control freaks, utopia, and magic, oh my!: the impact of popular young adult role models on young...

7/29/2019 Control Freaks, Utopia, and Magic, Oh My!: The Impact of Popular Young Adult Role Models on Young Women's Id

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Control Freaks, Utopia, and Magic, Oh My!:

The Impact of Popular Young Adult Role Models on Young Women's Identity

Caitlin Chciuk

WMST499

Dr. Nicole Burkholder-Mosco

December 12, 2012


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Introduction

Media and popular culture have always been prominent parts of society. As a culture

today, we live and breathe mediawe are constantly connected to the World Wide Web, reading

about a favorite celebritys latest scandal, or checking out reviews of movies, books, or albums.

The constant connection our society has through smart phones, iPads, and other portable devices

is a fairly new concept, but the prevalence of media in society is something that has been seen

for decades.

As a result of media being so prevalent, our culture tends to idolize celebrities and movie

or book characters. While there are many people in the media who are good role models, there

are also many who are negative. Young women are generally the group of people looking up to

people in the media; however, they are often getting a negative view of qualities to idolize and

emulate. It can be difficult, however, to separate the negative qualities from the positive ones, as

the negative qualities are typically the ones society chooses to push as good. For young

women, being thin, pretty, and desirable are all valued traits; but traits like intelligence, kindness,

strength, and modesty are not as highly valued.

In the following sections, I will be discussing the effect of both negative and positive role

models in popular book and movie series. The Twilightseries, the Fifty Shades of Grey books,

theHarry Potternovels, and theHunger Games series will be analyzed for the qualities of their

female protagonists. As all of these series are immensely popular, they have huge fan bases,

primarily made up of young women. In addition, I will explain the negative qualities that media

outlets are attempting to popularize as good, and show how these seemingly good traits can

actually be a negative influence. With this, I will also show how celebrities who exemplify traits

that society deems good can also be a negative influence on young women.


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Influence of Media in Society

Though media has been prevalent for hundreds of years, it really began to take shape at

the turn of the 20th

century. In the United States in the early 1900s, newspapers and radio were

the most popular forms of obtaining information. Literature was also an important aspect of pop

culture. According to Peggy Whitley, an employee of the Lone Star College Kingwood Library,

writers of the early 1900s wrote happiness novels, or novels that dealt with uplifting ideas

(Whitley, sec. Books & Literature). Many of the novels, she explains, were fiction novels,

especially during the Great Depression because people needed a form of escaping from the

sadness of everyday life.

In the late 1940s, with the beginning of television, society obtained a whole new form of

pop culture. Instead of looking at simple print advertisements or reading books, people could

watch televisionan almost effortless way of staying entertained. As television developed

throughout the years, it became a prominent feature in American homes. Mitchell Stephens, a

professor of Journalism and Mass Communications at New York University, found that By the

late 1990s, 98 percent of U.S. homes had at least one television set, and those sets were on for an

average of more than seven hours a day. He also explains that the typical American spends

[] from two-and-a-half to almost five hours a day watching television (Stephens, par. 1).

The rise of the Internet also had a profound effect on society. In the mid-1990s, the

Internet was just becoming available for public use; by 2000, over seventy million computers

were connected to the Internet. In 2010, it was estimated that about 1.97 billion people were

using the Internet worldwide (Curtis, sec. 2010). In addition, it is estimated that by 2015

nearly 60 per cent of the earths population will be connected to some form of social

networking (Curtis, sec. 2011).


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Nowadays, television, advertisements (both print and digital), literature, newspapers,

radio, and the Internet dominate our society. With all of this information easily accessible

through technology, we are constantly being fed models of what we are supposed to act like.

However, those models often cause problems with body image and acceptance, especially among

young adults. Books can also cause problems, because the characters can become role models for

how people are supposed to act, dress, look, or carry themselves.

Portrayal of Women in the Media

An interesting aspect of the importance of mass media in our culture is the portrayal of

women. This aspect is also one of the biggest problems with media in our culture, both in the

past and today. From television and movies to literature and advertising, women have either been

underrepresented or depicted as sex objects or victims (Stankiewicz and Rosselli 579).

Additionally, if they are represented, they are often represented as fulfilling gender stereotypes.

David Gauntlett, author ofMedia, Gender and Identity: An Introduction, states that In

the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, only 20 to 35 per cent of characters were female. By the mid-

1980s, there were more women in leading roles, but still there were twice as many men on

screen (47). Right from the start, women were facing problems with underrepresentation in an

emerging form of media. But it was not just television programs underrepresenting females that

became a problem; advertising was showing women in very stereotypical roles. Advertising in

the 1960s, for example, portrayed women in three different ways: sexy, for advertisements

geared toward men; romantic, as in if you use this product youll be more desirable; and as

housewives and mothers (Zeisler 24-25). Through advertisements, the women depicted became a

mere shell, seen as unfulfilled if she did not use the product depicted.


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These early forms of advertising seem to have set a basis for how women and girls are

portrayed in the media today. Modern advertisements constantly show women that they are

unfulfilled if they do not use certain products, but in general these products are for the home,

such as cleaning products or foods, or for makeup and beauty products. In addition, women are

often romanticized in these situations. A cleaning product company that constantly uses women

in their advertising is Swiffer. A recent line of Swiffer commercials shows women getting their

cleaning done very quickly because they use Swiffers products. When these women are done

cleaning, they realize that because they got finished so quickly, they have more free time. It is

implied that these women do not have jobs to go to; their only responsibility is cleaning. Another

problem is makeup and beauty commercials, which constantly imply that women are only

worried about the way they look. These products also show women that they need to have baby

soft lips and skin in order to be desirable. A new commercial from Maybelline shows women

using their new line of Baby Soft lipstick; this product is supposed to make your lips so soft that

they are child-like. Youth is a big focus in beauty products, and this lipstick supposedly gives

women the youngest lips they could want, therefore making them more attractive in society.

Outside of advertising, the roles depicted in advertising are still prevalent. Television

shows often portray women in gender-specific roles, such as mothers, wives, and caretakers,

even when filling professional roles simultaneously. The popular television show The Office

shows women in a variety of different roles. Pam is a receptionist, but she eventually works her

way into a sales position. The sales position does not end up working out for her, but instead of

going back into sales she becomes the office administrator. Even though Pam is seen as a strong

career woman, she is also the most prominent mother among the characters. Two of the biggest

moments for her character were her wedding and the births of her children. While Pam can be


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seen as a role model, she is also not doing anything to break the gender stereotypes that surround

her. Another female character who is stuck in a gender stereotype is Kelly. She is portrayed as a

young, ditzy woman who is obsessed with fashion, celebrities, and her looks. Kelly falls into the

stereotype of the unfulfilled woman; she is constantly following the latest trends in order to have

a sense of self. Kelly is a single, independent woman, but she often relies too heavily on her

looks and her boyfriend to define who she is.

There are other female characters on The Office who portray female stereotypes; for

example, Phyllis, a heavyset woman, never truly advances in her career nor does she try to.

Angela, a cranky blonde, is defined by the repression of her sexuality, which only comes out in

secret. There are only two female characters that are in high positions within the company, but

they are not necessarily powerful because of their careers; they are powerful because they are

both beautiful and sexy women. In addition, they both, at separate times in the series, become the

girlfriend of Michael Scott, the boss of the branch depicted in the show.

While The Office generally portrays women in stereotypical roles, there is one stereotype

they do break: women are shown in the workplace, not as housewives. While that is a part of the

big picture, however, the overarching idea is that the company is run by men. Men are shown as

majority of the higher-up roles, while women are generally shown in reception or sales positions.

In a study of gender stereotypes in television, Amanda Marie Irene Scott, a graduate student at

Gonzaga University, discovered that even though this shift in the workforce continues to grow,

societal organizations and conventions continue to portray male-female roles in ways where the male

character attempts to dominate the female character and further the cause of patriarchy (5).

