Identifier

206

Date

2022

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Major

English

Concentration

Literature

Committee Chair

Ana Gal

Committee Member

Lorinda Cohoon

Abstract

Stephenie Meyer constructs femininity in the shadow of masculinity in the Twilight Saga. Femininity is constructed through inferiority and victimhood, whereas masculinity is constructed through control, aggression/violence, and dominance. Femininity is informed and defined by masculinity in Meyer's texts (for if the woman is forever a victim, then someone must be victimizing her), so masculinity must be considered in tandem with femininity. The female experience is glaringly toxic and anti-feminist in Twilight, as seen in Meyer's adherence to traditional gender roles and the repetition of violence-- emotional, physical, and sexual-- towards the female characters. Gender is also tied intrinsically to race and class. Iterations of gender should be analyzed in the saga through their racial and class lenses, as seen in the treatment of Jacob and Emily. Ultimately, Twilight reinforces hegemonic ideas about race, class, and gender through traditional, Mormon power structures.

Comments

Undergraduate Honor's Thesis

Library Comment

Honors thesis originally submitted to the Local University of Memphis Honor’s Thesis Repository.

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