A feminist critique of Twilight: emotional abuse, child-grooming, and pro-choice plots.
Posted: November 13, 2012 Filed under: Abortion, Feminism, Literature, Review, Sex, Twilight | Tags: abortion, child grooming, feminism, marriage, review, sex, twilight 121 Comments »With the final film of the Twilight Saga to début in UK cinemas this week, the time is ripe to cast an eye of scrutiny upon one of the most popular franchises of the decade. Twilight could have been a positive force in fiction and film, not least because the book is aimed primarily at girls, with a female protagonist, speaking of female experience, written by a woman, and with the film itself being directed by a woman. In fact, Eclipse attracted audiences that were 80% female and scraped in a whopping £45 million (1). Since then, Twilight has had a considerable knock-on effect, not least on the revival of vampire fiction, but in the fiction industry – with 50 Shades of Grey starting its life as a slash fiction version of Twilight. The effects of Twilight are boggling, but what other knock-on effects are we missing?
Twilight teaches very dangerous lessons to its readers and viewers.
- Unhealthy, emotionally abusive relationships are desirable – see Edward and Bella.
- Women’s only life choices (“choice” is a key word here) are to get married, have children, and be a stay-at-home mum.
- Sex is bad. Abortion is even worse.
- Child-grooming is acceptable so long as the adult really loves “his” child.
(NB. I will be talking in very gender binary and white-washing ways, because Twilight erases all non-het sexualities and people of colour.)
Let’s begin with number one. Edward Cullen and Bella Swan have an emotionally abusive relationship. As defined by Women’s Aid:
- destructive criticism, name calling, sulking
- pressure tactics
- lying to you, or to your friends and family about you
- persistently putting you down in front of other people
- never listening or responding when you talk
- isolating you from friends and family, monitoring your phone calls, emails, texts and letters
- checking up on you, following you, not letting you go out alone (2)
So let’s go through these. If you’ve read any of the Twilight books, alarm bells should immediately be ringing in your head right now. Edward constantly employs “pressure tactics,” the number one example being manipulating Bella into marrying him. Bella doesn’t want to get married, she is mortified by the idea, and only goes through with the marriage because she wants to have sex with Edward. This is blackmail. Withholding sex in order to achieve what he wants at the expense of Bella is highly abusive.
Edward monitors Bella throughout the entire series, from having Alice check her future, to literally stalking her to Phoenix, to sneaking into her bedroom to watch her sleep (before they’ve even spoken! See Midnight Sun), and so on. And what is most worrying about this is that in the context of the narrative, these abusive traits are romanticised and idealised. This normalises abusive behaviour, and considering the demographic as Twilight (tween and teenagers who are first forming their ideas about love and sex) this is even more disgraceful. She even fears telling him the truth: “I’d given more information than necessary in my unwilling honesty, and I worried it would provoke the stranger anger that flared whenever I slipped and revealed too clearly how obsessed I was.” Twilight, chapter 11, p.230. This is not the hallmark of a healthy relationship. This is fear.
We also see Edward isolating Bella from her friends and family. For example, he takes the engine out of her car to prevent her from seeing her friend, Jacob.
Edward lies to Bella at the start of New Moon, when he tells her that he doesn’t want to be with her any more, when in actuality he is trying to “protect” her. This shows his disregard for Bella as an equal in their relationship, with equal input, and ability to make choices for herself. Not only this, but after he disappears from her life, he also removes every item that might remind her of him. All the photographs, tapes, etc. He gives her no choice and has no respect or consideration for how this might effect her.
Examples of destructive criticism can also be found in the books…
“Bella, it’s not my fault if you are exceptionally unobservant.”
“Bella, you are utterly absurd.”
“Damn it, Bella! You’ll be the death of me, I swear you will.”
“You aren’t exactly the best judge of what is or isn’t dangerous.”
Suddenly, Twilight is starting to seem a lot less romantic and a lot more abusive. The last thing that we should ever be doing is glorifying this type of behaviour.
Moving onto point number two: women’s life choices or lack thereof.
