modern fast-paced society, that what was true even a year ago is still true, and that one's arguments formed a year ago show bad reasoning. If the reason for disliking was that the information is currently outdated, and there is a false belief the video is not outdated, that's simple laziness, worse than "literally no reason".

[@badlydrawnturtle8484]

The Squished 1. The most egregious false claim is that of ‘90% of the media is controlled by 6 companies’. That is not something that has ever been true. 2. The video was posted two days ago. If they posted a video of which much of its information is outdated, it is still a legitimate criticism. 3. The outdated information was used to support a claim that the media wouldn't do certain things. Since the media has proceeded to do those things, he was wrong.

[@k3nny111]

Good talk, solid arguments - and a comment section full of triggered jackasses. Perlen vor die Säue, as we say in Germany.

[@edmanrapperu]

Everyone is stupid except me. Truly, I am a patrician unlike these common plebs.

[@MrTShbib]

Allah ackbar, as we also say in Germany.

[@ekmad]

Love that virtue signalling, haven't you got some Arab "refugees" to give money to?

[@Drudenfusz]

I agree with OP that the video is not bad, but I can understand that so many frustrated people leash out, since they have become so damaged by feminism that they are paranoid and see it now everywhere and thus have became incapable of rational thinking.

[@k3nny111]

Drudenfusz I agree. My intial response was by the way the same. I saw the title of the video, rolled eyes and braced myself for some SJW over-zealousness. Hyperfeminism has traumatized people to the point that no actual conversation is possible anymore. Which is unfortunate when someone, like the speaker in this video, comes along and actually makes some valid points.

[@buzhichun]

I'm glad TED ignores the downvote brigading and keeps uploading great videos.

[@TheAnnoyingGunner]

Meh.

[@emilyhancock3456]

+DOOT DOOT same

[@ShadowDrake102]

It depends, case by case. Their last upload was utter crap. I understand that they want to branch out a bit but please can they go back to the science and in interesting topics that put them apart? I subbed to see interesting new physics, biology, etc. It's become buzz feed but (sometimes) with more legitimacy.

[@mathinvitti7954]

To alpha: spoken like a true douche bag.

[@kilgoretrout1952]

+

[@olivergbgbgb]

Bring on the pansexual superheroes OR I WILL BE TRIGGERED

[@thomaster8870]

Seriously, though. He's got a point. Disney might be trying to avoid people uttering the words "breasts, tight skinsuit and childrens' toys" in the same sentence, because that might have severe consequences from a markteting standpoint, but this is getting kind of ridiculous. I mean, it'd be okay if someone else would just produce the female idol merchandise in their stead, but knowing Nintendo they'd probably copyright takedown them to death in order to protect their -IP- "image". I think Nintendo wants to promote an image of being ruthless and uncompromosing in their ideals and methods.

[@residentgrigo4701]

Like Deadpool?

[@jessicaameter7730]

Dr. Bell teaches at my college in my major, which is Communication- Media Studies! I've taken several classes with him and he's definitely been the most influential person in my academic career, everything that I study and care about I do because of him. I seriously respect him so much, and I plan on taking more classes with him as I complete my Master's degree

[@WitchyLady21]

You are one lucky student!

[@yessir3882]

I just saw a speech irl from him

[@lindseyoreilly9211]

He's a professor at my college and I got to take an independent study with him on sports communication! He's a phenomenal teacher

[@kinsmed]

So many important points. And so well presented. And still the 7-year-old boys hate. But don't know why.

[@bookfan1239]

Probably because they didn't watch the video, just saw the title and assumed that it was about hating boys and loving girls, even though the speaker himself is MALE. Some people just don't use common sense. The Internet really sucks sometimes.

[@Deathmachine513]

The gender of the speaker doesn't matter, men can be SJW's too you know.

[@theoneonyoutube4925]

+Termostaatti That isn't what was said.

