If it was just a matter of his gatekeeping his own sexuality, then why even have a relationship with Bella at all? That goes back to the idea that chastity=non-valid. They can have a valid relationship without sex. Given these characters' mental maturity (and the age of the series' YA readers), that's probably a good idea. The thing that squicks me out the most about the Bella/Edward relationship is what a stalker and control freak he is. Given this extremely unhealthy romantic relationship, the last thing they should be doing is adding dysfunctional abusive sex to the dysfunctional abusive relationship. Saying "Edward treats Bella like shit. And he doesn't give her sex!" is like saying, "The food at this restaurant sucks. And the portions are so small!" We don't need more of a bad thing.
as an excuse to NOT have women-centric stories, to NOT have women leads. I realize all this, but Twilight, shitty fantasy that it is, IS women-centric with a woman lead, so tearing it to pieces just reinforces the "female fantasies are aberrant" stereotype. If shitty female fantasies like Twilight get too much negative press, what if publishers go back to 'playing it safe' and printing only more male-serving fantasies? Cut the ladies a break.
What, really, is wrong with reminding ourselves of this little fact?
Nothing. Twilight is unhealthy and lame. But it bothers me when an overflowing bucket of male fantasies that gets overlooked while the tiny thimble of female fantasies gets obsessed over and put on trial, especially by women. The examples you cite of male fantasy criticisms are extremely few and far between compared to the outright attack of all things female-centric. It seems insidious and anti-woman when well-meaning feminists attack women-centric trash like Twilight instead of the deluge of male-centric trash that no one thinks twice about. Women need a fucking break and to be allowed a little escapism without well-meaning feminists berating them for not reading feminist literature.
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regna
(no subject)
Date: 2009-11-26 08:11 pm (UTC)That goes back to the idea that chastity=non-valid. They can have a valid relationship without sex. Given these characters' mental maturity (and the age of the series' YA readers), that's probably a good idea. The thing that squicks me out the most about the Bella/Edward relationship is what a stalker and control freak he is. Given this extremely unhealthy romantic relationship, the last thing they should be doing is adding dysfunctional abusive sex to the dysfunctional abusive relationship. Saying "Edward treats Bella like shit. And he doesn't give her sex!" is like saying, "The food at this restaurant sucks. And the portions are so small!" We don't need more of a bad thing.
as an excuse to NOT have women-centric stories, to NOT have women leads.
I realize all this, but Twilight, shitty fantasy that it is, IS women-centric with a woman lead, so tearing it to pieces just reinforces the "female fantasies are aberrant" stereotype. If shitty female fantasies like Twilight get too much negative press, what if publishers go back to 'playing it safe' and printing only more male-serving fantasies? Cut the ladies a break.
What, really, is wrong with reminding ourselves of this little fact?
Nothing. Twilight is unhealthy and lame. But it bothers me when an overflowing bucket of male fantasies that gets overlooked while the tiny thimble of female fantasies gets obsessed over and put on trial, especially by women. The examples you cite of male fantasy criticisms are extremely few and far between compared to the outright attack of all things female-centric. It seems insidious and anti-woman when well-meaning feminists attack women-centric trash like Twilight instead of the deluge of male-centric trash that no one thinks twice about. Women need a fucking break and to be allowed a little escapism without well-meaning feminists berating them for not reading feminist literature.