Girl Power

• Weak Women
• Wicked Women
• Native Women

Girl Power:
Feminism and Twilight

Twilight has reached a readership of over a hundred million worldwide and the pervasiveness of the pop phenomenon makes the anti-feminist undertones of the series troubling. This is particularly so among the teen demographic of Twilight fans, who range from ages 8 to 19 and often relate to Bella Swan’s struggles to forge her own unique identity and make sense of her strange love. Additionally, for all Twilight consumers, the villainous, yet beautiful vampire women of the series underscore Meyer’s implicit idea that sexual, seductive women are evil. And as Twilight fans span across all demographic boundaries, the limited, inaccurate portrayal of Quileute women undermines Native representation, promoting further misunderstanding about Native gender roles.

Meyer’s antiquated, unequal gender prescriptions manifest in Twilight Barbies.
(Image: Mattel. Photo: Burke Museum.)

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