[@kateapples1411]

Only a sprinking of sjwness, I don't see why people seem 'triggered' over the video. As someone who has been frustrated with some of the TED talks in the past this one isn't bad and is something that I wish to see in society. Hardly so extreme as to say "Down with gendered toy isles", but actively replacing female characters with males to change the scene and avoiding the production of toys based on female characters from the same media as the male ones is frustrating.

[@TheAnnoyingGunner]

You mean replacing male characters with females. And yes, that is already happening, because those pandering feminists are too incompetent to actually create something new that fits their criteria. All they are able to is forcing existing IPs to change according to their will and most of the time those IPs commit suicide in the process, because no one likes this crap. Girls generally becoming more like boys and boys generally becoming more like girls is not something desirable.

[@Mooseplatoon]

For all of their complaints about SJW's hypersensitivity, anti-SJW people are just as quick to be offended by/hostile towards anything that mentions women, both on and off the internet.

[@Oddsors]

Feel free to provide sources for this supposed "forced change" placed upon existing IPs.

[@Eruviluieth_]

+TheAnnoyingGunner why is it undesirable that genders become more like each other? I would see that as equality. Males being allowed to like feminine stuff without being regarded as less, and females to like masculine stuff without being seen as better than a woman who doesn't or seen as too masculine and that being wrong again.

[@thesquishedelf1301]

+TheAnnoyingGunner I would posit that what this is about is NOT trying to make boys more like girls and vice versa, but to lessen/cease the endless marginalisation of those who fit on the edges of the stereotype bell curves. It's less about convincing one to be more like the other than showing each side the benefits and drawbacks of each, and encouraging them to respect them as equally valuable but fundamentally different, and not assaulting, verbally or physically, those who do not fit in so rigidly. While that may be a difficult concept to get a 7-year-old's mind around, it's still worth the effort, because around 7 is when the rigidity self-enforced by the young becomes dangerous to those who do not fit within their tightly-defined walls of what is and isn't right.

[@Lazersyrup]

This video needs more views. I have struggled my whole life trying to explain this to people. Thank you for dictating it so wonderfully.

[@heythere4926]

YES YES YES THANK YOU SIR ! As someone who grew up as a huge nerd, and a super fan of Dragon Ball series, when I was a little girl, I was always like: I wish there were more female warriors in the show. But I had faith that there will come a day when that happens .... Maybe when I get older, maybe another show will do it instead.... Sadly, I'm 27 now, and I still ask the same questions: where is female representation? Where are female superheroes ?...etc. When will I stop asking those questions? I wonder...I just hope it won't take too long.

[@danshi0]

this is one of my favorite ted talks

[@sorryicantthinkofacoolname7209]

funny how so many people are getting triggered over this video. Like, OMG! HE WANTS MORE FEMALE SUPERHERO MERCH! THE SJWs ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD!

[@ridepod389]

Clear from the comments that nobody is watching. He isn't asking for more female super heroes. He's saying we got em but we can't buy their merchandise. He even talks about how this divide is unfair to boys and about how boys aren't allowed to buy things that are primarily marketed at girls either. Sure it might be silly to assume there's a big enough market of boys that want traditionally girly things and girls that want traditionally boyish things, but that's what he's asking for. Less gender specific toys and clothing for small children.

[@anamfarooqy3756]

Even kinder joy marks pink for girls and blue for boys whereas I always liked blue and hated pink as a female ever since i was a kid 😕

[@maresfillies6041]

Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash are arguably the best role models I've ever seen in a tv cartoon show for kids. They have flaws, they have aspirations, they have ups and downs and fore foremost they have character I mean legit character which in my honest opinion is unheard of in cartoons for target for kids. I don't care if this is kids show or a girls show, it's about time in general that their is a cartoon show where feminine traits are seen as being powerful! For that reason, I'm proud to be a brony ( a fan ) of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic it's by far the most uplifting cartoon ever. I totally agree with this guy.

[@ashura5221]

+Mares Fillies I agree. I've never come across a show that teaches lessons as well as MLP before. And not useless lessons, MLP is a brilliant show that teaches the important lessons. /)

[@ashura5221]

+Diogenes the Cynic So you admit that Bell is right? Since you think that it's an excuse for liking MLP.

