Remarkably unremarkable

New review on Confederacy of Books, found here.

Today we'll explore how Meyer manages to mangle every other female character in her so-proclaimed "saga," and especially when they held potential.

We already know she's terribly good at this (for a brief, beautiful moment at the beginning of Twilight I thought I could like Bella - she liked books and was snarky. But no. She just. Was disgusting), but we never knew she was THIS good. The characters who got hit the hardest (Alice, Rosalie, Leah) are the ones who seemed like such promising prospects. And then they were killed.

( Alice and Rosalie and More - Oh My! )

General Misogyny: In addition to specific characters, there's just a general misogyny that takes over all three books. AS soon as something interesting or realistic or feminist tentatively peaks through the purple prose, plotless ramblings, and stupid stereotypes it's firmly stamped back down into obscurity. I can't really remember any of my examples, but I had some good examples. I might come back later and edit.

I'll do a post on Edward (and Ed/Bella's relationship) soon.

Disclaimer: I wrote this more than two years ago. I still think Twilight is sexist/stupid/pointless/etc., but I just don't really care that much anymore. If you disagree with what I've written, then bully for you, but nothing you say will be read because I do not care enough anymore to argue, and I certainly don't remember enough from the books. 

First, a definition (from dictionary.com):

fem·i·nism /ˈfɛməˌnɪzəm/ –noun:
1. the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men. (there's more, but this is the bit that I need)

One day in sixth grade I was ranting about gender inequality to my friend Helen on the bus either to school or back from school. At this point, Helen was a very conservative thinker (something which I have never been), so she merely roled her eyes and sighed pointedly. "When are you going to get over this whole 'feminism,' thing?" she said with a hint of bitter malice edging in on the fringes of her voice. That moment was a euphoric moment for me.

I have basically BEEN a feminist (that is, I have subscribed the basic 'doctrinal' tenants of feminist thought - as I've developed more as a person both emotionally and intellectually, I've realized that I'm more Wollstonecraft than Wolf) my entire life. I am a born feminist.

So that's why, about a day after I read the Twilight series I stop and sputtered mentally "WHAT THE HELL?!"

Although a good number of people (mostly rabid fangirls, but some thoughtful fans and the occasional anti) will disagree with me, the Twilight series is almost uncompromisingly sexist. Whether this is purposeful or accidental, the world may never know, but what we can be entirely sure of is that it is there.

There are four major reasons: Bella, Edward, The Other Women, and the Werewolves. As such, I'm going to be posting a four-part series on how Twilight is sexist. Today's installment is on Bella, our the "protagonist" of the series.

Bella Bella Bella. More than just hate her on an ideological level, I hate her as a character. Beyond being stupid, worthless, boring, pointless, an instrument of sexism, and unredeemably feeble, she's also flat, static, unrealistic, and annoying. She is bad in every way that a modern female heroine can be bad.

Oh, but, Charles, why is she sexist?
I'll tell you! I'll tell you how she's sexist!

( Click the Pretty Words For An Explanation )

So that's Bella.

Tomorrow's installment will be on the more general misogyny of the series.