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The Twilight Saga Gender Stereotypes

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The Twilight Saga: A Typical Damsel in Distress
Arguably one of the most loved and hated film series, book-to-film series The Twilight Saga has created several discussions on the topic of gender roles and stereotypes. The Twilight Saga is based on Stephenie Meyer 's popular series of young adult novels revolving around new-girl-in-town Bella Swan and the love triangle she forms with vampire Edward Cullen and rival werewolf Jacob Black. Twilight, the first movie of the series, introduces Bella as an average girl that decides to move in with her father in rainy Forks, Washington. On her first day at her new school, she encounters a “family” of teenagers that seem too odd and too beautiful to possibly be human. Throughout the course of the film, she is thrown into supernatural world filled with “good” vampires, “bad” vampires, and the occasional werewolf.
Stephenie Meyer, the series ' author, has been criticized for her portrayal of a weak, helpless female lead who falls madly in love with a man who wants to kill her.
I keep coming back to her age. Right now …show more content…

The phrase "and so the lion fell in love with the lamb” attempts to evoke a space where the strong and weak can co-exist peacefully. Is it also meant to suggest that the rapist/sexual assaulter can have tender feelings for his victim? With all its associations, the phrase is a prominent feature of Twilight-inspired jewelry and tee shirts populating the Internet. Its problematic quality is reinforced by Twilight series dialogue in which Bella often refers to herself as a "stupid lamb” and Edward calls himself a "sick, masochistic lion.” They may recognize their personality disorders but the books never deal with the damage. Instead, Twilight glorifies the "masochism,” making it a fetish that burrows into the minds of young readers. One website featured a Christmas ornament with the phrase "Property of Edward Cullen -- Forks, WA.” The product description read, "You belong to sexy sparkly vampire Edward

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