In the Twilight Saga, we are never presented with any other option for women other than to get married and have children. I’m not just talking about Bella here. Think about it. Is there any significant female character who does something as subversive as, err, having a career? Renee, Esme, Alice, Rosaline,…
Drawing a blank? I am too. So let’s turn to the author of Twilight, Stephanie Meyer to hear her take on this:
“In my own opinion (key word), the foundation of feminism is this: being able to choose.” (3)
I wouldn’t argue that “being able to choose” is the keystone of feminism. The keystone of feminism is equality of the sexes in domestic and public arenas and in legislation. However, let’s continue and tackle what is problematic about Twilight and the “choices” available to the female characters: do they have any choices at all?
If you are never presented with an alternative, then you don’t have any choice. You just have the one path that every woman treads. There is nothing wrong with being married, having children and being a stay-at-home mother. Let me be clear here. But there is something wrong to suggest that is your only option. True, Edward tries to encourage Bella to go to college – that is go to college and then we’ll get married. That isn’t really an alternative option. In fact, the only alternative option that Bella ever gets is to be in a relationship with Jacob instead of Edward.
Besides which, does Bella really have a choice in all of this? The books would suggest otherwise. Let me throw a few quotes at you:
“I didn’t know if there ever was a choice, really. I was already in too deep.” Twilight, chapter 7, p.139.
“Our relationship couldn’t continue to balance, as it did, on the point of a knife. We would fall off one edge or the other, depending entirely on his decision, or his instincts. My decision was made, made before I’d ever consciously chosen.” Twilight, chapter 13, p.248.
“There was no way around it; I couldn’t resist him in anything.” Twilight, chapter 13, p.284.
Even if we are to go by Meyer’s definition of feminism as the presence of choice, Twilight still fails miserably to be a feminist narrative.
Now to point three. How are sex and abortion handled in the saga?
It will come as no news to you that Stephanie Meyer is a Mormon, who in her spare time preaches abstinence in high schools.
Bella and Edward only have sex once married, surprise surprise. But what is all the more surprising is that despite having sex within the confines of a marriage, Bella is still punished for her sexuality. She becomes immediately pregnant, which she didn’t want to happen, but what is more important is that the pregnancy she endures is a particularly punishing one. She is violently sick, loses most of her body weight, and would have died had she not been made a vampire during the birth.
The pro-life rhetoric is blatant in the books and film. With everyone but Bella and Rosalie on the “bad” side – that is, the pro-life side. Whilst Bella speaks of the “baby,” Edward speaks of the “foetus.” Edward tells Bella to “get rid of it,” but his pleas do nothing. We are meant to feel sympathy for Bella, who almost dies trying to keep the child alive. But all that this promotes is that women should carry their pregnancies through to full term, no matter what the danger to them, even at the cost of their lives.
And finally, point four: child grooming. No matter how many times a Twihard stresses that the child “imprinting” in the Twilight books is not paedophilic, I maintain that is is, and this is why…
For those not familiar with the Twilight universe, werewolf imprinting is when a member of the pack (all male bar one female, who doesn’t imprint in the books) falls in love unconditionally with a girl. (And of course it’s a girl, because werewolves can’t be gay, duh.) And this girl can be of any age, apparently, though conveniently they never imprint on old women. So we see several cases where werewolves imprint on children and even babies. But this isn’t paedophilic, remember, because he loves the child like a father, brother, uncle until the girl comes of age. And the girl will fall in love with her werewolf because it’s “hard to resist that level of devotion.”
The definition of child-grooming from Wikipedia (4):
Child grooming refers to actions deliberately undertaken with the aim of befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child, to lower the child’s inhibitions in preparation for sexual activity with the child, or exploitation.
And all the parents are understanding and accepting of imprinting – even Edward and Bella when Jacob imprints on their newborn child! So the child will grow up believing it’s okay, their parents telling them it’s okay and encouraging the relationship, being told that the werewolf is in love with her, leaving little room for her own choice in partner. This relationship throughout their childhood will naturally lead to sex when they come of age – turn back to Wikipedia: “in preparation for sexual activity with the child.”
When you go to see the final Twilight film this week next – though I would encourage you to watch something else – please bear all this in mind. When you swoon at the romance of Edward’s controlling behaviour, Jacob’s devotion for Renesmee, please try to remember the underlying meaning of all of these plot developments.
