Captain Marvel.... YESSSS GIRL!
So I LOVE superhero movies..... I geek out for them! It probably links in to my love of fairytales. The hope that good will always prevail (still shook about Thanos’ little finger snap though) is something my heart clings to. I’ve been waiting for Captain Marvel for quite some time- and due to the life of working 2 jobs, i just now got to see it this evening! And oh man..... it did not disappoint!!! So many things, you just have to see it. There will be minimal spoilers from me, my point of this post is for other purposes.... This past week, a friend mentioned to me an article that bothered her about Captain Marvel- so obviously i read it. And it too, bothered me greatly. I wanted to wait until i watched the movie for myself before i voices my 2 cents on the matter...
Now let me say a few things before i get into my OPINION on the matter..... I am in no way a “feminist” nor am i am big fan of the term “toxic masculinity”. I’m a huge fan of the Christian figure whose well known site said article was found on, and was EXTREMELY disappointed to find its support and publishing of this article... I’m not discrediting him, or even his site- like i said I’m a big fan of both, just very disappointed.
Now, said article was published on “Desiring God” and was entitled “Behold Your Queen
The Real Conflict in Captain Marvel”. *insert HUGE eye roll at the title alone*. Y’all... I cannot. This author takes a lot of dangerous liberties. Some of the quotes that bothered me the most....
*“As I consider Disney’s new depiction of femininity in Captain Marvel, I cannot help but mourn. How far we’ve come since the days when we sought to protect and cherish our women.”*
Now..... I will agree with ONE aspect of this statement. From my own experience, and from the experience of many i know- so often the days of Cherishing and protecting women are gone. Women are viewed as objects or treated as choices. But this has NOTHING to do with figures like Captain Marvel or even the strength of women..... There is a larger issue at hand, and that is respect. I’ll get more into that later.... let me also add that this was altered SLIGHTLY by the author after outrage of stating that he mourns when women sought to be sleeping beauty, Snow White, etc. The exact wordage is off- but you get the idea. And where in the bible, do we find women that resemble the Snow White/Sleeping beauty types that the author is desperate to see again?! You won’t! Because they aren’t in there.
*”Along with Disney, we abandon the traditional princess vibe, and seek to empower little girls everywhere to be strong like men. Cinderella trades her glass slipper for combat boots; Belle, her books for a bazooka.”*
Puhhhhhlease! I know plenty of STRONG WOMEN who have not given up their class or elegance, nor their books and intelligence to become strong. Women do NOT have to be one or the other. And Captain Marvel, nor any other female super hero, portrays it has to be so! Also, has this author forgotten the totally bad ass Disney princesses who were strong- without having to depend on a man?! Let me name a few:
Mulan
Merida
Elsa
Moana
And that’s just to name a few... So don’t go dragging Disney princesses into this....
*”We used to be attuned enough to know how shameful it is for men to hide behind their women, hoping she will take down Goliath. Have we forgotten how precious our women are? Have we forgotten that it is our glory to die in their place?”
Now I’m conflicted with this statement... Let me try my best to explain my opinions. #1- your glory to die in our place?.... The only person who should receive ultimate glory for dying in our place is Jesus Christ. Do not equate yourself to His level, you ain’t that special honey. Also, do not forget the soldiers, BOTH men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our country and our freedoms and liberties, yes including the one to spew this nonsense. Women too have felt the call to protect and defend. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that..... If you think there is, then maybe question why you aren’t up volunteering to do what they are doing.... And now here comes my conflict. I 100% agree that there is a problem with men, in particular Christian men, who will not stand up, or honestly for lack of better words- man up. They have chosen to sit down on so many things. Honoring God in all things for one, much less honoring women. But even then, the blame is not 100% on the men.... We live in a broken and corrupt world. So many men have lost sight of the treasure women have and give for cheap ideals that the world has fashioned. I’m not saying women aren’t lacking the same honor for God or even for men..... But that’s another blog post all together. There has been so much talk of “toxic masculinity” and “the war against masculinity” and the only thing i really have to say about all that is if your identity is truly routed in God, then you should have no concern about “attacks” against it.... The real issue seems to be insecurity. Men, if you are so concerned that a woman is stronger than you, are you even sure of where your true strength comes from?! Because if you really knew where your strength comes from, you would no that no one can take that from you- nor can you give it to yourself.... Just saying.
“I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.” Psalm 28: 7-8
“ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40: 29-31
Just a few to get ya going.... But even in all that- there is nothing that says the men are the only ones allowed to be strong.
