Open Forum Friday: Is Twilight Setting a Bad Example for Young Women?
Alright, bear with me on this one. I know most of our readers are guys and probably don’t have a lot of interest in The Twilight Saga, but like it or not, it’s here, it’s successful, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Some guys seem to feel it is their manly duty to disparage the franchise at every turn, even if they know nothing about it. Personally I think that women deserve the opportunity to fawn over their own movie franchises just as fanboys geek out over comic book movies. But are there genuinely good reasons to rally against Twilight, based on the messages it sends to young women?
There’s no question that teens are the target demographic for Twilight, and as such, a lot of people have been considering the many ways that the books and movies could influence some of the young girls who buy them. Sure, there are some possibly dangerous ideas being thrown around here, in particular, New Moon romanticizes the idea of suicide, and also Bella’s obsession over a borderline abusive boyfriend. (Serena Whitney provides a handful of other criticisms in her Reel Truth column over at Killer Film.) On the other hand, some make note of the fact that the movie preaches abstinence, and that is probably a positive thing.
Ultimately, you could also view the series is as nothing more than harmless escapist fantasy as well, something that is neither good nor bad (most guys would argue the same about violent action movies). What do you think? Is Twilight bombarding teenage girls with bad advice on love and relationships, or are there worthwhile life lessons here as well? Is it unlikely to significantly influence its fans, or does the young age of its target audience make them more susceptible? Give us your thoughts here on Open Forum Friday.
Comments (30)
Well, the books are written by a mormon, so… yeah, the story doesn’t exactly come from a progressive place, now does it?
Posted by Alex K on November 20th, 2009but…she gets pregnant in the last book doesn’t she? That’s not abstinence
Posted by Mike on November 20th, 2009I’d be more concerned about the effect this is having on the pop culture standards of a whole generation of girls. Horrible writing and cardboard characters is not acceptable, no matter who the target audience.
Posted by Stormy on November 20th, 2009The parents are in charge of raising their children, blaming books, games, movies, TV, the neighbours or anything else that is sending a bad message is just an excuse for lazy parents. That’s why I’m not allowed to have kids. I would worry more about Stromys point
Posted by Felipe on November 20th, 2009Not that I care anything about the Twilight series, but… why does nobody ever obsess about comic book movies setting a bad example for young fanboys? Jesus H. Christ.
Posted by Morgan on November 20th, 2009What the fuck is Twilight?
Posted by finaljoe on November 20th, 2009You must have been really struggling to find a good OFF topic this week. I don’t think it sets any kind of bad example. If you want bad examples, then look at Romeo & Juliet. I don’t think works of literature and fiction set any kind of example. They present situations and scenarios for the reader or viewer to ponder, and identify with or not. If you want to be drawn into it, then that’s up to you. I suppose the books work for the people who like them because there’s this barrier that prevents consummation of the relationship. There wouldn’t be a story without this barrier. Hence all the conflicts and emotions are about dealing with this barrier. I think maybe it helps people relate to the barriers in their own lives or at least what they perceive to be barriers.
Posted by Maopheus on November 20th, 2009Is Twilight Setting a Bad Example for Young Women? YES!
I really feel bad for the young men of “generation Y” as they’re going to have to put up with a bunch of self absorbed and overly obsessed women. Granted the women of Gen X didn’t fair all that much better (see Sex and the city) but at least they were cynical enough to know how real relationships work.
This movie/book franchise sets up unrealistic expectations for teen relationships (vampires aside). To me it’s doing nothing more than profiting off of teenage girls insecurities.
Posted by Marc on November 20th, 2009Agreed with Marc.
Posted by Napalm on November 21st, 2009hickory dickory dock oh!
Posted by suzanne summers on November 21st, 2009The series was written by a mo-mo so you can expect some over-zealous religious tripe about abstinence and the “sanctity of marriage.” And no, the messages of obsession and suicide aren’t great, but they’ve been in love stories literally forever.
I AM pretty surprised that Meyer made the Native American werewolves somewhat (but no completely) good guys considering the LDS church’s history of hate and racism towards Natives, but they are still the sworn enemies of the great and awesome vampires, surprise surprise.