(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2010/jul/12/twilight-eclipse-feminism
(2) http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic_violence_topic.asp?section=0001000100220042§ionTitle=Emotional+abuse
(3) http://stepheniemeyer.com/bd_faq.html
(4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_grooming
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Reblogged this on Women's Pages and commented:
Here’s an interesting blog about popular fiction — the Twilight books — and the characters/conditions/inequalities. I’m including it on women’s pages because part of being a writer is reading critically, so we can write with clarity. LOVE this critique. For those who haven’t read the Twilight books or seen the movie — this is not an endorsement! They’re just goofy crappy stuff, at heart. But if you have encountered them, you’ll see how good this reading really is!
Love this blog! There sure is alot to think about with these Twighlight series isn’t there!
I particularly agreed with your Third Point. That’s not to say I don’t agree completely with all of your points, but I had never heard that take on the pregnancy before.
I have read all of the books and seen all of the films (definitely not a Twihard, I promise), and although I don’t agree that these books and films should be read and criticised as feminist texts (because, after all, Meyer is a Mormon, as you said), I particularly liked your point about Bella being ‘punished for her sexuality’.
Really enjoyed reading!
Thank you for posting
Your analysis has made me rethink the whole Twilight concept and the “lessons” it has espoused. Saw this after I read your post and thought you may get a kick out of it. It seems that Robert Pattinson shares many of your views: http://jezebel.com/5961320/robert-pattinson-is-the-biggest-twilight-hater-of-all
Thanks for the link!
have you read the books? seen all the movies? actually talked to someone who read the book before having an opinion on it? maby you should do at least one of these things before you slam it.
I’ve read all of the books, and Midnight Sun, several times, seen all of the movies, was a frequent browser of the Twilight Lexicon, and have read most of the pages on Meyer’s personal website. Hope this clears this up.
Yet still you insist on slamming it?
Yes. Because all of the reading I did showed me beyond doubt that something is highly awry with the series. Have YOU read any of the books, I think is the more important question.
Yes I have read them all and I see nothing wrong with their content. Not all media (books, movies) have to be uber inclusive and show all races, orientations, etc.
WOW. If you’re going to think like that with everything you see, then that fricken sucks. Not everything can be perfect. This is a book and a movie / it’s supposed to be about the drama. If someone does notice this in a book then they should see its not a healthy relationship(oh pish posh) and not copy.
Hi Cherry, you know what, you are right. A lot of literature and books have to be taken with a grain of salt. But, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t important to look for signs of unhealthy relationships, especially in a story that is so romanticized as Twilight. If we don’t point out how unhealthy those relationships are, then how are we going to expect girls and women to recognize those same unhealthy signs in their own life? Abuse isn’t a joking matter, and until we take it seriously, it will continue to be a problem.
I was into Twilight for awhile and even greatly anticipated the first movie. After setting the books aside for other books, I eventually went back and read the first one a few years later to figure out why I had liked the books so much. I was incredulous at what I was reading. Bella falls “in love” with Edward simply by looking at him once. Then the rest is history. We don’t get any explanation as to why Bella loves him, only that she is in “too deep.” Why? What does Edward do, apart from looking like a model, to make Bella fall in love with him? He is controlling, manipulative, and overly protective, but Bella interprets all of this as loving and romantic behavior.
By the last book, I had no words to describe the half-human/half-vampire hybrid baby plot line and the life-threatening pregnancy.
Also a bit random but I always hated how Bella treated her father. She really belittled her father and didn’t take into account how her father was watching out for her and trying to keep her safe. All around, she came across as an ungrateful brat.
My situation was somewhat similar in that at first I enjoyed the first book, which is weird to me in retrospect because I usually don’t read modern romances (I think it was because it was something different to me, preferring classic romances); I bought it after all the books were already out. My little sister really liked them; I had some money to burn and bought them all at once. I only got partway through the 3rd book, I believe it was, before I had enough and just gave the books away, never to finish reading them and wishing that I hadn’t started in the first place. A huge part of it was Bella herself, the way she treated people who genuinely cared about her and were looking out for her (i.e. her father), the way that she fell for him so completely for no other reason than him being attractive, and Edward himself. The only character I liked was Jacob, who I thought was stupid himself for liking Bella. That said, I did check out the first movie and found it bad (not awesomely-bad) enough to not bother with the rest, though I know people who watch/buy all of them if only to make fun of them. Of modern series’, Harry Potter and the Hunger Games are the only other two popular ones I’ve read and enjoyed both the books and the movies.
this is ridiculous
Thank God someone else in the world sees Twilight for what it really is. Great post!