[@maresfillies6041]

***** Why do I need an excuse to like a cartoon show? A cartoon show about friendship for that matter. lmao

[@tysonasaurus6392]

Excited for Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel

[@Ironclad17]

you are a dirty dirty liar

[@tysonasaurus6392]

Sahil Zubair what do you mean?

[@josermtz]

Captain Marvel is out in theaters!

[@pkminpkmon]

Whether you guys think this talk is good or not, I think it should get props just for bringing these issues to light for those unaware. I never really noticed these patterns in merchandising before honestly, so it's got me thinking, which ultimately is the main goal of a TED talk I believe.

[@rosebellspring9585]

SUCH A GOOD VIDEO but why is the TED youtube audience so bad???? so many dislikes... And this only happens when a video has feminist qualities. How did TED get such a bad audience?

[@Winchestro]

I guess because they are so repugnant, more and more decent people avoid youtube comments. It may also be because youtube is such a low quality social network, and not really worth any community effort. TED doesn't have a bad audience. When you watch the talks on their website, the comments there are mostly thoughtful and constructive. Even those who disagree there do it like humans, not like animals.

[@shubhraagarwal9250]

Faulty Rose agreed with the feminist qualities comment!

[@DeoMachina]

Mr Bell here makes a lot of good points in a pretty short space of time I honestly can't fault anything he said, and I challenge the /pol/sters and redditors currently whining about this to try.

[@demoscratos4577]

This has to be the best TED talk. Ive felt the same way. I am currently working on 5 female super hero characters. Now im even more motivated to keep it moving. Thank you for this.

[@yourway2short]

I'm shocked at all this downvoting. Is corporate control of the media nothing to be concerned about? Or are you only downvoting it because it brings up the topic of gender inequality?

[@lindilu1364]

Best Ted talk I have ever watched. I've been waiting for someone to stand up and say everything he did! Thank you!

[@TheLacedaemonian300]

Dear Christopher Bell, I did a search on eBay for Princess Leia Costumes, and here are the results: 1,478 results for princess Leia costume. So cheer up!!! Your daughter can be Princess Leia for Halloween! Also, there were 11,984 results for girl superhero costumes. I know that we're oppressed here in the US, and be careful not to culturally appropriate with Halloween costumes, you've seen what happened at Yale, right? Did you know that there are some countries in the world that allow woman to dress up as ninjas or beekeepers? Not only on Halloween, they get to wear them everyday of their lives too! How awesome is that! They're such good costumes that you can't even see a bit of skin, so it eradicates racism too! Now that's what I call progressive!

[@Isaxus12]

Came here to see dat sweet like/dislike ratio

[@Firmus777]

After years of virtue signaling people are finally not afraid to speak up even if it makes them look like jerks, it is beautiful and only good can come of it.

[@Drudenfusz]

Isn't it also some form of virtue signaling to come here and talk about how bad this video supposedly is?

[@Firmus777]

Drudenfusz No.

[@Erebus2075]

bet you 95% of dislikes didnt watch the full vid ;) the title is going to create instant dislike due to all the idiocy people normally bring with it, but this one is pretty damn good

[@jamesbrown99991]

The video is not the usual feminist BS

[@the1doctorwhat]

Surprised that Rey from Star Wars wasn't mentioned, it's a bit odd when the main character doesn't have any merchandise.

[@daninmills]

The speaker mentioned that this Ted Talk came out in 2015, so that may be why Rey wasn't mentioned. Episode VII didn't come out til the very end of 2015, so it's likely that the Ted Talk came out months before it, when there wasn't much merchandise for any of the new Star Wars characters.

[@the1doctorwhat]

Gotcha

[@davidsirmons]

That did piss me off. I think it's corrected now.

[@Shadowsphere1]

I wonder how many people only started disliking when he brought up that he was a brony?

