Well, many people would be equally embarrassed that all us grown men read comic books still. Whether I look childish or gay, eh, that's other people's problems. I'm secure enough in myself and my masculinity to not let such things bother me. I say, if it's good, I'll watch, read, or listen to it. Plus, for the longest time, the best Spidey comic on the market was Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane.
I wouldn't and haven't used "gay" as a description. Personally I find it a bit ignorant.
Comics in general have come into a bit more mainstream. That said, at work and at social events where I don't know the people, I usually am a little hesitant to state my hobby, although I usually end up doing so in time. I grew up in New York in the 80's so "gender roles" were probably ingrained in me a bit more than some younger. I'd certainly take pause at a guy on a subway reading SAILOR MOON or something. Granted, that's a cultural thing; from what I hear, Japan for instance doesn't work that way; a businessman can be reading a hentai tentacle rape manga on a crowded subway with schoolgirls within a few yards and almost no one would really notice or react in a harsh way. The understanding is what people enjoy as a hobby for pleasure is fine so long as they don't act it out blatantly in civilian life. Americans are classically uptight and screwed up. I probably embody some of those ideals, being one of the last generations raised when those things mattered more. A lot of those social ticks melted a bit as the 90's ended. When I was in high school, anime was still very much a cult thing, and few people were in it who weren't already "nerds". As soon as I graduated, it became a norm and every one out of three or four girls was even into it.
I feel the same way within limits. I mean, if a book's got pink hearts and stuff on its cover, I might be a little wary of reading it on the bus or at lunch in a restaurant or whatever. Unless it's really, really good, and then I don't care either way.
To each their own, I guess.
I never really got that myself. I don't understand why there seems to be a segregation between the two sexes as far as stuff like that goes. I mean can guys not like stories focusing on love and romance without it seeming weird? You can still like the 'guy approved' stuff like superhero power fantasies, too.
I mean as far as something like Sailor Moon and the Sailor Warriors that Dread mentioned goes, I mean sure they are girls who dress in costumes that vaguely resemble school uniforms, and tend to be driven more by love and friendship, but it doesn't seem so different to me than guys who dress in spandex that vaguely resemble full body pajamas, and tend to be driven more by will and righteousness.
I never got why one side was seen almost exclusively for this gender, and the other was for another. I guess that's just human nature, though...which means maybe I'm not human
Socially speaking, at least classically, guys who are into reading or watching stories with heavy emphasis on love or romance are considered "sensitive", i.e. "weak". While society seems to pressure women into often being vapid slaves to emotion or sex, for men in America it is quietly acknowledged that there are very few emotions that are alright to feel, and then only at appropriate times. Usually lust and anger are alright; men "losing their temper" in society is accepted far more often than when women do so, for instance. Christian Bale's "explosion" on the set of TERMINATOR was seen as a comical episode and he has since moved past it; an actress would have a harder time escaping judgment for a similar tirade. On the other hand, the amount of times men cry in SPIDER-MAN 3 has been commonly panned or mocked. While America is nowhere near as strict in gender roles as, say, Iran, few men like to be seen as weak as it is usually disapproved by other men and even women. Trust me, no woman has ever formed a positive opinion on me if I was too compassionate or considerate; they're too busy fawning over the assertive alpha male to so much as notice me. If anything, a sensitive man can even be seen as "boring" or even having "baggage".
It's hardly a misconception that certain types of stories are usually liked by certain genders. Romantic comedies are not seen as movies that appeal to men. Much as action movies are not seen as appealing to women. That isn't to say men and women don't enjoy those films, and some even write them, but it isn't expected as a norm. Usually if an action movie is attempted to be sold to women, they will stress the attractiveness of the male lead; it is no accident that Hugh Jackman's WOLVERINE goes bare chested a lot (much as it is no accident that Megan Fox seems to always be crawling or humping something in TRANSFORMERS).
It is also no accident that many sitcoms have made fun of situations in which a man ends up enjoying a daytime soap opera, which is usually seen as appealing to women (especially middle aged women).
Japan has "shojo" (girls) and "shounen" (boys) manga and both are distinctly different. In some ways American comics are similar, albeit with less genres in the mainstream. I sort of saw SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE as strictly a "shojo" American comic. I saw a reprint of the first issue in a SPIDER-MAN FAMILY issue (whatever one had an AGENTS OF ATLAS story in it) and while I could see the appeal, it was too soapy without enough action for me.
It's all about society and gender norms and... stuff. I don't know, I only took one psychology class in college.
Basically, as my above discussion notes. Gender norms in society are stressed at a very young age in any society. I will say that perhaps America in 2009 isn't as strict about them as they were in 1989 or especially 1959. But they still exist. There are those who adhere to them by temperament and those that don't.
I like romantic subplots. I just don't think I could stomach a story where that was 95% of the focus. Least not in a comic book, at $3 a month.
There are stories or mediums that appeal to both. I would say SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN has enough action for boys and romance for girls to enjoy.
