Lifestyle

Superhero movies are now dominating the box office, as they capture the attention of the masses unlike any other genre. Crime-fighting and world-saving super humans represent an ideal version of ourselves: powerful and strong, just like the actors who train so hard to fit the bill. Naturally, people tend to do whatever they can to be like their idols, and the effect isn’t just for vanity.

Exercise is such a crucial part of life, as it affects overall health and well-being. Health Souls previously discussed the importance of setting goals and expectations. And when it’s time to take things a notch higher, working out like a superhero will provide a slew of benefits.

The cool part is that the trend is now inspiring lots of women, too. Female superheroes portrayed on the big screen like Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) influence women to work hard in the gym, changing the definition of what it means to be a sexy and empowered female. Here’s a run down on why women are now so keen with superhero workouts.

Whatever men can do, women can do too

Superheroes are lean, tough, and virtually unbeatable. That’s the kind of confidence brought about by strength, and it’s something which positively affects mindset. Female superheroes are a great source of inspiration for women, who are used to engaging in physical exercise. From being portrayed as damsels in distress who always needed saving to developing awesome characters like Mystique and Supergirl, it’s about time women were represented fairly in the physical department! The times are changing with the introduction of strong female leads who teach everyone that men and women are equals.

Promoting a can-do attitude

A lot of women who learned of Gal Gadot’s training for Wonder Woman were amazed by the rigorous nature of the training routines. Business Insider reported that the star trained for six months straight, and her sessions included fight choreography and horseback riding. She even filmed some of her scenes during the early stages of her pregnancy.

The same goes for the workout routines of other actresses in superhero and action movies, like Jennifer Lawrence for The Hunger Games and X-Men; and Alicia Vikander for Tomb Raider. The hard work they put into their training paid off because they were able to carry out their respective roles really well. If these amazing actresses can do it, then it proves that it isn’t out of reach, you just need to be dedicated.

Media’s role in female empowerment

Of course, social media deserves credit too because it plays a big role in continuing the inspiration started by movies. Fitness personalities like Kayla Itsines, Amanda Bisk, and Cassey Ho continue to promote the idea that women are strong too in their respective fields. Everyday Fitness stresses the importance of having a role model when it comes to hitting your fitness goals. It’s motivating, and a great reminder of what you want to achieve.

This social media trend goes hand in hand with advertising. In fact, sports brands like Under Armour and Nike have launched creative campaigns to debunk the myth that women are weak. Verily Mag discussed the success of the Nike #BetterForIt campaign, which even inspired a YouTube series called Margot vs. Lily. It followed the same narrative of women having a strong mental perspective, which pushed them to achieve their goals in fitness as well as life in general. This type of strategy is being seen across a slew of industries, including gaming, as the medium allows players to imagine themselves as strong female characters. Digital games provider Slingo hosts an array of slot titles that feature strong and powerful women. Black Widow puts the spotlight on the phrase ‘femme fatale’, and shows that ladies can be badass too, much like ScarJo’s portrayal of the Marvel character with the same name. Amazon Queen, meanwhile, showcases a mighty female warrior with a toned physique akin to Gadot’s depiction of Wonder Woman. All of this only goes to prove that women can excel given the chance no matter what industry they are placed in. Becoming superhero fit is a great start and that can lead to empowering yourself on the inside, which is an equally difficult endeavor.

All in all, women should continue to lift each other up, especially now with the abundance of tools for spreading inspiration. Even in something as simple as gym sessions, knowing that there are others who rock the same attitude as you can influence you to be as strong as you can be.