Children's coloring book tackles gender stereotypes with 'Super-Soft Heroes'

Linnea Johansson became worried after seeing her usually emotional 3-year-old son do his best not to cry, saying he wouldn't cry because Spiderman doesn't. As a mother bothered by how gender stereotypes are affecting her child and a fan of comic books who believes that superheroes are humans in touch with their emotions, she made a comic book full of emotionally-charged superheroes. The "Super Soft Heroes" comic book is free to download on her blog so every parent and child can have one.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "I know he's a sensitive guy. I've seen him being little by little put into this gender role that is not him. He's changing. I'm so sad to see he's swallowing his emotions," she said in an interview with Buzzfeed News.

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Johansson also wrote on her blog that these superheroes are more than what they are showcased as, especially in the kid's edition which only highlights the fights and violence.

In a society where the people we look up to boast gender stereotypes like "crying is only for girls" or "boys should man up and not be weak like girls," while the "girls just have to be beautiful," this coloring book plans to address those wrong, yet common outlooks.

Among the drawings she made are Superman spending time with his family, wearing a princess costume. She also shows Batman baking cookies and babysitting, while Spiderman is in a wheelchair wanting a hug from his daughter.

"Super Soft Heroes" became popular among the Scandinavian children that have now began sending in their own versions of the super heroes.

Johansson is also planning to release a coloring book called "Super Strong Princesses" in few weeks. She welcomes donations for future projects.

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