Though some women on The Office do transcend the workplace stereotypes and find themselves

in higher positions, most do not.


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This trend continues in all forms of popular media, including film and literature, where

women often struggle to break free from the traditional care-giver roles. If and when a woman

does break free, she is often punished or made to sacrifice other rewarding aspects of life. In this

paper, I will be examining four popular literary series in which this trend is either exemplified or

countered: the Twilightsaga (Stephenie Meyer), Fifty Shades of Grey (E.L. James), theHarry

Potterseries (J.K. Rowling), and The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins).

Because of their popularity, these series can be considered mass media. By definition,

mass media is a medium of communication (as newspapers, radio, or television) that is designed

to reach the mass of the people (Mass Medium). Therefore media, whether it is books, films,

television, or any other form, is reaching a large majority of people, and a large majority of

people are seeing their favorite characters stuck in gender stereotypes instead of breaking them.

Because so many people are influenced by media, including books and movies, on a daily basis,

what does this mean for our society? Moreover, what does this mean for the young adults and

adolescents, who are generally the ones looking up to these characters?

Media Targeting Adolescents: A Big Problem

Because of the prevalence of media in our society today, adolescents are constantly being

targeted and bombarded with mixed messages about how to carry themselves. Young adult

literature covers topics including relationships, family, and other social mores. Movies show

strong characters doing things that are out of the ordinary. Music carries with it all kinds of

different ideas about how women and men are supposed to be. Advertising portrays what a

young person needs to do in order to be popular, or at least well-liked. With all of these issues


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swimming around, it is no wonder that young people, especially young women, are often

confused.

In the article Twilightis Not Good for Maidens: Gender, Sexuality, and the Family in

Stephenie Meyers TwilightSeries by Anna Silver, adolescence is defined as a transitional

point between childhood and adulthood during which adolescents cope with the often

uncomfortable transformations of their bodies and with events that typically occur for the first

time during teen years (123). Silver, a professor of English at Mercer University, believes that

young adult literature especially is used to teach adolescents about growing up. However, other

aspects of media can also be used to teach adolescents about adulthood movies, music, and

advertising are all covering more adult topics, yet showing these topics in a way that targets

adolescents and young adults.

Roger Sutton, a young adult services librarian, explains that in the 1950s and early 60s,

junior novels [young adult novels] were primarily concerned with the pleasures of ordinary life

[and] problems explored (popularity, boy/girl relations, etc.) were ones the reading audience had,

or wished to have (33). However, young adult literature nowadays, especially those targeting

young women, takes on a different tonea much darker one. Adolescents face many tough

decisions in their lives, and literature is just one way to teach them about facing these decisions.

B. Joyce Stallworth, the Associate Dean in the College of Education at the University of

Alabama, believes that literature that specifically targets young adults has the potential to

facilitate young adolescents transition into later stages of development (60). Teachers are

consistently using popular culture and media in the classrooms; novels chosen, movies shown,

and allusions referenced are ways of not only capturing young peoples attention, but also

finding connections that students can use in everyday life. Because so many of the popular young


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adult novels today have very realistic aspects to them, young adults can see the way the

characters handle similar issues to ones in their own lives.

But what happens when these characters whom young adults idolize so much are not

actually good role models? Regardless of how much we have progressed as a society, there are

still characters who are shown fulfilling gender stereotypes. Young females in popular culture

are often shown looking for love, letting men swoop in to save them in times of need. While

there are some characters who break the gender norms, our society is taking a step backward by

allowing young women to idolize female characters who are stuck in stereotypical roles.

Stephenie Meyers Twilight

Stephenie Meyers smash hit book-turned-film series, the Twilightsaga, has been

enthralling readers since the publication of the books in 2005. Though originally marketed to

teenage girls, the books have been devoured by adults as well. The series revolves around Bella

Swan, a teenage girl, who falls in love with Edward Cullen, a vampire who passes for 17 but is

actually 108 years old. Naturally, Bella and Edwards relationship has complications for

example, theres the constant threat of him sucking her blood, even though he and his vampire

family claim to be vegetarians (in other words, they only prey on animals such as deer and

mountain lions). However, the young couple does whatever they can to overcome the obstacles

in their way, and by the fourth book in the series, the two are married with a half-human, half-

vampire child, and Bella has been changed from her human form to a vampire.

So what draws womenof all agesto these novels? Sadie Stein, a writer for the

popular womens websiteJezebel, explains that it is a comfort read (par. 3). Twilightprovides

romance, action, adventure, and gorgeous, perfect men. The series is also an escape from the


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typical boy-meets-girl romance; it dives into a storyline ripe with the supernatural. Bella is

relatable in that she is just a typical high school student. She could be any young woman.

However, she ends up becoming not so typical: she ends up swept into the incredible world of

vampires, and ends up with a really handsome, protective, wealthy, perfect boyfriend. While

teenagers are drawn to this series for the romantic aspects of it, women well past their teenage

years are finding something in these books for themselves as well. Bella, especially later in the

series, does not act like a typical teenager; she makes decisions that are more common of young

adults, such as having Edward come stay the night with her.

Another pull from this series, according to Professor Lydia Kokkola, author of Virtuous

Vampires and Voluptuous Vamps: Romance Conventions Reconsidered in Stephenie Meyers

TwilightSeries, is the sexual tension between Bella and Edward. The tension, Kokkola

explains, is a direct result of Edwards gentlemanly qualities. Edward is the perfectly socialized

young adult, says Kokkola; he desires both Bellas blood and her body, but he can control

himself (166). Where Edward is shown as the perfect, chaste gentleman, Bella is portrayed as

the lustful one, unable to control her desires for Edward.

Stereotypes

Despite being written in the early 2000s, the books in the Twilightseries seem to be

missing a lot of the 21st

century ideas seen in other popular young adult novels from the same

time period, such asHarry Potterand The Hunger Games (which will be discussed in later

sections). For one, the female protagonist falls directly into gender stereotypes. Alexandra

Owens, author of Limited by Stereotypes: Gender Bias in Stephanie Meyers TwilightSeries,

outlines a few of the stereotypes Bella perpetuates: for starters, she enjoys cooking [and]


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managing household activities (126). Right from the start, readers see Bella fall into this role;

when she moves in with her father, she assumes the cooking and cleaning responsibilities.

The stereotypes Bella embodies go beyond those of typical female roles around the

house, however. Owens explains that throughout Twilight, she is portrayed as weak and in need

of a savior (129). Because she is perpetually clumsy and prone to danger, she is seen as the

damsel in distress character, and Edward almost inevitably always swoops in to take care of

her. For example, at the end of the first book, Bella is tricked by a rival vampire named James

he convinces her that he is holding her mother captive. When Bella goes to save her mother from

James, she believes she can take him on herself; however, when she arrives and realizes he has

tricked her, he ends up hurting her and Edward runs in at the last minute to save her. In this

situation, Edward comes off as a hero, and Bella is seen as irrational and insane for even thinking

she could take on James by herself.

Additional stereotypes are shown when Bella becomes a wife and a mother. Throughout

the series, Bella is not very enthralled with the idea of being married at such a young age; she

says to Edward, Im not that girl... The one who gets married right out of high school like some

small-town hick who got knocked up by her boyfriend! (Meyer,Eclipse 275). She also reflects

on concepts of marriage in her own head, narrating:

I briefly contemplated my issues with words likefianc, wedding, husband, etc. I

just couldnt put it together in my head. On the one hand, I had been raised to

cringe at the very thought of poofy white dresses and bouquets. But more than

that, I just couldnt reconcile a staid, respectable, dull concept like husbandwith

my concept ofEdward. (Meyer,Breaking Dawn 6)


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However, in the fourth book of the series, Bella does marry Edward and discovers that it was

what she had wanted all along. Right before the marriage, she says Tomorrow night, I would be

Bella Cullen. Though the whole marriage ordeal was a thorn in my side, I had to admit that I

liked the sound of that (Meyer,Breaking Dawn 30). Owens also explains that Bella had no

desire to have children. For Bella, becoming a vampire would mean losing her ability to have

children. Bella tells Edward that she never really wanted to have children, anyway. However, no

one realizes that a vampire and a human can actually conceive a child, and Bella winds up

pregnant on her honeymoon. Readers are shown that Bella is going to be a mother and take care

of her child no matter what, even though it was not what she originally wanted.

