Examining the Twilight phenomenon: Gender roles

Abstract

Traditional gender stereotypes have not changed as much as society would like to believe. Female characters in books and movies usually fulfill the role of damsel in distress, needing to be saved by a strapping, handsome, and muscular male lead. One of the more popular additions to this cultural phenomenon is Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga. Spanning the entertainment industries of books and movies, the series has a large following, which could be used to spread positive messages about gender roles, but it falls flat, following suit with the gender role theory. Perhaps society is more comfortable with characters that are more familiar, mimicking the cultural norms, regardless of the fact that some of the characters are vampires and werewolves. This paper will briefly examine the impact the Twilight series has had on popular culture and the values set forth in the writings of Stephenie Meyer.

Where did Twilight come from?

            The Twilight series, was started in 2005, with the initial book, simply titled, Twilight, and was the first story Stephenie Meyer had written after earning a degree in English almost a decade previously. Inspired by a dream she had, Meyer was able to write the novel in three months, although she never intended on having it published. The young adult genre of books started to see an increased following, having sparked by the success of the Harry Potter series in the late 1990s. The population was ready for something a little more edgy, yet still containing some of the mysticism contained in the J.K. Rowling series that followed the life of a young male wizard.

            Readers were hungry for complex characters, interesting and fantastic plot lines, and the lure of a forbidden romance. According to some reviews (Crandall, 2007), the audience received exactly what they wanted, and in return, Meyer became quite successful, her name synonymous with young adult novels. Her writing style was praised by many, some stating that her use of imagery and vivid descriptions were the key to the book’s appeal (Bull, 2009). However, not all critics were so kind, as fellow author Stephen King has shared his displeasure with both the story and Meyer’s writing ability (Flood, 2009). In King’s critique, comparing Rowling and Meyer, he stated that, “The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.” Despite the mixed reviews of her peers, the Twilight series has topped the Best Seller lists numerous times.

Plot, characters, and the social role theory

            The Twilight story presents the life of a shy 17-year-old female character, named Bella Swan, who moves from Arizona to Washington State, and falls in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen. In both the books and movies, Bella is presented as a naïve teen, keeping in line with gender conformity messages, which suggest that women are weak, passive, and in need of being protected (Hayes-Smith, 2011). While Bella resembles the frailty hinted at by her surname, Edward portrays the stereotypical strong guy role, acting aggressively and taking charge in even the most intimate of moments. The presentation of the two main characters is in line with what the social role theory posits, in that behavioral differences are influenced by the social roles accepted as normal in a society. People often look at the behaviors of same-sex peers to determine appropriate and accepted behavior, as acting in a manner that is not appropriate would risk social ostracization (Harrison & Lynch, 2005).

            An additional risk involved in the way the characters are presented is the incidence of violence between Bella and Edward, which mirrors the domestic violence that occurs in intimate partner violence, even among the adolescent population, where an estimated 13% of female adolescents reporting having had experienced physical violence (Collins & Carnody, 2011). If society views the relationship of the whiny and unassertive Bella, who was covered in bruises after an intimate encounter with Edward, as the social norm, such a view would in a way support an acceptance of domestic violence. Based on the plot line presented by Meyer, the audience is expected to accept Bella’s decisions as a necessary part of the plan; presenting oneself as a clumsy, insecure damsel in distress is the proper and appropriate way to act in a relationship. Much like Barbie, the female role model in the 1960s, Bella does not present a strong ideal for females in society (Spieler, 2012).

Positive comparisons

            While Bella may not provide a positive role model for young adolescent girls, there are several positive role models within both the print and video media to fill that role. During a survey conducted in a high school, 66% of the girls surveyed stated that there had been characters in books that they felt they could relate to and viewed as role models (Melnick, 2002). The interesting part of the results came in the form of the titles and characters named by the participants, as they were not mainstream and current bodies of work, but rather many of them came in the form of historical characters such as Anne Frank. Also included in the positive realm were the characters Salamanca in Walk Two Moons (Creech, 1994), and Novalee Nation in Where the Heart Is (Letts, 1995).

Conclusion

            While the books and movies of the Twilight franchise have been quite successful, perhaps the Meyer played it safe, abiding by the cultural norms of the gender stereotypes, instead of portraying the lead female as an independent and strong role model for young women. The need to change the acceptable social roles of the genders is growing, and Meyer had an opportunity to make an impact in the realm of strong leading women. While being financially successful, the character development and contribution to society is lacking, leaving society with a gaping hole in gender equality.

            The good thing is that there are plenty of other options to provide a good role model for young women, helping them to grow up into powerful, independent, and strong women of the future.

**References available upon request**