Recently I dropped by the theater to see X-men Origins: Wolverine.
Entertaining enough, there was one part of the movie, and the entire series for that matter, that stuck out to me. I was completely oblivious to it when I saw the first three originals, but in this one it was particularly apparent, although oddly easy to overlook. The powers each mutant had were not coincidental. Wolverine doesn't just happen to be a hard ass, and the leading lady doesn't just happen to have mind control powers.
Gender roles and stereotypes are nothing new in our society, but the degree to which they've become salient and overlooked is unsettling. And what better place to find them than in movies; especially super hero movies where they're exaggerated.
In "X-Men Origins," Wolverine is the pinnacle of masculinity. His primary mutation in the movie is rapid healing, which makes him nearly invincible. When combined with a savage haircut, cigars and a motorcycle, you have yourself an All-American badass.
His love interest in the film, Kayla Silverfox, possesses a mutation that gives her "tactile telepathy." This means that whomever she touches, she can control telepathically forcing them do her bidding should she choose. Her sister in the film, Emma Frost, who is a mutant as well, can turn her skin into diamonds.
Is it any coincidence that Wolverine is inhumanly tough and that the women in the film have mutations related to diamonds and the human mind?
These are just three examples, but for those of you who have seen the full series, I am sure you can recognize other gendered powers as well.
You don't see beautiful women in the film with the ability to be indestructible or incredibly strong. In fact, none of the female powers in X-Men have any sort of spatial range at all. Their powers rarely go beyond their bodies and usually involve the mind as opposed to their physical self. The only time any women in the series had any aggressive powers was with Dark Phoenix in the third movie, "X-Men: The Last Stand." This character was of course labeled psychotic and crazy, an uncontrollable anomaly to be reckoned with.
There are even racial stereotypes. It shouldn't be surprising that the leading Asian man in the film is mutagenically fast and precise. But what if the Blob had this ability? It would be awkward and bizarre. These sorts of general assumptions aren't even recognized when watching a movie like this. They are naturally assumed and just seem to fit, completely salient with our culture. The big guy is indestructible, the thin person super quick and the intelligent one super precise.
Just picture the movie if Wolverine was telepathic, Emma Frost had indestructible skin and Kayla Silverfox had the ability to detract claws from her hands. It just wouldn't fit. In fact during the second X-Men film, there was a women who had wolverine's abilities, but her claws were much thinner and more needlelike; dare I say feminine.
I'm neither declaring that these standards are bad or good nor that the movie is sexist or racist. Just try to keep an open mind next time your favorite action flick rolls around, because there's likely much more to be seen than what's initially firing at your retinas.
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