[@AlexG-jk8tc]

8:58 "Yeah, I'll do you one better: WHO'S Gamora?!" "No! I'll do YOU one better: WHY IS GAMORA?!"

[@nthnhbsn1909]

Really valid points made here.

[@postyoda1623]

Yeah, definitely no misogyny here.

[@notsquirrel8141]

Did you even watch the talk? I didn't like it, but it talked about male issues as well.

[@postyoda1623]

Not Squirrel I'm talking about comments; "here".

[@Cloud_Seeker]

+Tekin Beyoglu Actually no, there isn't a lot of it. Maybe people are just starting to get really pissed about that people make a big issue out of "but why does not Supergirl toys sell as much as Superman? We need to change it" when girls are not interested as much as boys are and Supergirl have shown to not be as good of a character as Superman have. You can't force equality on people that doesn't want what you are selling. Go and tell girls to like what boys do if it hurt you so much, but fact is that they most likely will not because boys and girls do have instinictiv behavior from each other that makes them like different things. It isn't misogyny to react when someone is trying to force stuff on you and it have gone over the edge.

[@mariagarcia1063]

he wasnt talking about selling as much as the others but the idea of the merchandise not existing to begin with but also the issue as to why a boy should feel ashamed if the merchandize has a female or female associated things on it. why does gamora or leia have to be edited out of the team they are part of. it wont hurt anyone if black widow is standing beside the rest of the avengers it doesn't automatically make it a girl product if she is seen with the team

[@sorryicantthinkofacoolname7209]

+maria garcia exactly

[@denisbrezovsky5271]

Ok, to check I just went to the official Marvel e-shop. In "Toys" black widow is in the very first row, the second toy you see. The green girl is literally the first toy in the Guardians of The Galaxy section. Not only is this talk completely flawed in any reasoning it gives. It's completely removed from reality. This is what happens when your talk is based on agenda and not what you have to say. Also, as a side note, big comic book publishers are bending over backwards to please idealogues like this guy for years now, and they are losing profits and their quality has gone down the gutter, that's where this takes you.

[@cameronstark7193]

As a student in the college of Economics at UCCS, I have been exposed to market research. Let me explain. The executives of Disney produce merchandise to match buyer preference. The purchaseing managers' decisions are based on profit-maximiziation. Not cynical intentions. You cannot be mad at Disney or any other company. The only people you can blame are the overwhelming majority of girls who prefer barbies and the overwhelming majority of boys who prefer male superheroes. As social preferences shift, so will product to match the changing demand!

[@mindovermindfuck]

Let's not blame the children though ^^' Society has set these rules, the children only follow them

[@DNOJ]

me Male 19... I love My little pony !

[@MWhaleK]

It's a great show.

[@ДаниилКириченко-ч8к]

me Male 22 ... Same!

[@xMckingwill]

I enjoy it too

[@coolbanana165]

I don't watch it, but power to you.

[@DNOJ]

+Jamal Johnson lol... youuuu tease

[@thechad2553]

Bravo Bravo Bravo! This is one of my favorite TED talks. Thank you Mr. Bell

[@jordanetherington1922]

How can people be pissed off about someone wanting there to be more female superhero merchandise?

[@alyssaoconnor]

Thank you for speaking up for the girls and women who want to be the hero’s not the one being rescued I applaud you as a loving father and wonderful humanitarian. I have one point I would like to bring up though as a tomboy is that the bullying for us can be as severe even as adults it affects our adult relationships, friendships and social acceptability. As girls, young adults and adults we are shamed by “Men and women can’t be just friends” and “A woman who doesn’t have her housework done by 10am or has dirt stained finger nails is unclean or unwomanly” Society still praises Women as sugar and spice and everything nice but has a low opinion of one who also loves slugs and snails and puppy dog tails. Prejudice’s still run very deep.

[@jacksoldano5331]

Honestly one of the best talks I’ve ever heard. Shame on me for not even noticing the lack of female superheroes in stores. Thank you for this.👏

[@Postcinct]

--And then they complain when they're over-sexualized like male superheroes are.