Pre-marriage, the sexual tension between Edward and Bella actually shows a stereotype

reversal, according to Owens. She explains, We typically imagine the woman wanting to hold

off on sexual relations until marriage (133). Kokkola also picks up on this trend in the series,

saying, Edward insists on taking her[Bella] back to the morals of his Edwardian childhood and

marrying her before he will agree to have sex (166). Many believe that the sexuality, or lack

thereof, in the series is directly related to Meyers own faith. It is no secret that Stephenie Meyer

is a Mormon; she is fairly open about her beliefs. One belief in the Mormon faith, along with

other sects of Christianity, is complete sexual abstinence before marriage (Blacksec. Specific

medical and ethical issues). Bella and Edward have been seen as good role models for young

people because they do not engage in premarital sex (Hale-Stern par. 8). While abstinence can be

seen as a positive trait in young adults, readers are not seeing the problems associated with this

abstinenceprimarily that Edward is actually repressing Bella by not allowing her to give in to

her sexuality and sexual urges.


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Problems

All things considered, Bella and Edward are notgood role models for young adults.

Though their relationship seems perfect, it does not take much digging beneath the surface to

find the cracks in this perfection.

As mentioned before, Bella and Edward are seen as good role models for young people

because they are abstinent. However, they are not necessarily both abstinent by choice. They kiss

often, and Bella finds herself breathless or even passing out from Edwards kiss (Meyer, Twilight

319). Edward is the one saying no, pushing Bella away, and becoming fairly stoic when it comes

to sexual desire. Part of this could be because Edward is somewhat weak when it comes to the

scent of Bellas blood. Another part could be that Edward, at 108 years old, grew up learning that

premarital sex was wrong. Kaila Hale-Stern, a writer for the website io9, explains, Bella's

teenage passions are consistently thwarted by her decades-old suitor (par. 8). Edward explains

to Bella that, if they were in his era, he would have [] gotten down on one knee and

endeavored to secure [Bellas] hand (Meyer,Eclipse 277).

While all of these traits of Edwards sound virtuous, he is actually repressing Bellas

sexuality. Bella finds herself only really agreeing to marry Edward because it means they can

have sex (Owens 133). Edward forces Bella to repress her sexual desire for him, but Kokkola

explains that Bella is a virgin bride, but her mind is constantly filled with carnal desire (169).

She is constantly thinking of Edward in a desirable way, regardless of the way he expects her to

act. Bella also submits to Edwards wishes to be abstinent, therefore giving up her own sexuality.

Kokkola states that Bellas adoption of Edwards view of love is presented as a sign of

maturity by critics, but in reality, it can also be seen as repression (171). Bella is of age to be


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making decisions about her sexuality, and is old enough to assert her sexual independence, but

Edward is taking that decision away from her for majority of the series.

When Bella and Edward do finally have sex on their honeymoon, it is exactly what they

had bothbeen waiting for until the next morning, when Bella wakes up blissfully covered

with enormous bruises (Silver 130). This is the reward for their abstinence: Bella and Edward

finally get to have sex, and Bella wakes up harmed. The ever-virtuous Edward says I will not

make love with you until youve been changed. I will never hurt you again (Meyer,Breaking

Dawn 98). But once again, Bella is the one pushing her desireseven though shes bruised, she

tells Edward that shes fine and does not want to go back to the abstinence they had before their

wedding just to stop herself from getting hurt. Edward snaps back by saying You are so human,

Bella. Ruled by your hormones (Meyer,Breaking Dawn 103), thereby making Bella look like

she is out of control and irrepressible. She also ends up pregnant after the first time she has sex,

which perpetuates the message that sex will get a girl into trouble.

Bellas sexuality is not the only aspect of her life that Edward seems to control. In fact, it

seems that Edward controls nearly every part of Bellas life. From the moment Bella meets

Edward, her thoughts are consumed by him. But as their relationship grows, so do his controlling

tendencies. While some may see this as him protecting her, he is going way beyond that. Edward

stalks her, watches her sleep at night, drives her everywhere, isolates her from family, limits her

movements, and carries her off at the drop of a hat, according to Hale-Stern (par. 7).

Edward is absolutely controlling of Bella, but the two are also quite co-dependent.

Neither of the two seems to have much of a life outside of each other, explains Owens. For

example, in book two,New Moon, Edward disappears from Bellas life for some time in order to

protect her from his world. Owens explains, When Edward leaves, Bella falls into an


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unresponsive, zombie-like state for several months (130). This is shown through chapters that

solely list the month, and nothing else. Months go by with Bella saying and doing nothing. She

cannot function without Edward.

Both Bella and Edward say that they would rather be dead than live without the other. In

New Moon, Bella says to Edward, Id rather die than be with anyone but you (Meyer,New

Moon 45). Likewise, Edward says that he, too, would rather die than be with anyone but Bella,

explaining that if anything happened to her he would kill himself (Meyer, New Moon 19). Owens

feels that the co-dependency between Bella and Edward is unhealthy because they truly have

no life outside of each other (130). Bella does not willingly spend time with people outside of

Edward and his family. Owens cites a moment inEclipse where Bella says that she would rather

cut off all ties with Jacob, her best friend, than lose Edward (133).

Realistically, many of these tendenciesco-dependent and otherwisefall into the realm

of an abusive relationship.HelpGuide, a non-profit organization that helps with mental health

and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, devotes a portion of their website to listing the signs and

signals ofan abusive relationship. Some of the signs include acting excessively possessive,

and seeing [their partner] as property (Smith and Segal sec. Signs of an abusive

relationship). Edward is extremely possessive of Bella, monopolizing her time and insulting her

friendships (Owens 128). Along with being possessive, he also views her as his property, telling

her I just want it to be official that you belong to me and no one else (Meyer,Eclipse 546).

Another one of the signs of an abusive relationship is the abuser putting [their partner]

in danger (Smith and Segal sec. Signs of an abusive relationship). Edward is dangerous to

Bella from the beginning, solely because he is a vampire who desires her blood. At any moment,

he could kill her, and he is well aware of this. In the first book, Bella says He was dangerous.


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Hed been trying to tell me that all along, which means that she, too, was well aware of the

danger he could put her in (Meyer, Twilight93). While Bella has faith in Edward and knows that

he would not hurt her (Owens 128), she does not stop much to consider the outside dangers of

being with a vampire. For example, at the end of the first Twilightbook, Bella is nearly killed by

vampires from another coven because one of their own desires to drink her blood and Edward

will not let them near her. Bringing Bella into the world of vampires was risky to begin with, but

Edward does it anyway; and while he tries to protect her, she still winds up injured and terrified.

Another issue with the Twilightseries is the surface-level perfection of Bella and

Edwards relationship. Young adults, who may not know how to dig beneath the surface, will see

Bella and Edward as perfect lovers, meant to be together despite the hardships of the world

around them. Bella also begins to lose herself within Edward. As a high school graduate, Bella

should be thinking about college and a future career; however, all she is thinking about is

Edward and being with him forever. Anna Silver believes that this is extremely problematic for

young women, saying that Bella is not a good role model because she chooses marriage and

motherhood at age nineteen instead of her education (130). Bella also gives up herself in that

she literally gives up her human form and the possibility of living a normal, human life in order

to be a vampire. She makes this decision early on in the series, knowing that she will do anything

to be with Edward forever, including giving up her human self.

How this affects readers

Adolescents are already impressionable, so seeing their favorite characters giving up

their sense of self in order to be in a perfect relationship could push them to do the same.