I could go on and on nit-picking this article, but my true point of this blog post is this.... Who are we to determine who is allowed strength. NO WHERE in the Bible does it call men to be the sole carriers of strength. So the idea that a woman cannot be a “hero” is absurd. If this author of the article would have taken a deeper look, he would have noticed some much deeper meanings to this movie that i think it’s important to notice... One of my favorite parts of the movie was a scene that showed Captain Marvel being essentially told that she was not strong enough to get up after being beaten down.... The movie then proceed to show a series of flash backs where Carol Danvers, Captain Marvel, had been knocked down throughout her entire life- off a bike, wrecked derby car, at basic training, etc. but do not miss this!!!! It was then followed by a series of flashbacks showing how she got back up EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. She did not let her falls keep her down. She chose to keep getting back up every single time she fell down. That is SOOOO important. Not just for women, but for men. This life is soooo hard. There have been times i have been knocked down, and i did not want to get back up. I’m just being honest. But i did. I kept going, even when is was hard and felt impossible. I got back up....
A second thing i think it’s important to realize.... Is that Captain Marvel was not born with her “strength” or “power” it was given to her.... Now there’s arguments about where that power really comes from in the movie but that’s not where I’m going with this. We need to realize that our power and strength is not from ourselves either. It is given to us by God. Everything we are comes from Him. And apart from Him, we are nothing and can do nothing. Let me tell you.... I have faced things in this life that i literally thought would kill me, that the weight of felt like it was crushing me. And honestly, on my own i would not still be here. I’m just being honest. But what happened, was i received strength from the One who is strength. Supernatural strength at times that i cannot even explain. I’m not even talking about physical strength, all though it takes that to continue in difficult times. I’m talking about strength that only God can give. Peace that one He can give. And that’s something i think the author is missing here..... He says that he mourns the times of the Disney princesses. Let me tell you what, i would rather have my daughter look up to Captain Marvel or Wonder Woman- believing that they possess power and strength- than sleeping beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, etc. You get the gist.
Now you’re probably thinking.... Tiffany, didn’t you say you believed in fairytales?? And the answer is yes... I sure do. I still believe that a man can sweep me off my feet. I believe there is a Prince Charming for me. I believe in happily ever after.... But i don’t base my whole life on that fact.... I’m not sitting around waiting for someone to come save me.... Someone already did that! And in Him i have my strength.... He is where my power comes from. I am not less than because I am without a husband or i don’t have a man to fight my battles for me. Trust me! I want a man to fight along side me.... I want a husband more than words can say! I do believe that a man should be the head of the household and lead his family in the way of the Lord. But that does not automatically mean that the wife is weak or a delicate flower.... I don’t need a man to complete me. I don’t need a man to fight my battles for me. God does both of those things and more. And that’s why I’m not willing to settle.... And that’s okay. Should more Christian men step up? DUH! But so should Christian women. We are not weak. We are not helpless. In God we are made strong. In God, we have all the help we need.
Now I have been blessed to have been privileged with several male friendships, and had a father, who honored both God and women. They did not and do not see this as a weakness in themselves, but rather choice to honor God through honoring and respecting women. They don’t stifle the strength of the women around them, but rather celebrate it. They encourage and push for growth in that strength, because they understand that that power really is God’s manifested through His daughters (and sons). They give me hope that good men do exist. So shout out to them!
Now like myself, this man has a right to his own opinions.... But some of his opinions are dangerous and are treading the waters or blasphemy.... This is, without a doubt, the worst article I’ve seen Desiring God release.
The author actually saying he mourns the days in which women in movies/stories did nothing but need saving? Had no character? Showed no strength or courage or develop their gifts? It’s truly truly sad....
I would like to see his research and statistics that back up your claim, that movies like this - that strong, courageous, kind, faithful women like this destroy all femininity in sight.... i mean, did you see the stuff Wonder Woman wore WHILE kicking butt?!?! CRAZINESS!
I’m not saying that all superhero movies are admirable or Godly, I just tend to see more Godly points in things because my mind just tends to gravitate that direction... But what i really don’t understand is what is the problem or hurt in young girls having role models other than the shallow and two dimensional damsels in distress from old Disney stories? The Bible does not call women to be damsels in distress.... One prime example....
*Mary, mother of Jesus
Y’all she was a teenager! And and Angel of the Lord appeared to her and said that she would become pregnant. Y’all she wasn’t married yet. Again she was a teenager. I feel like she was given a million reasons to distress. I would be FREAKING OUT! But without hesitation, she said “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38. That’s strength... Another?
*Queen Ester
Y’all.... She, a Hebrew woman, disguised herself to go into the kings palace to try and save her people from a man who hated the Hebrews..... She boldly stood up before her husband and made the case for her people, knowing well and good she could be killed. That’s strength....
Y’all God does not call women to be weak. God does not call women to be damsels in distress. God calls women His daughters. Yes to be loved and cherished, to be honored. But not once does the Bible say women cannot have strength. He is strength and He calls us to Himself. I choose to see characters like Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman as inspiration. To fight and stand up for what i believe in. To defend the least of these. To let my strength and power be seen, and therefore be a testament of the deeper Power and Strength that lives in me...
If you have read this far and understand half of this evening word vomit that I’m currently finishing up at 12:30am- you da real MVP!
I’ll leave you with this one scripture:
“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” 1 John 4:4
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