[@TheManasmita]

So basically the theme of this talk is about the equality!!!!We have made an image in our mind that if the word is "Hero" comes then it is male dominated and we take a female in a soft sense.That's ok.What is the problem??Everyone has their respective roles in which they look cool.But in every field, if we will demand equality that doesn't really work as Male is not the alternative to Female rather they are two opposite beings meant to balance each other and that's the rule of nature, not only satisfy in Human field but also in every field. And that's why I guess, many have disagreed on this talk.

[@SexualPotatoes]

_sees title, gets triggered_ _dislikes_ _makes angry comment about feminism_ _doesn't watch video_

[@RuggedCoyote69]

Republic Commando needs a remaster

[@javkiller]

Understatement of the year. I'm voting for a Frostbite engine-fueled campaign in the vein of Bad Company 2, except star wars.

[@deathlightproductions8632]

No even better they need to make a Republic Commando 2. I really want to know what happens next, that cliff hanger left it wide open for an amazing 2nd game.

[@ashura5221]

Who came here from EQD?

[@fastriff7074]

me ;)

[@lemon7714]

Me!

[@ashura5221]

+Fast Riff +Lemon The Brony fandom would be so lost without EQD and websites like it. ^_^

[@fastriff7074]

It´s like reading a newspaper, pretty much the first thing I do when I get up

[@ashura5221]

I tend to have breakfast while I check like that I have a glass of orange juice handy in case something along the lines of "M.A. Larson not involved in season 6" pops up. XD I know it did but I sadly had nothing to spit out in an exaggerated manner. X)

[@tetnis84]

One of the best Ted talks I've seen in a while. Well done.

[@narutofan657]

YES! I have always been known as a "tom boy" and even being a female brony I still get hate because I am not the targeted age. I wear a pony shirt and a backpack in public I get stares. I always wear around a pair of Rainbow Dash ears and I get stared at, but you know what? I don't care. I am proud of who I am. Oh and don't even get me started when I cosplay as Rainbow Dash in public.

[@fastriff7074]

That´s the spirit, irritating people with clothes is so easy. I´m still waiting for the first car accident because the driver is looking at my shirt. I allready had one ignoring the red traffic light. (of course I´m kidding I would never wish for bad accidents)

[@darkday96]

Idk there is a furry at my school wearing cat ears and I can´t help it I have to stare at them, I actually like that he has the guts to wear them in public and I don´t think he shouldn´t be allowed to but I still stare because it is kinda unusual and weird. But when he would notice that I stare at him he wouldn´t know that I respect him he would most likely think I am disgusted. (Bad english I know :S )

[@narutofan657]

VinylDash these are judgemental stares from dads of little girls mostly. The moms seem to be OK with it.

[@Alittleacorn24]

This guy speaks to me. The times I've been looking in the stores and seeing all the superhero costumers for kids and there being lack of female superhero costumers for girls while Black Widow is practically non-existent on all the Avengers products it drives me nuts. And I feel sorry for that poor boy getting bullied so much that he attempted suicide. I hate kids being put in boxes and getting picked on if they try stepping out of them. They should be allowed to enjoy what they like, even in adulthood.

[@jahkrmusic]

Seriously, after the last ted talk I was about done. But this video is good. Give it a chance first and judge afterwards. This man poses a VERY good point and makes the title that much more thought provoking. TED for all that you love, stay on this route. THIS is a good video.

[@NatureShy]

Brilliant presentation!

[@alexandrabeard1827]

This was absolutely amazing. Truly inspiring and just everything!!! AHHH

[@morganhughes9871]

I liked this but where are the huge walls full of male barbi dolls, the huge selection on male prince costumes ect

[@lalalalera]

The superhero is just one example of this going on in the media and society. Loved the talk, watched it with my husband and had some great discussions. Looking forward to having children of my own one day and raising them without gender barriers. If the world hasn't changed by that time at least more of us will be educated about the subject thanks to Dr Christopher Bell. So for that, THANK YOU!