Posted by Justice on November 21st, 2009My girlfriend left me because she said she was in love with this twilight guy. After a while I found out she just used it as an excuse to leave me. so no bad feelings mr. twilight and sorry I wrote you those unfriendly emails. PS your movie still sucks.
Posted by tom on November 21st, 2009Stormy, that’s nothing new. Women have been ruining various forms of entertainment for decades. They lead to crap pop music and music related garbage like American Idol. They watch, and therefore promote the making of horrid movies that any sane person would want to seen burned on a pyre. They read tripe like these Twilight books. Let’s face it, women, as a gender enjoy crap. They thrive on CRAP. This is not misogyny, this is fact. I’m not saying that every woman does but, en masse, they trend toward horrible entertainment.
Twilight sucks. Seriously, if Stephen King shit talks your writing in public, you know you suck.
Posted by Ben on November 21st, 2009@ Ben, I agree. I know women who agree with you as well. Then again, isnt men the reason the American Pie franchise got like 7 movies at this point?
Posted by Niklas on November 21st, 2009I saw New Moon and I noticed that they had a pontypool poster in the background of the film in one of the scenes. The movie u guys are often praising (pontypool) seems to be getting the exploitation it might need to make some dough.
Posted by Bobert on November 21st, 2009I hate Twilight as much as the next sane person but its a bit annoying when something is uniquely a phenomenon towards women or girls, the articles start coming out about it being ‘dangerous’ or something. Same thing happened with Sex and the City.
Posted by Goon on November 21st, 2009To be honest I think it does present a bad example to women. There’s alot of movies aimed towards the female gender, that presents them as shrill, shallow or obsessive creatures who only live to please men. And Twilight to me was one of them.
Even when we watch films that focus on male “geeks”, the guy usually learns to gain some sort of confidence and overcome their issues. Twilight was about a girl who fancied a guy because he sparkles. Now on base level…that’s not a good thing. I like to think that women young, old or whoever don’t go crazy over shit like this, but the amount of pre sales say different.
Posted by Byron on November 21st, 2009I think the main negative aspect in Twilight is that this girl doesnt really think about what it means to hang out with these people that kill other people. She’s always a step away from battered housewife syndrome or something. She’s all over this dude who is 110 years old and who is STILL in high school and has apparently never dated. It’s a bit tough to swallow.
Posted by Goon on November 21st, 2009Twilight doesn’t set any worse examples for women than Sex and the City or any romance.
Posted by Swarez on November 21st, 2009It’s bullshit fantasy. Same with us guys, are the Die Hard films or any of the countless action movies starring dudes setting a bad example for us guys?
Die Hard has been responsible for hate crimes against Alan Rickman for over 20 years
Posted by Goon on November 21st, 2009I would immediately disregard any entertainment “phenomenon” in which teenagers/young women scream for, except maybe the Beatles. It’s called hysteria, and the etymology of the word is related the uterus. We’ve seen it before and we’ll see it again. They’ll get tired of Twilight and move on to the next sensation/heartthrob/phenomenon/whatever. Believe me, what’s going on here is nothing compared to Asia where the fangirls kill themselves because they found out that their favorite star (God forbid) has a life and is married or has a girlfriend.
Posted by Maopheus on November 22nd, 2009“Die Hard has been responsible for hate crimes against Alan Rickman for over 20 years”
I know! I have been responsible for some of them I fear. I just get drawn in to these McClane stories.
Posted by swarez on November 22nd, 2009Seriously, women shallow and Belle wants Edward because he sparkles lol. Your kidding right? Men drool over girls because of boobs? Actually lumps, that you can’t event seen through the shirt and then these movies make mass amounts of money because men are shallow.
For once women do have the same right period. Bad example, I thought the movie was more honest than anything. Relationship aren’t perfect you know him being a vamp and all…but she loved him and this is how much. The same with guys, they act and feel the same way and pretend they don’t by cheating…in the real world. It’s a movie, a story. The vampires and werewolfs sort of give it away. Bad example…no, a real look at how a lot of women and men act yes.
lol because he sparkles… better picking a dude by the bulg in his pants.
