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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

1 Introduction Media and popular culture have always been prominent parts of society. As a culture today, we live and breathe media we 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 Twilight series, the Fifty Shades of Grey books, the Harry Potter novels, and the Hunger 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.

2 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 television an 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).

3 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 of Media, 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 mid1980s, 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.

4 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

5 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.

6 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 Twilight saga (Stephenie Meyer), Fifty Shades of Grey (E.L. James), the Harry Potter series (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

7 swimming around, it is no wonder that young people, especially young women, are often confused. In the article Twilight is Not Good for Maidens: Gender, Sexuality, and the Family in Stephenie Meyers Twilight Series 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 tone a 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

8 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 Twilight saga, 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, halfvampire child, and Bella has been changed from her human form to a vampire. So what draws women of all ages to these novels? Sadie Stein, a writer for the popular womens website Jezebel, explains that it is a comfort read (par. 3). Twilight provides romance, action, adventure, and gorgeous, perfect men. The series is also an escape from the

9 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 Twilight Series, 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 Twilight series seem to be missing a lot of the 21st century ideas seen in other popular young adult novels from the same time period, such as Harry Potter and 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 Twilight Series, outlines a few of the stereotypes Bella perpetuates: for starters, she enjoys cooking [and]

10 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 like fianc, 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 husband with my concept of Edward. (Meyer, Breaking Dawn 6)

11 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 (Black sec. 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 abstinence primarily that Edward is actually repressing Bella by not allowing her to give in to her sexuality and sexual urges.

12 Problems All things considered, Bella and Edward are not good 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

13 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 both been 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 desires even 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

14 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 in Eclipse where Bella says that she would rather cut off all ties with Jacob, her best friend, than lose Edward (133). Realistically, many of these tendencies co-dependent and otherwise fall 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 of an 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.

15 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, Twilight 93). 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 Twilight book, 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 Twilight series 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 Twilight has 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

16 human boys (135). Young women are out there searching for their own perfect match, their personal Edward Cullen attractive, brilliant, protective, and handsome but 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 Twilight series that are good for instance, the books are getting young people to read and pick up other books beneath 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 included to be a part of Edwards vampire family. Is this the kind of role model young women should have? A final big problem with the Twilight series is that it is sparking many other literary protagonists who follow gender stereotypes. Instead of reading about strong heroines, readers who love the Twilight books find themselves reading about women who cannot stand on their own two feet without their men, similar to how Bella is with Edward. The Twilight series 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 story the abusive tendencies and using them as a basis for their plot. One of the most famous examples of this is the Fifty Shades of Grey series.

17 E.L. James Fifty Shades of Grey Author E.L. James found herself skyrocketed into popularity when her first novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, was published. Originally a Twilight fan-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 Twilight generation, 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 Twilight series. 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 opulent and like Edward, there is underlying danger inherent in Christian. Like the Twilight series, Fifty Shades of Grey is a boy-meets-girl love story, but the twist on the story is different; where Twilight has elements of the supernatural, the dark danger of Fifty 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.

18 Also like Twilight (because, lets face it, Fifty Shades is really just a unique re-imagining of Twilight), 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 Twilight series. 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

19 (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, Twilight included. 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.

20 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. Additional rape 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 own in 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

21 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 Freed 171). Ana is not thrown by this the 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

22 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

23 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 doesnt 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.

24 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. Rowlings Harry 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

25 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 Potter series. Unlike her best friends, Harry and Ron, Hermione is not a pure-blood1 witch. She was born to two Muggle2 parents, 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

1 2

Born to two magical parents. Non-magical. 3 One magical parent, one Muggle parent.

26 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

Hogwarts students are sorted into one of four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. This is done upon arrival for their first year.

27 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 of Strong 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,

28 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.

Creatures that take the form of the persons greatest fear.

29 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

30 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 emotions generally with a rational head and 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 The Harry Potter series 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

31 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 for Jezebel, 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.

32 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 has become an alternative to Twilight because it does not portray a clichd love story (Seltzer 39). Sarah Seltzer, freelance writer for Bitch 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 Twilight is 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.

33 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 Nation and 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 genders these 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

34 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 mortals matters 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 behind are 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

35 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 stereotypes instead, she breaks them there 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.

36 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 for Jezebel, the movie of The 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

37 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 the Harry Potter series, and Katniss from The Hunger Games, Twilight and 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

38 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. While Harry Potter and 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 sexualized 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

39 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) American women 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

40 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 show Mad 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 country that are hoping to do away with the negative portrayals of women within the media. One of the fastest growing organizations is Miss Representation. Since the premiere of the documentary by the same name in 2011, the

41 organization has been fighting negative images of women in all types of media. According to their website, the documentary exposes how mainstream media contributes to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence in America (About Us). The organization was founded by Jennifer Siebel Newsom and features famous women such as Condoleezza Rice, Rosario Dawson, and Gloria Steinem in the documentary. The documentary contains images from mainstream media that show women in negative lights interspersed with interviews with celebrities and young women about these images. According to the documentarys website, The film challenges the medias limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself (About Us). The organizations main goal is to change the portrayal of women in the media to something positive. Outside of the documentary, the organization encourages Twitter followers to use the hash tag #notbuyingit when they see negative images of women. They also have a #mediawelike board on Pinterest for positive images. The organization also asks fans to send them images of women portrayed positively and will display these images on their website and Pinterest. In addition, the organization is working on local levels to help promote awareness for negative images of women and urge people to get involved. The website also has many pledges to take to help people get involved with promoting positive images of women. The Girl Scouts of America are also promoting healthy body image and positive portrayals of women. They are implementing programs for both girls and parents about how to work on positive body image. Other organizations promoting positive images of women include Girls for a Change, Womens Media Center, and Step Up Womens Network. Girls for a Change is an organization that encourages young women to lead projects that will help make positive