Silver notes that Twilighthas made the move past popular, as young girls are pledging on fan

sites that they will love Edward Cullen forever, and that he has ruined them for merely mortal


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human boys (135). Young women are out there searching for their own perfect match, their

personal Edward Cullenattractive, brilliant, protective, and handsomebut are overlooking

the imperfections of Edward, including his controlling personality and obsessive, overprotective

tendencies. To them, these tendencies are just Edward wanting to take care of Bella; what they

are not seeing is how he is repressing her.

While there are parts of the Twilightseries that are goodfor instance, the books are

getting young people to read and pick up other booksbeneath the surface the books can be

detrimental to young women. Bella is a relatable character, but the way she handles common

situations is where the series becomes problematic. When Edward disappears, she falls apart,

mentally mulling over the idea of suicide and how she can make the pain stop forever. When he

comes back, she loses herself in her relationship with Edward, cutting off nearly everything in

her life except for him. Eventually, when they get married, she gives up everyone her own

family includedto be a part of Edwards vampire family. Is this the kind of role model young

women should have?

A final big problem with the Twilightseries is that it is sparking many other literary

protagonists who follow gender stereotypes. Instead of reading about strong heroines, readers

who love the Twilightbooks find themselves reading about women who cannot stand on their

own two feet without their men, similar to how Bella is with Edward. The Twilightseries has

been the basis for many fan-fiction stories that take Edward and Bellas troubled romance and

put it into a different setting. The biggest problem with these stories is that they are taking some

of the most troubling parts of the storythe abusive tendenciesand using them as a basis for

their plot. One of the most famous examples of this is the Fifty Shades of Grey series.


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E.L. JamesFifty Shades of Grey

Author E.L. James found herself skyrocketed into popularity when her first novel, Fifty

Shades of Grey, was published. Originally a Twilightfan-fiction, the popular series imitates

many of the same elements highlighted in Twilight, but ultimately the trilogy has created its own

popularity. While it is intended for women older than the teenaged Twilightgeneration, these

books have also fallen into the hands of young women. Despite its openly erotic nature, readers

went crazy over the series because of the parallels to the Twilightseries. The trilogy is the story

of Anastasia (Ana) Steele, a young woman fresh out of college who, like her inspiration Bella

Swan, does not realize that her life is about to be turned upside down by a man. The man in this

novel is Christian Grey, a non-vampiric version of Edward Cullen. Like Bella, Ana is swept into

Christians life very wealthy and opulentand like Edward, there is underlying danger

inherent in Christian. Like the Twilightseries, Fifty Shades of Grey is a boy-meets-girl love

story, but the twist on the story is different; where Twilighthas elements of the supernatural, the

dark danger ofFifty Shades lies within Christians want and need for a dominant/submissive

sexual relationship, commonly known as BDSM.

Similar to Twilight, this series raises some interesting questions. For one, what draws

readers to the books? What about these books made them climb bestseller lists? Deirdre

Donahue, writer for USA Today, has ten reasons why the books are so popular. One of the most

prevalent reasons (number one on her list) is that it is a classic boy-meets-girl love story, but is

extremely open about the erotic moments that most classic literature tends to hide. Despite its

scarlet reputation, Donahue says, the series is an old-fashioned love story with some odd sex

toys, riding crops and mild bondage tossed in (sec. 1). The series is a classic love story that

readers are used to, but the erotic element adds thrill to an otherwise overused trope.


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Also like Twilight(because, lets face it, Fifty Shades is really just a unique re-imagining

ofTwilight), the books provide an escape. Because of the first person narrative, readers are

pulled directly into Anas thoughts, following her every move and knowing exactly what she is

thinking at each moment. Katie Roiphe, writer for Newsweek, explained that For some

[women], the more theatrical fantasies of sexual surrender offer a release, a vacation, an escape

from the realities of everyday life (Roiphe par. 11). Christian and Anas story is, by all means, a

romance; however, the explicit sex scenes add more to it than just the linear falling-in-love

relationship that readers are used to.

Stereotypes

While Ana does not play to all of the same gender stereotypes that Bella does, she

exemplifies some, such as being a virgin when she meets Christian and also needing to be saved

by Christian. The beautiful virgin is a trope seen in a lot of romantic fiction and is one of the

ideas and stereotypes played out in the Twilightseries. She also constantly needs to be rescued

and saved by Christian, which takes away from her sense of independence. Outside of

stereotypes, one of the biggest problems with the Fifty Shades of Grey series lies within the

dominant/submissive relationship between Ana and Christian. Ana, an intelligent, educated,

seemingly independent young woman is willing to be submissive to Christian simply because

she loves him and wants to play into his fantasies. Roiphe explains that it is intriguing that huge

numbers of women are eagerly consuming myriad and disparate fantasies of submission at a

moment when women are less dependent or subjugated than before (par. 7).

Not only does Ana submit to Christian in the bedroom, she submits to his lifestyle as

well. When Ana first discovers Christians tendencies, she backs away. Even Anas

subconscious, personified in the novel, knows that Ana submitting to Christian is wrong. She


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(the subconscious) says, So youve just slept with him, given him your virginity, a man who

doesnt love you. In fact, he has some very odd ideas about you, wants to make you some sort of

kinky sex slave. ARE YOU CRAZY? (James, Fifty Shades of Grey 125).

What Ana wants from Christian is a normal relationship for people in their 20s. Christian,

however, is very set in his ideas of only dominant/submissive sex, no relationship. Roiphe

explains, she is not into sadomasochism, she is just in love with Christian Grey so she is

willing to give the beatings and leather crops the old college try (par. 15). When Ana asks

Christian what he gets out of the BDSM relationship, he says The more you submit, the greater

my joy; however, when she asks what she will get out of it, Christian simply says Me (James,

Fifty Shades of Grey 101). Readers are led to believe that this is enough for Ana, that just having

Christian, even if not in an actual relationship (at first), is enough for her because she loves him.

This behavior plays right into a stereotype of women that just having a man is enough to

sustain them. This behavior has been seen in much of pop culture, Twilightincluded. The woman

will not be completely fulfilled until she is in a relationship or married to a man. The idea that a

woman needs a man in order to be a worthwhile member of society is perpetuated through these

books.

Problems

There are many problems in this series that go far beyond the lifestyle Christian and Ana

choose to live. In the bedroom (or the Red Room of Pain, or the shower, or the elevator, or

well, everywhere), Christian very obviously controls Ana for his own personal pleasure.

However, his control goes way beyond the bedroom. He is very in control of his life. He owns an

absolutely massive corporation, so he has complete control over the business he has created.


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When Ana (literally) stumbles into his life, Christian begins to lose that control. So, in order to

keep himself sane, he begins to control Ana.

One of the first big instances of control that readers see from Christian is when Ana takes

a job at a publishing company. At first, Christian starts by asking Ana about her boss, Jack Hyde,

believing that Jack is attracted to Ana. Even though (at first) Jack does not do anything

inappropriate towards Ana, Christian is still uneasy, so he buys the company. Ana is outraged at

Christian, but he quickly turns that around and, as in every argument, the two have sex, and it is

assumed that she just accepts the fact that he has bought the company.

Blogger LauraGT, a public health professional, analyzes the Fifty Shades books in

tandem with abuse. She explains, [Christian] tracks [Ana] down anywhere she is (using a

mythical GPS system that can track her phone, for example), showing up at her doorstep

uninvited when hes scared she might leave him (sec. Additionalrape culture myths).

Christian also incessantly emails Ana, even when he knows it is getting in the way of her

productivity at work. He does all of this just to make sure she remains faithful and honest with

him. Christian is also incredibly possessive of Ana. Similarly to how Edward is with Bella,

Christian wants to make Ana all his ownin other words, his property. Because Ana is a virgin,

Christian possesses her sexuality entirely. In one part, he says Every time you move tomorrow,

I want you to be reminded that Ive been here. Only me. You are mine (James, Fifty Shades of

Grey 121). James attempts to portray Christian as protective instead of possessive; many young

women on social media websites fawn over Christian because they believe he is treating Ana like

a queen, when, in actuality, he is abusing and repressing her.