[@notsquirrel8141]

Watched the entire talk just now in 2x speed. Wasn't at all as bad I expected. He is saying that since only a few companies control the majority of the media, the image of boys and girls is largely controlled by only them. There are not any toys of certain female characters. I do suggest you guys not judge the talk by its description or title as I did. There is not as much bullshit as there usually is in the "gender neutral" toy debate. I can see where he is coming from but I disagree with him. Boys and girls naturally have different interests and there is nothing wrong with that.

[@olgacain3039]

"Naturally different interests" - this thinking is actually the problem. There is nothing natural about it - studies show that people have naturally different interests regardless of gender, whereas the differences in preferences between boys and girls are in fact generated by parents, media, and society. No, girls do not have a gene shouting at them "pink!!!" and no, boys are not born with an interest in police and firemen

[@notsquirrel8141]

+Olga Cain Indeed gender is not the only indicator of what a person is interested in. However contrary to popular belief, boys and girls have differing brains. For example, a studied showed that girls tend to have better motor skills than boys. Girls and boys have different brain structures and again, there isn't anything wrong with that.

[@slimdiva123]

I truly appreciated this more than you know. I have searched for the female superhero merchandise and finally came to the realisation that they just do not exist. Thanks for the way this was expressed.

[@genericgoth]

i love this talk, my society and culture teacher showed my class this talk a few weeks ago. it's so great.

[@shayliandrievsky3475]

I'm also a girl who like superheroes and Star Wars and I agree with every single word he said.

[@CoffeeSnep]

I don't see why this got so many dislikes, it was a great video. oh NOW I see it! it's because people automatically hate it just because the speakers wants equality among genders, and the last part has to do with my little pony. God damn bigots.

[@procrasti86]

What's up with all the dislikes? The guy did very well up until the point, where he claimed we should stop making girls more masculine, but at the same time allow boys to become more feminine. I hate the SJW propaganda spread through TED talks lately, but this guy I agreed with on 90% of what he had to say, so Imma give it a thumbs up

[@vaughnutube327]

Hum? So why? What's the motive? ... glad you've brought the topic up though. But let's be clear, " Boys are not the same as Girls ... PERIOD! ".... They think different, act different and certainly play differently. Don't misunderstand, one is no better than the other, but they are NOT the same and never will be ( or should be? ). Come back, give this talk 20 yrs in the future and then again share what you've experienced (from experience ) ... I'd bet your message will not be the same. Thanks for your insights.

[@ellenlouise5551]

This always irked me as a girl that was never into princesses but whose room is filled with comics.

[@SelmitaCastillo]

Gracias! Este mensaje debe llegar a más personas, de esto se trata la igualdad de género. Somos iguales, no podemos dejar que nuestros hijos sean modelados por decisiones económicas que benefician a unos cuántos. Basta de los estereotipos! Realmente fue hermoso escuchar este TEDx. Gracias!

[@chrispilipina703]

Nice ted talk!

[@Jenkkimie]

Sure why not. But here is the thing: I want that we create new good, well written, well fleshed out superheroes that are women. Tokenism and artificial enforcement to fit new characters to boxes that they were not designed for (Thor, a Norse god vs. female Thor). Girls deserve better than that and more to the point, they deserve genuine femake heroes that even boys may be inspired by.

[@김진현-r8s]

I'm very impressed with this talks. There is a right that boys like pink and girls like blue. I hope children play freely without concerning about gender role.

[@siriusface6171]

Saw this video linked at EqD and came by to upvote it. I was worried about the topic at first, but there are a lot of good valid points made here. I have to imagine that in a very more years, this will change for the better.

[@abramcarreonhernandez453]

so this talk took place in 2015?? because he said "it's 2015 now and there is still no merchandice." if so why are we just seeing this now??

[@JumperMelon]

I dont need a 16 minute video to tell me that a lot of people are just going with the crowd/society...

[@oldenbronie2210]

Excellent talk! Loved that he talks about changing our mindset to be inclusive and equal to everyone!