These are good observations, but remember that Stephenie has a right to her opinion just as much as you do. If you don’t like how sex and abortion are treated in Twilight, you can always read something else. This is just how Stephenie chose to portray it and frankly — it was a bit refreshing, because it was different from some other sex-obsessed novels that are coming out now (lol Fifty Shades of Grey, for example. Ironic, isn’t it).
THANK YOU!!!
I’ve been saying this from the start, before I ever even read the books or saw the movies, because it was that blaringly obvious!
Vicious! Love it! I think perhaps the description of Edward’s treatment of of Bella could have been blended into the first section. I’m more upset by his blatant disregard of her desire to keep her child than anything else there. To objectify a part of her body that she has already chosen to call a child…that’s cruel. I think you’d like my post “I Vow To Never Ever Take Reality Into Consideration” (http://ezrawontshutup.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/thevow/) in which I reference Twilight while explaining why The Vow is such a bad example for women.
[...] read this entry today about the Twilight franchise, A feminist critique of Twilight: emotional abuse, child-grooming, and pro-choice plots, and I feel like I have to respond. I would initially note Sarah’s textual errors. I [...]
You’re going to make a wonderful advocate for women’s rights someday, and I cannot wait to see you give the sexist bastards out there hell.
I don’t approve of Twilight for a number of reasons (primarily because it’s a bad example of vampire fiction), but your reasons are also near the top of the list. When I write my stories, I always wonder whether or not my female characters will be anything close to good role models for women and girls, and I like to think so, especially since the main character of my novel is a positive influence on several different characters.
I hope Stephanie Meyer’s next work isn’t so detrimental to women’s rights.
Thank you!
you’re welcome.
I consider myself a feminist and pretty much hate Twilight, but I disagree with a lot of your points. I wrote a long response in my own blog if you are interested.
Reblogged this on hayleyawall and commented:
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Love your way of writing . Such a interesting topic written beautifully . Thankx for sharing
Thanks for this delightful and very articulate analysis. It’s always good to hear other people looking critically at the culture that is shaping us today.
[...] inspiration for today’s post comes from a blog that was recently featured on Freshly Pressed: “A feminist critique of Twilight: emotional abuse, child-grooming, and pro-choice plots.̶… I read it with a lot of eye-rolling and proverbial face-palming, but I got through it, and only a [...]
Very good points. I have had a couple discussions lately that part of the reason this is so popular is because Bella is painted to be a bland character, making it easy for young girls to imagine themselves as her, having this “great romance” with guys falling all over them. Which makes your points even scarier.
I was really interested in this post as I was only discussing this last night with friends. it has really struck me how popular such a hormonal rollercoaster ride of a movie could make it to the top despite some seriously dodgy acting – in particular in the first film (never read the books never will). I don’t know if it is morbid fascination that has led me to see the rest (except the latest). But then perhaps the emotional ‘Fix’ that the films create in me are what is driving the franchise. I found much of the behaviours relating to relationships really destructive and was really worried that despite me ‘knowing’ that the emotionally manipulatvie and destructive behaviours would not be tolerated in any of my own relationships, i still went back to see more of the movies! It would be really difficult for a person who didn’t have boundries in place already to see why this exciting vamipre sucking warewolf movie might be advertising destructive behaviour patterns, and not really the ideal model to fantasise about relationship building . Most blood suckers don’t come packaged as glittering movie stars with furry friends, in real life they look like everyone else, but still no less attractive to vulnerable people.
[...] on with the defense. Why defend Twilight? Well. I stumbled upon this feminist critique by Sarah (who apparently gets critical on a regular basis, which I approve of) and enjoyed it very [...]
Thank you for intelligently detailing the underlying, yet powerful way this series devalues women. Much of American popular media furthers a view that women are superficial objects, unequal to men, and Twilight unfortunately carries the same banner. I enjoy a good tale of the supernatural as much as the next person. Though Twilight had the potential to be an interesting twist on creature features, it’s just one more of the many over-sexualized fantasy stories offered over the years.
Congrats on being FP.
Love this post, I only read the first book and watched the first film but I have picked up the rest of the story by not closing my eyes and ears off from the rest of the world. They have such an unhealthy relationship.
I’ve never read the Twilight series and this makes me want to remove it from the hands of the many young girls I see reading it. Thanks for posting this.
Well, this is the first time I ever had the urge to actually read the damn books.