Some of the most troubling scenes in the novel are not actually the abusive sex scenes;

they are scenes where Christians anger gets the better of him. Christian tends to fly off the


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handle, getting mad very easily. At many points throughout the series, Ana finds herself

questioning everything she said in a conversation to figure out what exactly she said or did that

made Christian mad. One such scene is when Ana goes to Georgia to visit her mother (without

Christian); Christian shows up where she is, uninvited, and finds where she and her mother are

dining. When he sits down, Ana asks why hes there and he says We aim to please, Miss

Steele in a way that makes Ana question if he is mad and what she said to make him mad

(James, Fifty Shades of Grey 419). It seems like Ana has to walk on eggshells around Christian,

doing her best to not make him mad. Instead of questioning Christians stalker-like tendencies,

Ana questions herself and what she could have possibly done to upset him.

In the third novel of the series, Fifty Shades Freed, Christian verbally abuses and

threatens Ana. In one early scene, Ana goes to a bar with her best friend, Kate, even though

Christian does not want her to. Even though she is safe, and through a plot twist it turns out that

being out of the house actually saves her life (she is not present when Jack invades her house

with intent to hurt her), Christian is absolutely furious with Ana for disobeying him. He tells Ana

that he wants to punish her, and then says he wants to really beat the shit out of [her] (James,

Fifty Shades Freed171). Ana is not thrown by thisthe only thing she says is I know and

soon falls asleep. The next day, Christian is still mad and Ana attempts to figure out a way to

placate him.

Later on in the novel, Ana forgets to get her birth control shot and gets pregnant. Though

they are married, Ana knows that they are not prepared to have a child. When Christian finds out,

he completely loses his cool. First, he accuses Ana of forgetting her shot and getting pregnant on

purpose. Then he berates her, asking How could you be so stupid? (James, Fifty Shades Freed

329). Once he is completely enraged, Christian walks out and goes to get drunk. When he comes


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back later, wasted and playful, and never really apologizing to her, Ana seems to instantly

forgive his actions from earlier.

Blogger LauraGT believes that Ana and Christians relationship follows a cycle of

abuse: tension builds, the abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, or psychological) takes place, the

abuser apologizes and promises to be better, there is a honeymoon phase, and then the cycle

repeats itself (sec. Fifty Shades and the Cycle of Abuse).Ana and Christian follow this cycle

in two ways. LauraGT explains one way that the two exemplify the cycle: the tension builds as

Christian tries to bring Ana into his lifestyle. He abuses her sexually, and then she leaves, afraid

of what has just happened. Christian finds her, apologizes, showers her with expensive presents,

and wins her back (LauraGT sec. Fifty Shades and the Cycle of Abuse). Another way Ana and

Christian follow the cycle is the tension builds as they argue (because they argue a lot). The

abuse comes from the horrible things Christian says if he doesnt get his way. Then either he or

she will storm off until the other apologizes, and they usually have sex soon after. The tension

will then again quickly escalate until either Christian or Ana blows up once again, is this the

kind of couple young women should be looking up to?

How this affects readers

While this series does come with a disclaimer that it is marketed to mature adults, it is

being read primarily by women in their 20s and younger (Roiphe, par. 3). Part of the reason for

this young group of readers reading the books is because of the series connection to Twilight.

Many of these young women are single, unmarried, and either in college or just out of college.

While they are not as impressionable as adolescents, young women are obviously drawn to Ana

and Christians relationship. What the series is perpetuating, according to LauraGT, is that

abusive men can be changed into loving ones, if the woman just sticks with it (sec. Additional


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rape culture myths). Women are being taught that, because a man is handsome, doting, and

sexy, his abusive tendencies can be overlooked.

There are some scenes that are meant to redeem Christian. For example, much of his

anger and many of his sadomasochist tendencies come from a troubled childhood. However,

aside from brief therapy sessions, Christian does not seem to do much to attempt to fix himself.

He lets his past dictate his moods and actions, which end up affecting Ana. In fact, Ana doesn t

even find out why Christian truly is the way he is until book two, Fifty Shades Darker. Many of

his actions are excused because of his troubled past. Again, just like with Edward Cullen, readers

are shown a perfect man who has a dark side to him; the dark side is explained away or

excused by the heroine, solely because she is in love with him.

Additionally, similar to Twilight, the series is making it seem okay to give up a sense of

self for a loved one. Just like Bella gives up her lifestyle to be with Edward, Ana gives up her

lifestyle to be with Christian. Ana is drawn into a lifestyle that she originally does not want,

simply because her love for Christian is so strong. This concept is teaching women that it is okay

to submit to your lover solely because you love him. As LauraGT says in her blog post,

Possessive, controlling behavior is not a sign of an overwhelming, powerful love; it is a sign of

abuse (sec. Is it OK to Read).

This series is already being banned from libraries. Barbara Jones, executive director of

ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom, explains that people are refusing to buy the book because

it was originally published on the Internet as fan fiction (21). Even a domestic abuse charity in

England conducted a mass burning of the books because they perpetuate violence against women

(Breslaw, par. 1). It is not the BDSM idea that critics are against; many times it is the abuse

toward Ana outside of the S&M relationship that turns readers off.


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Like Bella and Edward, Ana and Christian are not a good role model couple for young

adults. Their relationship is almost primarily based on sex, and their communication skills are

severely lacking. The series pushes the idea that violence toward a woman is okay as long as the

woman either (a) consents to it, or (b) can overlook it. These are not the ideas literature should be

pumping into young womens heads, especially in an age where women are striving to no longer

be objectified.

J.K. RowlingsHarry Potter Series

J.K. Rowlings seven-book fantasy series,Harry Potter, took the world by storm during

the late 1990s and early 2000s. The series follows the title character, Harry, through the

discovery, trials, and tribulations of the wizarding world. Much of the series takes place at

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where young witches and wizards are trained to

use magic both properly and as a defense. Each book in the series follows a year in Harrys life

at Hogwarts.

In each of the books, Harry finds himself both directly and indirectly battling Lord

Voldemort, a dark wizard who killed Harrys parents. Each book holds a different piece to the

puzzle that eventually reveals itself in the seventh and final book. With the help of his friends

and professors at Hogwarts, Harry escapes Lord Voldemort again and again, but lives with the

ever-present thought that Voldemort is near. In the end, Harry discovers the key to defeating the

dark lord and his followers, and also learns a great deal about himself.

This is a very broad summary; the books deal with many more issues than just

Voldemort. The young characters in the book deal with schooling, relationships, and other social

issues, much like the young characters in other popular works of literature. Even though the


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stories take place in a world quite different from our own, the social issues tackled by the

characters are very similar to the issues most people deal with during adolescence.

While the title character of the series is quite obviously male, the female characters play a

very important part in the books. Primarily, one of Harrys best friends, Hermione Granger, is an

intelligent, incredible young woman who assists Harry in his battles and journey. Hermione is

much more than just a sidekick to Harry, however; it becomes obvious throughout the series that

he truly needs her in his life. Additionally, Harrys love interest, Ginny (whos his other best

friend, Rons, sister) is a bright girl who proves her strength in the final battles of the series. Both

of these characters have weaknesses, but overall their strengths make them good female role

models.

Positive Role Models

Hermione Granger is a very interesting main character within the Harry Potterseries.

Unlike her best friends, Harry and Ron, Hermione is not a pure-blood1 witch. She was born to

two Muggle2parents, so she isnt even a half-blood3 witch. However, she is one of the most

brilliant and witches of their peer group, proving that even though she is considered different

and is often mocked for being Muggle-born, Hermione can hold her own at Hogwarts. She

ultimately proves that she is more than capable of handling the wizarding world.

