One of the main critiques of the chastity within Twilight is that the chastity is maintained by, and is in the control of, the male character. While within society women are expected to play the gatekeeper (which is tiresome enough), within these books, the male character is not only the gatekeeper, but he's pretty much calling the shots. The character, Bella, in Twilight DOES want sex - that's what the whole series centers itself on! Bella wants Edward pretty badly, and he holds back. This is the idea that the article analyses - the idea of women=gatekeeper being turned on its head.

There's nothing wrong with chastity, true. But there's something disturbing about the fact that control still remains within the purview of the male, denying the female character her agency. In a sense, this plays into the idea that people don't need to take responsibility for their sexuality, that there will be a gatekeeper.

There are some really interesting notes on the romance novel industry within the comments, if you haven't read those. But the thing about Twilight is, there just isn't sex - it's all about the unfulfilled desires FOR sex and frustration of getting past the gatekeeper.

I'm really not understanding where you get the idea that chastity=bad within the article. However, the point that we ask women to justify their desires, instead of men, stands. Did you bring it up in the discussion thread? Would be cool to see it discussed somewhere.