When our class had our official measurements in gym class during fourth grade, I was, at age nine, 48 inches tall, which amounts to four feet flat. In our seventh-grade gym class measurements, I was five feet and two inches tall at twelve years old.
Looking back on it as an adult, the situation seems outrageous. That’s more than a quarter of my body height added onto my body in three years — only a quarter of my life at the time.
But when I was twelve, I couldn’t see how much I had grown. All I could see was how much taller I wanted to grow next.
Unfortunately, I never grew any taller, but my internal growing didn’t stop at twelve. After all, it’s pretty rare to see anyone who stops growing just when their story begins.
Right now, diversity in geekdom is experiencing its own state of growth. Women represent the fastest-growing demographic of comics readers; the popularity of superhero films shows no sign of slowing down. Movements in children’s and young adult books, science fiction & fantasy novels, comics, and even Hollywood are gaining traction.
There’s already been so much growth in the genres we love in the past three years alone. Two women-led films — including a women-led action film — destroyed the 2013 box office; this year, an animated movie led by a black female protagonist was declared “a ‘Home’ run” on its opening weekend as it beat a white man-led comedy at the box office. New York City will have its first queer comic con in June. And we will never let you forget that Korrasami is canon.
That’s not to say there’s not so much further to go. We’re still waiting for our female-led superhero movie; female authors still don’t receive as much attention from reviewers and marketers as male authors. Trans characters in movies and on TV still aren’t being played by trans actors. And that’s just the start of a long, long laundry list.
Despite that, there’s no denying entertainment has grown. This month, we’ll take a look at growing in the media and the genres we love: growing trends, growing characters, and even our own.
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Feliza Casano has no deeper regret than not growing any taller than she was at age twelve. She edits and writes for all sections of the site, and she’s the one behind GiC’s Facebook and Twitter. Follow her on Twitter @FelizaCasano.