[@KomalaR.Prasad]

Explain please

[@rosabowen731]

YES. SO YES. I've liked so-called 'boy' LEGOs all my life. Ninjago and BIONICLE and Legends of Chima. Sure, Elves and Friends are fun, but those first three are SO MUCH COOLER. But my parents can't seem to wrap their head around the fact that, as a girl, I can like those things. At least, not until recently. For my birthday, I got Tiger Widow Island - a 'boy' LEGO set. My brother got the Goblin King's Evil Dragon, a 'girl' LEGO set with a pink-and-green dragon.

[@Mooseplatoon]

Don't you think it's a little scary that people are actually angry over the title of this video? Do you guys really find the very idea of having more female superheroes offensive? I'm not getting the big deal here, lads.

[@fyisic]

File complaint to toy makers and licence holders to show market demand and move on with your life.

[@ricksanchez8584]

First sentence: " I spent most of my time thinking about little girls" 😂

[@rain2586]

Also the reason the don't put female superheroes on merchandise is because they just don't sell! Last time I checked companies sell things to make MONEY not just for the sake of selling stuff.

[@Miranox2]

14:40 "please buy them" wow. It seems he understands why female superheroes are rare. Very few people buy them, so he is literally begging the audience to change what they buy. For everyone who didn't watch the video, know that your dislikes are *justified*. The guy literally blames society for a kid's suicide instead of blaming the adults who didn't bother to help the kid.

[@almachristensson1407]

Wow! This was such an inspiring talk! I actually broke out into tears when he told us that boy Mike hung himself for liking "girly" stuff. I saw some comments saying approximately "Wow I thought this talk was gonna be about how every male superhero is sexist and how feminism is important, but it is actually only about representation in merchandise!" I would like to comment on that. My view on this talk is that e's actually only bringing up a fruit of a bigger problem - the patriarchy. The less-merchandise this is only a proof that girls are seen as less valuable than boys in almost everything in our society, which is because the world is run by middle-aged to older men, thinking 'bout nothing than their own gender. It's not only about representation of women in superhero merchandise, it's about women's status in society, proving they are seen as lesser than men, by the world, in almost every aspect. And I can't believe TED is subscribed by so many sexist people! Unsubscribe if you want. If you don't support of this, we will not miss you.

[@clement28300yip]

"Equally respected, equally valued, equally represented but most importantly fundamentally different."

[@shubhraagarwal9250]

beautiful. simply beautiful. thank you, Christopher, for expressing the views of so many people across the globe. thank you. I'm sharing this.

[@Packless1]

100% correct! ~15:10 I like this flowchart ;-)

[@alkayamassaly4185]

Looked at the title of the video and I already knew what the like/dislike ratio would be like. Stay classy, KZbin.

[@ultramarinewaters9325]

Mr. Bell this was a wonderful, thought provoking talk. I enjoyed it very much! I hope all of the world listens to your talk with an open mind and open heart! Now if we could only send this video to the Disney corporation

[@alicehughes7887]

I so agree with this! I would have loved to dress up as a male superhero but girls and boys in my class didn't really accept it. I was told to be more girly. I also grew up as a 'tomboy' I'm 14 now and one of my best friends didn't approve that I bought a boys shirt the other day, they stopped selling it in the girls section.

[@jimmyrussell8834]

Are you still a girl? 5 years later that kind of behavior would have a doctor telling you to take male hormones and to chop your T*ts off!

[@Eruviluieth_]

I shouldn't have been surprised with how many people were going to be butthurt over this, but I am. I honestly wonder how many of them have actually watched his talk with an open mind. The man has a good point. He isn't petitioning for more female superheroes, he wants more visibility for them, and that visibility comes through marketing. For those saying go write a comic: the man isn't a comic writer, why should he have to do that. Besides, Black Widow has an amazing backstory throughout the comics, one that just won't be told by the cinematic universe. There have been multiple petitions asking for a stand alone Black Widow movie with her backstory, but it will never come. That is sad I think. For those saying girls don't buy that kind of stuff: I've been to comic con (not SDCC, I wish) but I would say that there are about as many women there as men. They are interested and they want to buy that stuff, but if it isn't geared towards them, isn't something they can identify with, they will not buy it.

