I loved Captain Marvel. I loved it for many reasons, but the main, overarching reason was that on a very basic level, I found it genuinely refreshing to see a woman performing what has heretofore been a role played by – and very much geared towards – men. As the hero, Brie Larson was permitted to be strong, fearless and a character with agency. She was not objectified, or valued only for her appearance and, as a result, I didn’t find that I was subconsciously comparing myself to the woman I saw on film.
I say this because, while I feel that I’m a pretty confident, self-assured person, I do find myself doing exactly that – comparing myself to on-screen actresses – more than I care to admit. With Avengers: Endgame, the climatic instalment of the Marvel franchise out this week – to much fanfare – there have been countless articles regarding fan theories, interviews with the cast and emotional speeches made by the actors. What’s been less enjoyable is the large amount of articles appearing on publications that are predominantly aimed at women, detailing the diet and workout routines of the female cast members.
Of course, given the physical requirements for a superhero role, most of the actors involved probably undertake a more rigorous training schedule than normal, regardless of gender. Chris Hemsworth, for example, clearly spends some time in the gym, while Brie Larson documented some of her workouts on her own Instagram profile, largely to show how strong she became to play the role of Captain Marvel. There was a video of her pushing a car, for example, that is undeniably impressive. And yet, there’s something that feels very insidious about a woman’s publication promoting stories of intense exercise and controlled diets, with headlines such as “Scarlett Johansson fasted for 12 hours a day and trained like an Olympic athlete for Avengers: Endgame”. It simply feels like another way to perpetuate the ongoing narrative that women should always aspire to look different, to improve themselves and to recognise food as almost synonymous with shame. Something to punish yourself with. Sure, the words ‘thin’ or ‘skinny’ aren’t used anymore, but they’re there – lurking just beneath the "harmless" description of a woman exercising more than you.
These sorts of articles also exist for men. There are several on the internet that have clearly been created to respond to Google search terms like ‘How do I get a body like Captain America’. And men are not exempt from body shaming, or from being made to feel inferior because of how they look. But men are also not scrutinised and objectified to the same level as women. Take the Avengers: Endgame premiere, as a prime example. Scarlett Johansson was ‘flaunting her toned pins’, Brie Larson looked ‘svelte and glowing’. Chris Evans? He wore a blue suit. Robert Downey Jr? He made people laugh on the red carpet, apparently.
Some people may genuinely want advice about exercise or general fitness, and that’s completely understandable. But most of the articles to which I refer are not, in any way, providing expert or medical advice. There is no acknowledgement that this specific diet is undertaken by women like Johansson in a heavily measured environment. A throwaway quote from her trainer, in these instances, simply doesn't cut it: still women's bodies are treated with too little responsibility. And still we continue to police women’s bodies. This time around, it’s just packaged differently.