My instinct told me it was distinctly anti-feminist just from the fact that it’s clear the girl’s entire identity is based upon her relationship to men. I avoided the books as dangerous trash, but now I’m kind of curious to see how bad they really are.
I probably won’t though, because it would be too depressing to realize that this is what so many young girls think of as romantic.
“Well, this is the first time I ever had the urge to actually read the damn books.”
DON’T DO IT! The best that can be said about them is that they are an interesting idea poorly executed (I’m a Twilight apologist).
I think the whole genre of romance is depressing. I can think of very few where the couple has a normal relationship and there isn’t something sick and twisted going on somewhere.
Much like Agata Lawrynczyk’s post before me, I’ve never read the books or seen the films, but reading this doesn’t really change the negative views I had on the series to begin with. They don’t really seem like my kind of stories anyway. But well done for writing such a thoughtful, well-researched article. It really does make you think. Keep it up!
I remember deciding to check out Twilight to find out what all the fuss was about, but once I recognized the things you’ve described (along with a general dislike of the main character and her choices), the spell was quickly broken. I’m not usually someone to check out something because it’s popular, so in that case, it was lesson learned, and I have (I think, wisely) decided to stay far away from 50 Shades.
One issue I have with the Twilight series is the pervasive thought that to be complete and gal MUST chose a man and then MUST change herself to accommodate that choice. That thought process is so destructive on so many levels.
Terri Miller
http://www.beyondrelevance.com
This is bloody brilliant.
For anyone who says that Twilight has to be taken as ‘just literature’ is moronic. Influencing young readers through the written word is a really big responsibility, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
And for everybody saying that Meyer is entitled to her opinions, and can express them in any form she sees fit… how about people who use Twitter to vent their opinions but get slammed by the media for being racist, homophobic or just plain nasty? In some cases, there are right and wrong opinions. Meyer certainly has the right to beliefs, (as is everybody) but to preach it to young adults on such a global scale is irresponsible and damaging.
Thank you, Sarah, for writing such an amazing piece!
Thank you, and well said!
My sister is a fan and I have seen the first two movies because of her. I don’t like Twilight and never will. Every woman I know swoons over Edward and Bella, while I feel disgusted. Besides all of the reasons you listed above, I dislike that Bella is a weak and needy protagonist. She cannot stand to be on her own without Edward.
Reblogged this on BenBhavingBadly and commented:
See girls, I was right all along!!
http://fasternow.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/i-have-just-watched-breaking-dawn-part-2-spoilers/
Hey,
Great post, I happen to agree 100% I managed to read the first novel and struggled with the second because of the unhealthy relationship dynamics. It was pure obsession, and again the weak feminine character uncertain of herself (the underdog), being led by and moulded by the dominant male. Almost as though it was Bella’s life goal to find a man like Edward to make her into something better. So Mills and Boons, but without the sex! I didn’t know Stephanie Meyer was a Mormon, interesting and now the plot is more fathomable. I notice you mentioned 50 Shades of Grey also, I loath that nonsensical submissive diatribe!!!! I wrote a post condemning that book a few months ago, as I seemed to be the only female I knew who wasn’t completely ensnared by the claptrap!
Bex
[...] A Feminist Critique Of Twilight (sarahgetscritical.wordpress.com) [...]
I actually blogged my thoughts on ‘Twilight’ and ’50 Shades’ a couple of days ago. There was nothing redeeming about the books, boring, badly written and had terrible morals. It appears that being a feminist is winning over the heart of a bad boy. I really hate the thought of impressionable tweens (any many older women) thinking that abuse is okay coz the guy is really goodlooking, wealthy and says he loves her. Urgh.
Reblogged this on Chrysalide and commented:
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I really wish this blog had been written without the femenist perspective so shoved down our throats that most of what you wrote was a hard stretch. Your blog is extremely well written, but I couldn’t even get through most of it without laughing and eye-rolling. The section that got me the most:
*****”So let’s go through these. If you’ve read any of the Twilight books, alarm bells should immediately be ringing in your head right now. Edward constantly employs “pressure tactics,” the number one example being manipulating Bella into marrying him. Bella doesn’t want to get married, she is mortified by the idea, and only goes through with the marriage because she wants to have sex with Edward. This is blackmail. Withholding sex in order to achieve what he wants at the expense of Bella is highly abusive.”*****
Bella does not go through with marriage because she wants to have sex, she wants Edward to turn her into a vampire (highly fictionalized since vamps don’t exist) and he agrees to IF she marries him. The sex thing comes after because she wants one human experience before getting turning into a vamp. Edward wants to ensure Bella is his wife first because that is how he was raised.