[@TheBudibye]

what a well crafted talk. he makes so many valid points Backed up with real examples.

[@elocke861]

Awesome talk. It's unfortunate that commenters on videos like this flip their lid at the mere mention of the word "female." Might be a good move for them to consider what public pedagogy they've allowed themselves to be force fed throughout their own lives. If you want to be outraged about something, look at what he brings up about how corporate influences are molding public perception and action, yours included. "We have have developed a society in which you would rather be dead as a boy than thought of as liking stuff for girls. And that is not Mike's fault, that is our fault. We have failed him, we have failed our children."

[@edsonacosta2967]

This is amazing and way deeper than it seems, I don't know why there are so many dislikes😤

[@P1nstr1p3]

10/10 for the flow chart. Rest raises excellent points. I'm okay with this talk.

[@EulerCosta]

Absolutely awesome talk!

[@deniserendon686]

I love this talk! I saw him at the Colorado Spring convention Galaxy Fest

[@PradeepPurple]

Doesnt make sense that female superhero merchandise doesnt exist. You can make SO much money, why aren;t they being greedy here?

[@SomebodyPerfectly]

It does exist, just not at the same scale as the other stuff, which should be logical, it's just a fact that girls are less likely to buy that stuff

[@PradeepPurple]

SomebodyPerfectly you got a point. I see it as a corporate failure to not print money when you already have a valuable IP.

[@badlydrawnturtle8484]

Or perhaps you should go with the assumption that a company would absolutely follow profit motive, so given that and the fact that they don't make a lot of female superhero merchandise implies that they have predicted it won't sell well if they make it.

[@PradeepPurple]

But thats the ultimate marketers challenge, make people buy stuff they dont think they need/want. You think Apple would be successful if they had a similar attitude?

[@badlydrawnturtle8484]

pradeep kanchan That's not how economics works. Marketers don't work for a ‘challenge’, they look for the best way to make money. And since when do people not want shiny Apple products?

[@MrJocko111]

Why no transgendered superhero merchandise??? i mean there must surely be a market for it right?? riiiight?

[@TheAnnoyingGunner]

The 0.3% of the US population give you a standing ovation for your suggestion.

[@14s0cc3r14]

"How many items does the Disney store have of Leia? Zero." www.disneystore.com/disneystore/product/search?searchTerms=leia What store was he looking at?

[@CarlosPerez-bt4zf]

page not founded

[@wilcoxchar]

Maybe the store from October 2015 when the talk happened? It's good to see Disney has expanded their store to include Leia merchandise in the past year.

[@14s0cc3r14]

Actually, they had more Leia merchandise than Han Solo merchandise. Sexism.

[@axeburningfire2507]

why so much dislike? what is wrong with people?

[@Mupsi]

Awesome talk !

[@tsac1374]

This was such a great, valid talk! I wish more corporate people thought like this father, and that all parents would make an effort to help guide and educate their children about this sham of gender dos-and-don'ts that are forced on kids.

[@Stella-vj6sx]

I hope all those people in the audience that laughed when he said he was a brony, felt terrible about it after he told them what happened to Mike.

[@Wissle]

Amazing speech.

[@CadmonAlima]

Good to be an anime fan. I'm a guy and have a keychain of Imai Nobume, the badass female samurai from Gintama, with my keys. My laptop bag has Annie from Attack on Titan. I adore strong girls. Power is beautiful, it's only naturally looks good on women and who doesn't love to see beautiful things?

[@aparice1]

I don't really care about his complain because companies can sell whatever they want and doesn't owe us anything, but i love the fact that this is the geekiest speaker i have watched this year so far in a TED talk.

[@sorryicantthinkofacoolname7209]

I don't care about the comments or dislikes. great video.