The Twilight book series, written by Stephanie Meyer, has been a popular and controversial topic for over a decade now. While many fans adore the books for their romance and fantasy elements, others criticize the series for its lack of feminism and its harmful portrayal of women.
Let’s talk about why the Twilight series fails to be a feminist work, and why it’s problematic for the representation of women in literature.
First and foremost, it’s important to note that feminism is not simply about having a female lead in a story.
It’s about promoting and advocating for gender equality and female empowerment. The Twilight series fails to do this in pretty much every way possible.
Bella Swan: The Anti-Feminist Heroine of Twilight
One of the biggest issues I have with the series is the way it portrays its female lead, Bella Swan.
Bella is often portrayed as passive, indecisive, and dependent on the male characters in the story.
Throughout the series, she is repeatedly saved by Edward Cullen and is unable to make decisions for herself without his guidance.
This reinforces the stereotype that women are weak and in need of a strong male figure to save them, which is harmful to the representation of women in literature and in society as a whole.
Additionally, Bella is also often portrayed as being overly emotional and dramatic – especially when compared to the male leads in the series. This reinforces the idea that women are irrational and emotional, while men are rational and level-headed – a gender stereotype that is harmful to both women and men.
A Romance So Bad, Even Edward Laughed
Another problem with the Twilight series is its portrayal of romantic relationships.
In the books, Bella and Edward’s relationship is often depicted as being controlling and abusive. Edward constantly stalks and monitors Bella, and he is often possessive and jealous of her.
You know what’s not romantic? A controlling, possessive partner.
Edward and Bella’s relationship perpetuates the dangerous idea that a controlling and possessive partner is romantic and desirable. This not only undermines women but also puts pressure on men to exhibit similar behavior in order to be deemed attractive.
The series also reinforces the idea that women should prioritize their romantic relationships over everything else in their lives. Bella often puts her relationship with Edward above her own health and well-being, which is not only unrealistic but also reinforces harmful stereotypes about women and relationships.
A Story of White Vampires, Stereotyping Natives, and Lack of Diversity
In addition to these problematic elements, the Twilight series also lacks diversity.
The books are centered around white, cisgender, and heterosexual characters, which is not representative of the diverse experiences and identities of women in our society.
This lack of representation is a missed opportunity for Stephanie Meyer to promote and advocate for equality and inclusivity in her writing. And diversity in modern lit, especially YA, is important for several reasons.
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It allows people from all backgrounds to see themselves reflected in the stories they read, promoting a sense of belonging and validation. When people from diverse backgrounds can see their experiences and cultures represented in literature, it helps to break down stereotypes and promotes understanding and empathy.
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Diverse perspectives bring fresh ideas and unique viewpoints to the literary world. This enriches the overall literary landscape, providing readers with a wider range of experiences and perspectives to learn from. Furthermore, by exploring diverse experiences, literature can challenge societal norms and encourage the questioning of long-held beliefs and biases.
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Diversity also helps to address historical and ongoing systemic inequalities. Representing marginalized communities in literature can give voice to those who have been oppressed and help to shed light on important social issues. By highlighting these issues, literature can play a role in promoting change and creating a more just and equal society.
Beauty Standards for the Plain and Ordinary
The portrayal of women in the Twilight series perpetuates damaging beauty standards. Bella is consistently described as plain and ordinary, yet she is still the object of desire for multiple male characters in the story.
This reinforces the idea that women who don’t fit traditional beauty standards are still desirable and worthy of love, which is a harmful and unrealistic message. So the idea that women must conform to certain beauty standards in order to be deemed attractive, and that those who do not conform are somehow less deserving of love and attention seems to be pretty central to the plot. Gross.
Women deserve to see themselves reflected in literature in a positive and empowering way, and it is our responsibility as readers and advocates to demand that they are.
By promoting works that uplift and empower women, we can work towards a brighter future for women in literature, where diversity and inclusivity are valued and celebrated.
Bella Has No Friends
The lack of female friendships in the Twilight series is also a missed opportunity for promoting female empowerment and friendship. Bella’s only close relationship is with her father, Charlie, and she has very little interaction with other women. The two main friendships she has are with Jessica and Angela – Jessica who she kind of hates at least according to her own internal dialogue… and Angela that wasn’t mentioned enough for me to even really remember.
This reinforces the stereotype that women are in competition with each other and that female relationships are not important or valuable. This lack of female friendships is a missed opportunity for Stephenie Meyer to promote female empowerment and support, which is crucial for the representation of women in literature.
Passive Characters? Please and Thank You
Twilight also reinforces the stereotype that women are passive and submissive, and that their sole purpose is to support and serve men. Bella is often portrayed as being passive, indecisive, and dependent on the male characters in the story.
This reinforces the idea that women are weak and in need of a strong male figure to save them, which is just annoying. Honestly.
Additionally, the way the male characters in the series treat women is dripping with toxic masculinity and the idea that men are superior to women. This is harmful and reinforces the idea that women are inferior to men and do not have agency or independence.
Stalking, Obsessiveness, and Lying – Oh My!
The Twilight series perpetuates harmful and unrealistic ideas about relationships and love. The books present an unhealthy and toxic relationship between Bella and Edward as being the epitome of true love. This reinforces the idea that love should be obsessive, controlling, and possessive, which is a damaging message for readers.
The books also present love as the only thing that matters, and that it is the only way to find happiness and fulfillment. This is an unrealistic and harmful message, as love should not be the only focus of one’s life, and there are many other things that can bring happiness and fulfillment.
And That’s All She Wrote
While the books may be enjoyable for some readers, it is important to recognize their shortcomings and to strive for better representation in literature. Women deserve to see themselves reflected in literature in a positive and empowering way, and it is our responsibility as consumers and advocates to demand that they are.
By recognizing the problems with the Twilight series, we can work to create a better future for women in literature.
We can promote and advocate for works that empower and uplift women, and we can support female authors and creators who are using their platforms to create stories that are diverse, inclusive, and empowering.
While I was obsessed with this series in high school, like way too much, I’m not a fan anymore. I enjoy watching the movies mostly for their ridiculous acting and the nostalgia value… but that’s it.
So let’s strive for better representation and a brighter future for women in literature, and let’s leave the problematic and harmful portrayals of women in the past.
