Is there a difference in the way male Superherores are treated compared to female superheroes?

Good point Stewart, Superman is a loner compared to SuperGirl wanting a team but you mention exactly what the problem is - she at times is overshadowed by her team members. I tend to believe that even if Superman had a "Superteam", the writers would make sure that the man of steel was not lost among his team members. I can't help thinking that SuperGirl being a female is allowed by the writers to get lost among her team members.

I do think Superman will be given more love than Supergirl as its new and CW wants a hit and has regulated Supergirl to schedule filler. I would not be surprised if the man of steele special fx budget is higher than the maid of might this season.

I also think Lois is so embedded in Superman cannon that she is more than accepted, she is expected. However, I do think you can expect backlash if viewers feel she is getting too much story time and Superman becomes stay at home Superdad (or Mr. Mom). You can't please everyone and viewers will likely find something to pick apart.

I see Supergirl's relationship woes as 3-fold:

1. Fans are split on Mon-el. In the comics, at least some iterations, Mon-el (Valor) and Kara ( Supergirl) are a powerful couple. On the TV series, a portion of the fan base ship these two and will not accept any substitutions. In many ways, this is further reinforced by Chris and Melissa being a real life married couple and parents to be. While other feel Mon-el betrayed Kara and there will be no second chances.

2. Female empowerment. Many do not want Kara to have a relationship with a man because they fear the show could fall into the trope of the girl losing herself in the man's shadow and potential make her appear weak. This may help explain the support of a Kara/Lena SuperCorpShip.

3. Many want Supergirl to be more action genre and less topical soap and feel Kara should be busy saving the world 24/7 with no time for romance.


As for me, I am glad Kara and Lena have apparently made up but I have never shipped the two. I see them as besties for ever. I am probably a little bit of a mix of 1 and 3. I want to see action and I bought into the season 2 romance with Mon-el but bothered by Season 3 events. I do still think Mon-el is her end game. But, with that said and I have said it before, I am open to a possible Kara/William if the showrunner and writer ever properly develop the character. I think they stumpled out if the gate and never found their footing where William Dey is concerned... or Andrea/Acrata for that matter. I assumed both were one and done disposables. However, after Melissa's recent comments about the "slow burn" between Kara and William continuing next season, I am fine with it if the show actually gets behind it and not treat it as an afterthought. Many find William bland and boring as the character currently stands. I still think Mon-el is her endgame, but there is no reason Willian can't cook for Kara in the interim and who knows maybe the ship will take. I mean a girl's gotta eat, right? I also have liked Staz Nair in other things.

In the first season, I think it was established that Superman is a loner (as a superhero), and that Kara didn't want to be a loner - she wanted to have a "Supergirl Team". I thought this was great, but that Kara should always be the leader of the Team. Unfortunately, she sometimes seems to be overshadowed by other Team members.

"They will show the whole spectrum of the powers of the man of Steel - on SuperGirl we have to beg to see 2 -3 powers/season."

Well, it has seemed that Supergirl has used her heat vision a lot more than Superman usually does.

Good point Stewart, Superman is a loner compared to SuperGirl wanting a team but you mention exactly what the problem is - she at times is overshadowed by her team members. I tend to believe that even if Superman had a "Superteam", the writers would make sure that the man of steel was not lost among his team members. I can't help thinking that SuperGirl being a female is allowed by the writers to get lost among her team members.

Sadly, I think this may be true. It's not even purposeful; more conditioning.

Good point Stewart, Superman is a loner compared to SuperGirl wanting a team but you mention exactly what the problem is - she at times is overshadowed by her team members. I tend to believe that even if Superman had a "Superteam", the writers would make sure that the man of steel was not lost among his team members. I can't help thinking that SuperGirl being a female is allowed by the writers to get lost among her team members.

Sadly, I think this may be true. It's not even purposeful; more conditioning.

I'm not as sure it's gender based. Flash is having similar issues. I think the Arrowverse writers either get bored with or find it tougher to find ideas for the lead characters over time.

All excellent points CatPat - I also am happy about the fact that Lena and Kara have become best friend again as they both represent strong women and if the show centered on them and Alex you would have a strong action packed show. I agree that the most I ever see Kara and Lena is as best friends. I also have the fear that if SuperGirl dates a superhuman that the male superhuman will take over the show and she would appear weak - that was my fear with Mon-El. I think her dating a human - she will always be the strongest and could make for funny adventures and comic situations.

Clark's life is certainly more established. Part of that is just due to the fact that he is at a different place in his life. Assuming Crisis didn't mess up the timeline, he's 40-sh years old.

My hope for Superman and Lois is that they portray a mature relationship, with the challenges and rewards that come with one, as one part of an exciting action/adventure show.

I'd be more open to romance on SG, if I thought it would be part of a balanced offering. As it is, I think they are already juggling too many characters and elements. At this point in the show's lifecycle, though, this is probably to be expected.

That's a good point Liberty Prime. Clark is older than Kara and the relationship between him and Lois would be more mature as you stated more "established." With SuperGirl being the younger her life would be more open for a beginning relationship. I do agree that the number of people on SuperGirl is high and getting higher - juggling them around is getting harder. I think SuperGirl needs to lose a few characters but always keeping the main characters in place (Kara/SuperGirl, Alex and J'onn). My question becomes with Superman being male will it be viewed that he doesn't need as many superheroes to help him fight battles and therefore get more screen time in his own show whereas SuperGirl being female - it is being viewed as her needing more backup characters to do her Superhero activities which tends to lead to less screen time for her.

This is a rhetorical question because the answer will, sadly, continue to be yes.

Female superhero shows / movies have always had an uphill battle in gaining wider public acceptance and it has only been in the last decade that such a proposition was actually viable and available to the public at large either in the TV, movie or online format.

Male superheroes tend to get a pass even if they're commercial or public acceptance flops, but female ones tend to languish if they do not succeed right off the bat. That's due to social conditioning and a preferential bias toward male heroes as opposed to female ones. It certainly isn't fair, but that's how Western society has operated for decades / centuries. Things have changed recently, but it is a very slow and very incremental process.

Female superheroes have seemed to have an easier time of it in the comics, though. Wonder Woman was well-received when she was introduced in the 40s. And later she became an integral part of the Justice League, and was in every issue. Supergirl was immediately accepted as part of the "Superman family", and had her own stories in Action Comics from the beginning.
Going back further, there was Mary Marvel, who was seen as an essential part of the "Capt. Marvel" family.

Yes... comics were a little easier to navigate and Wonder Woman is 1/3 of DC'S trinity.

The big screen had been more difficult, as Hollywood felt every action movie needed a big male star to fill seats. I think Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel proved otherwise, but Birds of Prey was seen by many as a set back but I blame the R rating. DCEU now wants a return to Superman before Supergirl, which might be good for tv Supergirl.

I am fearful that Covid-19 may limit who goes to the movies this summer and may prevent WW 1984 from joining the billion$ club.

Yes... comics were a little easier to navigate and Wonder Woman is 1/3 of DC'S holy trinity.

The big screen had been more difficult, as Hollywood felt every action movie needed a big male star to fill seats. I think Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel proved otherwise, but Birds of Prey was seen by many as a set back but I blame the R rating. DCEU now wants a return to Superman before Supergirl, which might be good for tv Supergirl.

I am fearful that Covid-19 may limit who goes to the movies this summer and may prevent WW 1984 from joining the billion$ club.