Five Reasons Why Women Love Spiderman

As a mostly-adult woman, I feel a little goofy about having a super-hero crush. But now that Spiderman III is about to hit theaters, I'm finding out that I'm not alone. Women are coming out of the woodwork, confessing their love for Spidey. I decided to do some research on why Spiderman is so appealing to women, and here's what I found:

1. Women love Spiderman because he's the quintessential boy next door.

Spiderman isn't just Spiderman the superhero, and Mary Jane isn't just Mary Jane the actress. They grew up next door to each other, and their love story is the typical American, boy-and-girl next-door ideal. There's something incredibly appealing in the concept of falling in love with your neighbor. It's familiar and comfortable, as well as convenient.

Falling for the boy next door is something every little girl dreams of. When I was younger, every time we got a new neighbor I prayed they would have a hunky son about my age (or a little older). It's a pretty standard plotline for romantic comedies, and Spiderman brings an element of mystery and danger to the familiar tale. Which leads us to...

2. Women love Spiderman because he has a dangerous job.

Peter Parker might have a fairly ordinary day job, but his true calling as Spiderman is fighting crime and corruption. And women seem to be naturally attracted to men with dangerous professions. From professional skateboarders to rock climbers, men who live on the edge get more dates than men stuck in a cubicle all day (and are usually in better shape).

3. Women love a man in uniform.

Spiderman's uniform might technically be called a costume, but women associate uniforms with both dangerous and socially important work. Think about all the different types of uniformed men that women tend to gravitate toward: firefighters, police officers, construction workers, military folks, and the list goes on. Spiderman serves his city in both a dangerous and moral capacity, and he has a competitive edge. His uniform and his crime-fighting abilities are completely unique.

The only exception to this rule might be Canadian Mounties, but that's another kind of outfit altogether.