Posted by Sheri Bono on November 22nd, 2009“A mo-mo so you can expect some over-zealous religious tripe about abstinence and the “sanctity of marriage.†LDS church’s history of hate and racism towards Natives, but they are still the sworn enemies of the great and awesome vampires, surprise surprise.â€
Nice considering the Mormon Church is the most charitable and humanitarian church and organization in the world. Beating out even the Red Cross. But instead of ranting on how horrible Mormons are for preaching guide lines to help you have a happy life and the sanctity of marriage that people should re-affirm instead of tearing it down lets focus on the actual topic instead of bitching about Stephanie Myers religion that has nothing to do with the conversation at hand.
This book is not a bad example. Don’t get me wrong I hate it with a passion. But it’s so popular and hit’s girls so much because most girls identify with the character. You say it’s a bad example but it’s already showing them a character with problems, thoughts, and struggles, and drama the reader is already going through. (How dare we show them things they deal with in their life from a different perspective!)
Posted by Rick on November 23rd, 2009you know, minus the guys that are vampires and warewolfs, they have ass wholes and douche bags
Posted by Rick on November 23rd, 2009Umm. Women don’t thrive on crap, I would argue that that is the doing of mainstream society in general.
Posted by Nicole on November 23rd, 2009Well, if Amy
(from http://www.beyondhollywood.com/stephen-king-says-stephenie-meyer-sucks-kinda-likes-jk-rowling/)
is going to use all that non-sensical and “symbolic” language in her post, then it is understandable why Stephenie Meyer is hated by many. By reading her books, many innocent girls are brainwashed and stupified. They treated the Twilight Saga as if it’s their bible.
That’s why they are so defensive of their “cult books”. Amy’s writing just shows how her brain and moral has degenerated from reading too many Twilight books.
It’s not so sensible to to be crazy over some books and start insulting literary masters like King. Meyer writes trashy stories and that’s the truth. My English teachers never encourage us to read those meaningless and bland novels.
What a waste of energy to defend Stephenie Meyer! She won’t be grateful to you, Amy. Not even Edward (or Bellla).
And you never will have a vampire boyfriend, trust me. As long as you live on this Earth. So you moght as well awaken from your day-dreaming…
Posted by Dorothy Glendale on December 8th, 2009Meyer is an anti-feminist. Girls reading her books will end up becoming a whiny bitch like Bella Swan. Why would some girls become so confoundly crazed by Twilight Saga? Dependent upon men and die if they are gone! Look at a comment here by our dear Amy: (sources:http://www.beyondhollywood.com/stephen-king-says-stephenie-meyer-sucks-kinda-likes-jk-rowling/)
“o.k
King is the stupidest..oldest. ugliest..muther f$!#@r that is alive. he is jsut jealous of Meyers success. he dont know s!#t anout books nd wats good. no one even readds any of his boring a@# stupid books..so he should jsut bak the f@#k off…and to all u who hate twilight or stephanie meyer u can all kiss my fat a#%…B#&^3s!!!!”
Guys, she thinks Stephen King is jealous of Meyer!!!
Posted by Dorothy Glendale on December 8th, 2009what?!
That’s just how young women of our days are reacting towards criticism of their “Twilight”!
I think young women should try to read books that teaches them what is true beauty.
Instead of fantasizing about getting a vampire boyfriend, why don’t they read something that’s good for their souls?
I strongly recommend “Jane Eyre”!
As well as Penelope Lively, Margaret Atwood and Ursula LeGuin.
Even Stephen King!
Posted by Dorothy Glendale on December 8th, 2009I AGREE ABOUT THE ABUSIVE RELATION SHIP POINT .EDWARD
Posted by twilightcougar on January 20th, 2010THROWING BELLA INTO A TABLE WAS NOT A GOOD THING .WHETHER
IT GOT HER AWAY FROM HIS CRAZY BROTHER BITING HER.
IT STILL MAKES ME THINK ABUSIVE HUSBAND, BOYFRIEND
BEHAVIOR EVERY TIME I SEE IT I JUST LOOK AT THE FACE OF BELLA AND EDWARD IN THE NEW MOON SCENE AND SEE THE PAIN
(BELLA)WHY DID YOU THROW ME. RUN GIRL THIS IS THINGS TO COME.
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