The Best Looks From The Avengers: Endgame Premiere
![Brie Larson](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f079/3d6d/f454/587d/7c33/GettyImages-1138777823.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Brie Larson
The Captain Marvel star wore a custom Celine dress
![Scarlett Johansson](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f079/3d6d/f454/587d/7c34/GettyImages-1138814692.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Scarlett Johansson
The actor wore a custom chainmail dress by Atelier Versace
![Karen Gillan](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f069/3d6d/f454/587d/7c1b/GettyImages-1138767243.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Karen Gillan
The British actor wore a Christopher Kane dress with Jimmy Choo heels
![Don Cheadle and Bridgid Coulter](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f06c/3d6d/f454/587d/7c1e/GettyImages-1138776253.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Don Cheadle and Bridgid Coulter
Cheadle posed with his wife, fellow actor Bridgid Coulter
![Tessa Thompson](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f06c/3d6d/f454/587d/7c1f/GettyImages-1138775135.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Tessa Thompson
Thompson chose an haute couture creation from Ronald van der Kemp's Spring 2019 collection
![Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f06c/3d6d/f454/587d/7c20/GettyImages-1138769222.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr
The Downeys made some playful poses on the red carpet
![Chris Evans](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f06c/3d6d/f454/587d/7c1c/GettyImages-1138769172.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Chris Evans
Captain America looked dapper in a blue suit by Salvatore Ferragamo
![Pom Klementieff](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f06c/3d6d/f454/587d/7c1d/GettyImages-1138768305.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Pom Klementieff
The French actor, who plays Mantis, wore a Chanel tweed suit from the Pre-Fall 2019 collection
![Katherine Schwarzenegger](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f06e/3d6d/f454/587d/7c25/GettyImages-1138774798.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt
The engaged couple made their red carpet debut
![Josh Brolin and his wife, Kathryn](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f070/3d6d/f454/587d/7c26/GettyImages-1138776362.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Josh Brolin and his wife, Kathryn
Brolin, who plays Thanos, arrived at the premiere with his wife, Kathryn
![Sebastian Stan](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f072/3d6d/f454/587d/7c2b/GettyImages-1138776180.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Sebastian Stan
The actor wore a light blue suit for the premiere
![Evangeline Lilly](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f072/3d6d/f454/587d/7c2c/GettyImages-1138768469.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Evangeline Lilly
The star of Ant-Man and The Wasp wore a red suit by Canadian designer, Denis Gagnon
![Danai Gurira](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f072/3d6d/f454/587d/7c2d/GettyImages-1138777554.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Danai Gurira
The Black Panther actor wore an Oscar de la Renta dress
![Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f072/3d6d/f454/587d/7c2f/GettyImages-1138814640.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus
Cyrus wore a custom Saint Laurent dress to attend the premiere with husband Liam
![Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f072/3d6d/f454/587d/7c2e/GettyImages-1138774814.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter
The Dr. Strange star posed with his wife, Sophie Hunter
![Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f076/3d6d/f454/587d/7c31/GettyImages-1138836597.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney
Ruffalo posed with his wife, Sunrise
![Jeremy Renner](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f079/3d6d/f454/587d/7c32/GettyImages-1138774899.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Jeremy Renner
The actor looked smart in a classic tuexdo
![Letitia Wright](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f07b/3d6d/f454/587d/7c36/GettyImages-1144504973.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Letitia Wright
The Black Panther star wore a metallic suit designer by Armani Prive with Nicholas Kirkwood heels
![Anthony Mackie](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f07a/3d6d/f454/587d/7c35/GettyImages-1138836603.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Anthony Mackie
The American actor looked smart in a three-piece suit
![Linda Cardellini](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f07c/3d6d/f454/587d/7c37/GettyImages-1144523762.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Linda Cardellini
The Spiderman actor wore a silk gown by J Mendel
![Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f07c/3d6d/f454/587d/7c38/GettyImages-1138776179.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth
Hemsworth wore a paisley print suit by Etro as he attended the premiere with wife Elsa
![Zoe Saldana](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f07e/3d6d/f454/587d/7c39/GettyImages-1138775049.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Zoe Saldana
The Guardians of the Galaxy star wore a Givenchy Haute Couture dress
![Elizabeth Olsen](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f07e/3d6d/f454/587d/7c3a/GettyImages-1144527683.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Elizabeth Olsen
Olsen chose a teal dress by Alexandre Vauthier
![Bradley Cooper](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f07f/3d6d/f454/587d/7c3b/GettyImages-1138898968.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Bradley Cooper
Cooper arrived solo on the red carpet
![Cobie Smulders](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f080/3d6d/f454/587d/7c3c/GettyImages-1138776319.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Cobie Smulders
The actor wore a simple red gown
![Gwyneth Paltrow](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f080/3d6d/f454/587d/7c3d/GettyImages-1138777409.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Gwyneth Paltrow
Paltrow wore – what else – an ensemble by G Label by Goop
![Natalie Portman](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5cbe/f080/3d6d/f454/587d/7c3e/GettyImages-1144527637.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Natalie Portman
Portman made a surprise appearance on the red carpet in Dior