When readers are first introduced to Hermione in book one, she is immediately shown to

be very book smart. At first, Harry and Ron do not like her because she seems like a know-it-all,

but soon they all become close friends. Hermione is called the brightest witch of her age by

one of her professors (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). She discovers secrets within

1Born to two magical parents.

2Non-magical.

3One magical parent, one Muggle parent.


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the walls of Hogwarts because of her immense knowledge of the schools history. Her

intelligence also makes her an asset to Harry and Ron, because she uses her mind to get them out

of some pretty crazy situations. As one of Hogwarts professors, Rubeus Hagrid, explains, they

haven't invented a spell that our Hermione can't do (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets).

In book one, the sorcerers stone, which Harry is attempting to save, is hidden within the depths

of the castle, protected by difficult puzzles and traps. Hermiones brilliance and level head keep

her rational, and she is able to help Harry and Ron solve the puzzles and get the stone out of

Voldemorts possession. In one part of the puzzle to find the stone, the trio encounters a plant

called the Devils Snare and become trapped in it; while Harry and Ron are thrashing around

attempting to get out, Hermione recalls reading that the plant hates light, so she lets the plant

drop her and then casts a spell to light up the room and kill the plant, thus saving Harry, Ron, and

herself (Rowling,Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone 277).

At the sorting4, Hermione is placed into the Gryffindor house, which shows that she is

brave as well as intelligent. Her bravery is shown many times throughout the series, but one of

the stand-out moments is when Hermione is put under torture in book six. As a part of the war

led by Lord Voldemort, one of his close followers, Bellatrix LeStrange, begins to torture

Hermione with the Cruciatus Curse. Even in agonizing pain, Hermione is able to think up a way

to lie to Bellatrix about the information she wants, and she is able to escape the curse on her

own. Once again, Hermiones quick thinking and level head gets her out of a situation that could

have ended horribly.

One of the most interesting qualities about Hermione is that she, unlike Twilights Bella,

does not let herself be defined by her love interest. Hermiones first true romantic interest does

4Hogwarts students are sorted into one of four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. This is done

upon arrival for their first year.


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not occur until the fourth book, when she meets Viktor Krum, a rival Quidditch player.

Throughout the series, there is underlying romantic tension between Hermione and Ron, but their

romance is not actually developed until the final book. Additionally, though she is the primary

female character, she is not a romantic interest for Harry, the hero of the series; the two have a

platonic relationship throughout the series, but it does not go beyond that. Because Hermione is

not defined by a relationship, she is able to show her true self to the readers. She does not change

herself to suit a relationship, like Bella and Ana do.

Another interesting quality of Hermiones is that she is shown to be just as strong as

Harry, not as his sidekick. She has just as much of a say in their plans as Harry does. Gunilla

Fristedt, author ofStrong Girls Now and Then: A Comparison between Strong Girls in Classic

and Modern Literature explains that Hermione [] is not the protagonist in the book, but,

without her, Harry would find it difficult to handle the problems and mysteries that come his

way (2). Fristedt goes on to say that Hermione Granger is never merely a foil, she remains

visible and an equal to Harry Potter throughout the book (2). Hermione is valued for her

intelligence and bravery, not solely because she is a female.

One of the most interesting aspects of Hermione is that she is seen as a stronger character

than Ron. Hermione is seen as Harrys equal. She is also shown to be emotionally stronger than

Ron. In the first few books of the series, Ron, like many other citizens of the wizarding world,

refuses to say Lord Voldemorts name. Instead, these citizens say He Who Must Not be

Named. Whenever Harry or Hermione says Voldemorts name in front of Ron, he begins to

whimper in fear. Finally, Hermione snaps at him, basically telling him to get a grip. In addition,


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in the scene where the students are facing their Boggarts5, Rons Boggart takes the form of a

spider, whereas Hermiones takes the form of a professor telling her she failed her finals.

Similar to Hermione, Ginny Weasley, Rons sister and Harrys future love interest, is

valued for much more than just being a female. Ginny is the youngest of seven children, and also

the only female to be born into the Weasley family in many generations (Ginevra Weasley,

par. 1). She is a year younger than Harry, Ron, and Hermione, so she does not appear at

Hogwarts until book two. While initially Ginny is only shown as a minor character in the first

novel, she grows into one of the most prominent characters in the series.

Ginny has a very rocky start at Hogwarts. She finds herself captured and possessed by

Lord Voldemorts diary, causing her to be nearly killed. However, this possession by Voldemort

creates a connection between Ginny and Harry; Harry also has a possessive connection with

Voldemort, so Ginny understands him in a way his other friends cant. Throughout the series,

especially after being possessed by Voldemort, Ginny is very protected by her brothers and

friends. However, eventually she stands up for herself.

Like Hermione, Ginny was sorted into Gryffindor for her bravery and intelligence. In the

article Harrys Girls: Harry Potter and the Discourse of Gender, Meredith Cherland states that

Ginny is positioned as an achiever (for her athleticism, her popularity, her intelligence, and her

beauty) (277). While romantic notions are shown much earlier on in her life than they are in

Hermiones, they are still secondary; in the later books of the series, Ginny is primarily

concerned with being a part of Dumbledores Army, a group of students that formed to teach

other students how to defend themselves against Voldemort. Her insistence at being a part of

Dumbledores Army shows Ginnys bravery and intelligence.

5Creatures that take the form of the persons greatest fear.


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Stereotypes?

Both Ginny and Hermione exemplify traits of positive role models for young women.

The two can hold their own and stand up for themselves, especially when among their male

peers. Neither of them needs to be protected or rescued by men; in fact, sometimes they are the

ones doing the saving. In addition, unlike Twilights Bella, the two can each define themselves

outside of relationships. They are both looked upon fondly for their bravery and intelligence.

In general, these two characters do not exemplify gender stereotypes. They both are equal

with the males of their peer group. However, Meredith Cherland argues that there are some

characteristics of both Hermione and Ginny that can be seen as distinctly feminine. For example,

she says that Ginny is portrayed as a dangerous temptation to Harry, going on to explain that

Ginnys brother Ron is worried about her behavior and her fleeting relationships throughout the

series (Cherland 277). While Cherland does make a good argument, she seems to be forgetting

that, while these characters are wizards, they are ultimately human. Ginny should not have to let

go of or repress her sexuality in order to be seen as a strong, helpful character. She is not a

temptation to Harry; she becomes the woman he falls in love with. Even though the two share a

very passionate kiss during the final battle of the series, Ginny does not get in Harrys way; in

fact, she encourages him to do what he has to do, making it clear that she will still be there when

everything is done.

Cherland also believes that the series portrays Hermione as a very typical girl and

discredits her character for having a wide variety of emotions. When put up next to the

emotionally rational Harry, she explains, we see Hermione the giggler, Hermione the helpful

and capable, Hermione the emotionally expressive, and Hermione the clever, also bringing up

Hermione the just (Cherland 278). Once again, Cherland is forgetting that these wizards and


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witches are human. Every emotion that Hermione exhibits is not because she is being too girly or

too typical; it is because she is an adolescent girl. She is behaving the way that a young woman

should. While these characteristics may make her seem stereotypical, the way she handles her

emotionsgenerally with a rational headand the way she carries herself, break her away from

the stereotypes normally fulfilled by female characters in a male-centric novel. Cherland seems

to suggest that in order to be a strong character, Hermione has to give up all of the traits that

make her feminine. In order to be taken seriously, Cherland is suggesting that Hermione needs to

exhibit more masculine traits. However, what Cherland forgets is that female traits can be just as

strong as male traits, and neither Hermione nor Ginny should have to conform to masculine traits

to be seen as strong or independent.

Overall, the traits that are brought up against Hermione and Ginny are ones that really

just make them typical girls. Though they are living in a magical world, Rowling was writing

these female characters with female readers in mind, and therefore wrote them in a very relatable

way.

Positive Stories for Adolescents

TheHarry Potterseries has gained absolutely immense popularity. Not only have the

books made J.K. Rowling one of the richest people in the world, the series has sparked eight

movies (the seventh story being split into two parts) and a theme park in Orlando, Florida.