42 changes in their neighborhoods. Womens Media Center is helping to promote more of a positive representation of women in the media, much like what Miss Representation is doing. Step Up Womens Network is similar to Girls for a Change, as it promotes ways for young women to get involved in their communities and promote positive images for themselves. Women are consistently underrepresented in the media, and when they are represented, it is often in a negative or stereotypical way. All of the organizations mentioned are helping to promote positive images of women, both in the media and within our communities. While Miss Representation is the one with the most attention right now, all of these organizations are growing rapidly. Conclusion Females who have achieved goals in their lives are really good role models for young women. In the Harry Potter series, Hermione and Ginny were essential assets in the war against the dark wizards, and in The Hunger Games, Katniss was the winner of the Hunger Games and helped bring down the corrupt government of her country. In Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey, however, Bella and Ana really only succeeded in getting married and living fairly stereotypical lives. Blogger Robin Browne states, Harry Potter is all about confronting fears, finding inner strength, and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend6 (Ulrik). This quote sums up just a few of the reasons why young women should be looking to role models like Hermione and Ginny as opposed to Bella. In the turmoil of adolescence, young women need someone to look up to who will show them a positive outlook on friends, family relationships, and life in general. Bella and Ana do not do this. They instead are examples of women in unhealthy relationships, forsaking everything for the men they love.

This quote is often attributed to Stephen King; however, as Ulriks post explains, King is not actually the author of the quote.

43 Hermione, Ginny, and Katniss show many more qualities of good role models for young women. In addition, there are many organizations that young women can get involved with that will provide examples of how to live life in a positive and healthy way, including Girl Scouts. These organizations help to try and combat the negative images being shown to adolescents and young women through the media. I can remember as an adolescent being bombarded with negative images of women whom I was supposed to emulate. However, I was also a Girl Scout from elementary school through high school, which I feel shaped me as a woman. Girl Scouts provided me with many strong females to look up to, both in the media and within our town. Now, even though the media is still bombarding me with ways to be skinny, pretty, and desirable, I can ignore those messages and focus on the positives, like my education and successes. However, not all young women have had the opportunities that I did, and many end up looking up to role models who are more like Bella and Ana than Hermione, Ginny, and Katniss. Outside of the fictional realm, Rihanna has become a celebrity who many young women look up to, which is problematic because her lyrics are controversial and her choice to return to an abusive boyfriend is frightening. What is even more frightening about Rihannas return to Chris Brown is what has surfaced about his true character; he got a tattoo on his neck that looks eerily similar to Rihannas beaten face (though he claims it is a Day of the Dead mask), and, back in 2011, he threw a chair through a window when asked about his violent history (OConnor par. 2). Is this the kind of boyfriend that young women should search for? Is this the kind of man that young men should look up to? Probably not. But earlier this year, after Browns Grammys performance, hundreds of young women Tweeted that they would let Chris Brown beat them because he sexy and flawless (Stopera).

44 When the Fifty Shades series exploded on the book scene this past summer, I can remember seeing Facebook statues throughout my news feed all about how great the books were; young women, high school and college-aged, were writing that they were looking for their own Christian Grey. I could not believe that these educated, smart girls were not seeing the abusive tendencies throughout the series. Instead, they just saw a sexy and flawless man, similar to how women perceived Chris Brown after his Grammys performance. In their minds, it does not matter what kind of violent history a man has; if he is sexy, that history can be overlooked. By looking up to celebrities like Rihanna and fictional characters like Bella and Ana, young women are setting themselves up for problems. To me, it is terrifying to see young women getting themselves into abusive or unhealthy relationships simply because it is what they see in the media. Abusive relationships are not glamorous, despite the fact that they are shown as so repeatedly in multiple forms of media. While there are some healthy relationships repeatedly shown as well, it is the abusive, rocky relationships that generally get more attention. One of the other large problems that the media perpetuates is negative body image. I myself am a young woman. I am twenty-two years old and just finishing my undergraduate degree. While I feel that I personally am comfortable with myself and my body, I have found myself looking at advertisements, magazine articles, and television and thinking, Why cant I look like so-and-so? But then I remember that many of these women are photoshopped or airbrushed. On the news, I saw stories of young women politely requesting that popular magazines stop photoshopping their models. Seventeen magazine has made a commitment to not alter the body size or face shape of the girls and models in the magazine after a fourteen year-old girl gained over 80,000 signatures on a petition to stop the altering of models in

45 magazines (Strasser par. 4). There are many young women fighting the negative portrayals of women in the media, but so far not much actual change has occurred. By constantly bombarding young women with negative portrayals of women, the media is directly contributing to the problems among adolescents. Yes, positive changes are being made. However, there are also many changes that still need to be made. According to a website for teen health, 53% of American girls are unhappy with their bodies. This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen (Body Image & Nutrition sec. Medias Effect). Additionally, the Advocates for Youth website states that More than 20 percent of all adolescents report having experienced either psychological or physical violence from an intimate partner (Dating Violence par. 1). Something needs to be done to stop these numbers from growing further, and it needs to start with the media. Magazines need to stop photoshopping their models or start using models of all different body types to show young women that all different body types can be beautiful. Authors need to write strong female characters that young women can look up to and emulate. Adolescence is already difficult enough for young women; in my opinion the media should not continue to make it more difficult by constantly showing negative images of women. By examining popular literary series and other types of media, including television, magazines, and advertising, it is easy to see where media is going wrong with the images they are showing. The human body is the best work of art, says author Jess C. Scott, but if the media is constantly projecting images such as unhealthy relationships and unattainable body image, young women may never be able to see their true worth in society.

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