How horrible is it that Edward is old fashioned (I mean he is 100+ years old) and wants to wait to make love to his WIFE. He is traditional – not abusive. After reading this point, many of your points only get more stretched and far fetched – however, like I said, you write really well and I am glad I got to read this if only for a break of amusement in an otherwise dull day.
Thank you for you comment. Regardless of *why* Edward blackmails Bella into marriage, the fact still stands that he blackmails her. I agree that being made into a vampire is also a factor in their pact with each other, but you merely pointed out that he’s blackmailing her using a different tactic.
I disagree with you on this point, I still stand that he is abusive in his blackmailing of Bella. I suspect you will still disagree with me, and that’s fine, it’s good to have multiple opinions and voices in a debate. But the conclusion you draw (“He is traditional – not abusive”) is based on one omission on one point. Even on this point, he is still abusive, but the rest of the argument still stands.
But anyway, I’m glad I cheered up your day. Thanks for reading!
I have watched movies 1 and 2… and the biggest problem with Twilight movies is that they are BORING. I tried to watch them twice, but every time I fell asleep… and that has never happened to me before. I have walked out of movie theatres and often stopped watching movies but falling asleep is a first for me !
I’ve had a problem with Jacob imprinting on the baby from the start — in fact, it made me quit reading the final book for quite awhile. I too have noticed the codependent/abusive spin on Edward and Bella’s relationship. I’m adamantly pro-life, but with what Bella was going through, I rather sided with Edward at times — get rid of the damn thing.
But… I don’t know, I don’t think it’s really fair to say the series is all about “one choice” — to be a wife and mother (which is an amazing thing to be!). Alice may be Jasper’s wife, but she’s the most powerful Cullen member (her prophetic abilities) until Bella comes along with her “shield.” Meyer also has Jane, the ultra-bitchy, ultra-dangerous Volturi girl, who is arguably the most powerful vampire in the entire series. Bella is certainly pathetic, sort of a blank slate on which the reader projects their own personality, but I find some of the secondary characters — male and female — quite interesting. I wish the book had been about them, instead of the Dullsville Duo.
Ahh this is exactly what I’ve always tried to say about Twilight, but you’ve said it so much better!
Also, further to this point – “the only alternative option that Bella ever gets is to be in a relationship with Jacob instead of Edward” – that scene when they’re all in the tent and Edward and Jacob are discussing her when they think she’s asleep, always freaks me out. They talk about who can have her as though she’s a possession – even with Jacob, it’s not really a choice.
Absolutely fantastic read! It’s nice to see my own view on the Twilight saga represented in your writing.
I couldn’t agree more. It was such a relief to read this analysis, Sarah. It has affirmed all my concerns about this trilogy.
Amazing work Sarah. This is even more than our university lecturer highlighted as issues with these “problematic” texts.
The angry posters here are angry because they’re scared. They don’t want to acknowledge that these texts are this manipulative. Challenging someone’s ideas about love and abuse can be very confronting.
However, when we teach young girls that these are the actions of a man who “truly loves them” then we are setting them up for a lifetime of abuse and misery. These books have certainly made me question Stephanie Meyer’s own marriage, since she was a virgin when she married and has no experience other than that marriage.
And yes, I’ve read all the books, some of them twice. And watched the movies. Plus I’m an honors students in English literature, majoring in Gothic Texts at a world recognised university (before anyone wants to launch into me about not having sufficient credentials to judge the movies). I was also briefly a member of the Mormon church as a child. For about 12 months. I am not a virgin, and I have been in an abusive relationship.
Great work Sarah.
Thank you for your comment, I think it’s very important for people who have experienced abusive relationships to give their voice to twilight and its problematic ideas.
[...] home to go on the run from a crazed murderer. Feminists have described their relationship as emotionally abusive, as Edward goes to great limits to restrict Bella’s freedom, even dismantling her car when he [...]
[…] with any real or perceived threat to their relationship in a healthy and emotionally mature way. There have been lots of rants on this subject, so I will say no […]