Rowlings ability to create a beautiful, magical world that enchants readers is astonishing. In

addition, she was able to write characters that are interesting, relatable, and captivating.

The characters are more than just characters, though. They have very real lives that are

only made different from ours by the magic within them. Heather Sammons, a student who


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conducted graduate research on different stereotypes in the series, makes a very good point; she

explains that:

Both boys and girls in the wizarding world have the same opportunity to learn and

become powerful witches and wizards. They can enter the same jobs after

graduation and magic is not limited to males or females, but all those who have

the power and choose to learn how to use it. (7)

The female characters in the story, especially Hermione and Ginny, are equal to the male

characters. These girls are not subordinate; they are very important to the series and to the other

characters within the story. Liz Feuerbach, writer forJezebel, explains the ending of the series

well: she says, Ultimately, Voldemort's defeat rests on Harry's shoulders, but it is the choices

the [young] women in his life make that enable him to do so (par. 8). While Harry is the main

focus of the story, it is partially the young women with him, Hermione and Ginny, who help him

get to where he needs to be.

Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins hit series, The Hunger Games, made its debut in 2008. The series

follows protagonist Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen-year-old girl living in a dystopian society called

Panem, a post-apocalyptic America. Panem is split up into twelve districts; each district has a set

purpose within the nation. District 1 contains the Capitol, the control center. Katniss and her

family live in District 12, the coal region. Because of an uprising that occurred soon after the

nations founding, the Capitol created the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games, essentially a

fight-to-the-death, is televised, and is meant to serve as a reminder to the districts that the

Capitol is in control.


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Every year, a boy and a girl from each district are chosen through a lottery system to

compete in the Hunger Games. The contestants, called tributes, fight their way through harsh

weather, terrifying creatures, and other threats to their lives (all controlled by the Capitol) to

emerge victorious at the end of the Games. The last one standing is the winner, and their district

is showered with food and lavish gifts. Because much of the nation is poverty-stricken, the

winnings become essential.

The story takes place during the 74th Hunger Games. At the reaping, where the

contestants are chosen, Katniss sister, Primrose (Prim), is chosen as a tribute. Without even

giving it a second thought, Katniss screams out that she will volunteer instead. Katniss becomes

the female tribute, alongside her childhood schoolmate, Peeta Mellark. The two fight their way

through the treacherous arena, and through an interesting rule change, they win the Hunger

Games together. As a result, Katniss becomes the poster-girl for a brewing rebellion among the

districts, fueling the plot for the second and third books of the series, Catching Fire and

Mockingjay respectively.

In many ways, The Hunger Games is very different from the series previously mentioned.

In fact, Collins incredible trilogy hasbecome an alternative to Twilightbecause it does not

portray a clichd love story (Seltzer 39). Sarah Seltzer, freelance writer forBitch magazine,

explains that while there are some similarities between the stories, the differences put the two

stories in completely different leagues. Seltzer says, While the one-note refrain in Twilightis

lust and desire to the exclusion of the world, the teen heroine in The Hunger Games has to step

up and confront that world in all its ugliness (40). While both stories feature romance and

action, two page-turning qualities, The Hunger Games shows a much more independent

protagonist.


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Katniss as a Strong Female Protagonist

From the very beginning of the series, readers are drawn into Katniss independence and

strength. Katha Pollit, writer for The Nationand author of article The Hunger Games Feral

Feminism, explains that Katniss is an independent spirit: she is not about her looks, her

clothes, her weight, her popularity, gossip, drama, or boys (10). She is more concerned about

her survival and her family than anything else. She puts her own life at risk when she volunteers

to replace Primrose in the Hunger Games, but all she can think of is saving her sister.

Pollit brings up a very interesting point; she says, Katniss has qualities usually given to

boys: [shes] a hunter [] shes intrepid and tough, better at killing rabbits than expressing her

feelings, a skilled bargainer (10). Readers see this immediately, as the opening scene of the

novel is Katniss in the woods hunting meat to bring home to her family. When Katniss father

was killed in a coal mine explosion, her mother became emotionally fragile and could not take

care of the family. At eleven years old, Katniss became the caretaker, hunting and doing

whatever she could to keep her family alive. However, Katniss also embodies many feminine

qualities. Pollit states, shes feminine: never aggressive or swaggering, tenderhearted and

protective of the defenseless (10). Because Katniss embodies both masculine and feminine

qualities, she proves herself to be a good role model; she shows readers that certain tasks are not

just set for certain gendersthese boundaries can be transgressed.

In the article Hunger Pangs: Hunting for the Perfect Heroine, Sarah Seltzer explains

many of the differences between Twilights Bella and The Hunger Games Katniss; she states,

Bella epitomize[s] privilege, while Katniss struggles in a world without it, (41). Everything

that Bella gets is handed to her, mostly because of her wealthy boyfriend, Edward. The same can

be said about Ana and Christian in the Fifty Shades series. Neither Bella nor Ana have to worry


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about where their next meal will come from; they are confident that they will be taken care of. In

contrast, Katniss has no idea where her life will take her. While in the later books Katniss is

taken care of, because she is a face for the rebellion and therefore somewhat of a celebrity, in the

beginning, Katniss only knows that she needs to go out and find some food or her family will

starve. She risks arrest for illegal hunting just to take care of her family.

The differences between Bella and Katniss do not end there. The two young women are

portrayed in very different ways, with very different priorities. Seltzer goes on to say:

Katniss is reactive, responding to her lifes debilitating constraints (hunger,

persecution, and the fear of death), while Bella behaves as if almost nothing

money, family, safety, concern for mortalsmatters beyond the fulfillment of her

own star-crossed love story. (41)

Much like Hermione Granger, Katniss does not brush aside responsibility when love crosses her

path; instead, she pushes love and romance aside in order to figure out her own life and how to

fix what is going on. The choices Katniss makes in her life are for herself and her family,

whereas Bellas choices like leaving her family behindare for Edward.

Even The Hunger Games, though, cannot escape some hints of romance. Katniss is

caught between the affections of two men; Peeta, the male tribute from her district, and Gale, her

best friend and hunting partner. However, Katniss is almost completely oblivious to the interests

coming from these men. In book one, according to Pollitt, Katniss [is] so romantically

uninterested in Peeta [] she doesnt realize hes in love with her (10). Unlike Bella, the

affections of the men around her do not throw her off track. She only briefly thinks of a romantic

relationship with Gale, but then the focus is once again shifted to her survival (Pollitt 10). A

relationship with Peeta does develop, but its developed over time and under very harrowing


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circumstances, unlike Bellas romance with Edward or Anas romance with Christian, which

both developed very quickly.

Gender Stereotypes Exemplified and Subverted

Even though Katniss herself does not exemplify gender stereotypesinstead, she breaks

themthere are characters throughout the book who do fall into stereotypical roles. For

example, Katniss younger sister, Primrose, starts out learning to do household chores, but also

eventually learns to become a healer. Many of the skills Prim learn come from her mother. Prim

is also extremely sheltered and protected, mostly by Katniss. Katniss gets traits passed down

from their father, while Prim gets traits passed down from their mother. While Prims traits will

become very valuable in the future (she becomes a doctor), they are traits that are seen as

feminine. In addition, Glimmer, one of the female tributes in the 74th

Hunger Games, is the

epitome of sexuality. In her televised interview before the Games, Glimmer wears a see-through

dress, and Katniss describes her as sexy all the way (Collins, The Hunger Games 125). While

it is never explicitly stated what Glimmers strength is, she is always seen working as a team

with Marvel, the other tribute from her district.

Interestingly, though, Prim is one of the only female characters who exemplifies gender

norms. As previously stated, Katniss breaks the gender stereotypes, possessing characteristics of

both males and females. However, many of the other female characters, especially those who

participate in the Games, exemplify masculine qualities as well. Clove, another one of the female

tributes in the 74th Hunger Games, has similar masculine qualities to Katniss. She is a strong and

skilled hunter; however, unlike Katniss, she kills with knives instead of a bow and arrow. She is

also very aggressive, another trait generally attributed to men. Other female tributes are shown as

aggressive, as they are fighting for survival.


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There are also male characters that are feminized. For one, Peeta can be seen as

feminized because instead of being a hunter or a fighter, Peeta is a baker. He enjoys making

cakes and bread in his familys business. When the tributes are first testing their strengths,

Peetas greatest strength lies in his ability to disguise himself with makeup and blend in with his

surroundings (whereas Katniss strength lies in a bow and arrow). In addition, Cinna, Katniss

fashion and makeup designer, is also very feminized. His job is to make sure Katniss stands out;

he has to dress her a certain way. He loves fashion and designing, a role typically filled by

females. Many of the other designers discussed are female, but Cinna breaks the stereotype of

female designers.

Many of the characters break the stereotypes typically associated with their gender.

Female characters like Katniss, who break gender stereotypes, are often more strong-willed and

independent than characters like Bella, who are defined by the stereotypes. Though the series

ends with Katniss in a stereotypical mother role, her strength and power is still prevalent and

apparent, and readers can see that she still exhibits many of the traits that make her independent

throughout the rest of the series. Katniss has become a role model for young women, especially

those who want to show their strength and show that they can transgress the typical boundaries

that society projects.

Positive attributes of the books (for young women)

Collins books have gained popularity very quickly, much like the other series

mentioned. However, much of this popularity also comes from the movie version of the first

book. According to an article by Melissa Silverstein forJezebel, the movie ofThe Hunger

Games opened on 4,000 movie theater screens (par. 4). These numbers are huge, especially

considering that it is the first part of a trilogy. Silverstein explains that there is much more to it


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than the numbers, though; she says At the center of this film is a female character and there has

never been a film with a female at the heart of the story to open this big and this wide (par. 4).

She also mentions that Katniss is not just a female, but a strong female, who spends the whole

story fighting for survival instead of worrying about love and relationships (Silverstein, par. 6).

Katniss is a strong woman who reaches out to not just female audiences, but all

audiences. Her story is interesting and gripping, and her narration is raw and real. She is

independent and does her best to take care of her family. When she is brought to the Capitol and

beautified for the days leading up to and after the Games, Katniss internal monologue reveals

her inner strength. Most of all, she does not let a relationship or love define her; she is able to

stand on her own two feet outside of a relationship and make decisions on her own. Unlike Bella,

Katniss proves to be a fantastic role model for young women because she can think for herself,

instead of letting a relationship get in the way of her choices.

The Impact of Media on Young Adults

As previously stated, adolescents are impacted by the media and pop culture that is

prevalent in their lives. However, some of this media can have a very negative impact on

adolescents, especially because of how impressionable they can be. While there are some

characters in popular books and movies who are positive role models, such as Ginny and

Hermione from theHarry Potterseries, and Katniss from The Hunger Games, Twilightand Fifty

Shades of Grey remain two of the most popular series for young women, even though they

portray negative role models.

It can be incredibly problematic for young women to look up to females like Bella and

Ana. Both women perpetuate gender stereotypes, such as being defined by a man and


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conforming to fit what their man desires. They are also both involved in unhealthy relationships

with their respective partners. These books and movies are promoting the idea that young women

should be living their lives the same way Bella and Ana do. WhileHarry Potterand The Hunger

Games are not perfect, their female protagonists are much better role models for young women.

Problems within media do not just occur in books and movies, however. The

representation of women in music, music videos, and television is also very often negative.

Libby McKenna, a graduate student at the University of South Florida, conducted research about

the perceptions of women portrayed on MTV; she discovered that the images presented in

music videos are often loaded with sexual content and feature highly sexualiz ed women

(McKenna 2). She also explained that music videos represent a driving force in popular youth

culture, and, as such, become a valid site for examining cultural definitions of gender

(McKenna 3). Young adults and adolescents are the target audience for music video channels

like MTV, but the portrayal of women in music videos is often detrimental to young people.

Many videos portray violent or sexual acts toward women. Women are often shown as faceless

and wearing very little clothing; they are just there to show their bodies.

Hip-hop is usually the genre of music that gets the most flack for their negative portrayal

of women in videos. However, this problem has actually plagued all genres for years. Classic

rock band Warrants hit song Cherry Pie (1990) features highly sexualized lyrics and images in

the music video. In the video, model Bobbi Brown dances sexually in very minimal clothing.

This song is Warrants best known song and it received a lot of air play on MTV. The trend was

also seen in pop music the late 90s:many of Britney Spears music videos of the era feature her

in sexualized situations. Her first hit, Baby One More Time (1999) shows Spears in tied up,

cropped shirts and other tight clothing. Her sexy schoolgirl uniform is another focal point of the


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music video. Yet another example that crosses genres and time is 3OH!3s Starstruckk (2008),

which portrays women quite negatively. The music video features the members of the band

being chased and tackled by scantily clad women. In addition, the lyrics of the song describe

barely-dressed women and in the bridge say push it, baby, push it, baby, out of control, Ive got

my gun cocked tight and Im ready to blow (3OH!3). The song is over-sexualized and the video

only makes it more so.

Not only is it detrimental for young women to see women portrayed in these negative

ways, but it is also problematic for young men to see women portrayed this way. When young

men see their favorite singers or rappers objectifying women, it may perpetuate the idea that this

is an acceptable way for them to act. When young women see their favorite singers or rappers

being objectified in their videos, it is showing them that they should act that way, too. Instead of

music videos promoting positive body image and healthy lifestyles, they are promoting

stereotypical ideas that can cause issues for young adults, both male and female.

Another problem is the impact of celebrities in our culture. According to a CBS News

article, Twenty times (more) Americanwomen read tabloids than real newspapers (par. 18).

There is no doubt that we are a celebrity-obsessed culture. But celebrities are often not the best

role models for young women, either. With over 20 top 10 hit songs (Desmond-Harris, par. 1)

and an explosive, successful career, Rihanna seems like she would be the ultimate emblem of

female empowerment. However, with lyrics like Sticks and stone may break my bones, but

chains and whips excite me, from her song S&M, Rihanna is proving that she may not be the

best artist for young women to idolize (Rihanna). In addition, in 2009, Rihanna was horrifically

abused by her boyfriend at the time, Chris Brown. But instead of cutting Brown from her life

entirely, she has spent the last few years both dating him and defending him. In an interview with


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Oprah, Rihanna explained, I just felt like he made that mistake because he needed help (Sager,

par. 4). She wrote off Browns brutal beating of her as a cry for help. This behavior is similar to

what we saw from Ana Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey, who writes off Christians abusive,

controlling behavior because he loves her. Soon after the situation with Brown, Rihanna

released a song and music video with Eminem entitled Love the Way You Lie. The song

features lyrics about domestic abuse, and the video shows the abuse between two people in a

relationship, including a scene where the boyfriend threatens to brutally murder his girlfriend out

of anger. In the wake of the beatings from Brown, this song was not the best career move for

Rihanna, as the song exclaims I like the way it hurts (Eminem and Rihanna).

Music and music videos are full of problematic ideas. From sexually charged lyrics to the

victimization of women in music videos, young people may be idolizing the wrong people.

Though not all singers are perfect, singers like Taylor Swift and Jason Mraz seek to empower

people with their music instead of playing up stereotypes. Similarly, not all celebrities are

perfect, but celebrities like actress Anne Hathaway and actor Jon Hamm are good people to have

as role models. Anne Hathaway does a lot of work for gay rights, and Jon Hamm holds benefits

with the cast of his hit TV showMad Men. There are many other celebrities who exhibit

kindness and intelligence who would be positive role models for young women; beauty and

desirability are not always the best traits to look up to.

Activism

There are many organizations across the count

control freaks, utopia, and magic, oh my!: the impact of popular young adult role models on young...

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