The romanticization of abstinence: Fan response to sexual restraint in the Twilight series

Authors

  • Jennifer Stevens Aubrey University of Missouri
  • Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz University of Missouri
  • Melissa A. Click University of Missouri

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2010.0216

Keywords:

abstinence, Twilight, teen girls, fan community

Abstract

Meyer's Twilight series has been criticized for its regressive gender representations. To understand its continuing appeal, we problematize the messages of abstinence and romance in the series, and contextualize fans' response with a discussion of postfeminist culture.

Author Biographies

Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, University of Missouri

Jennifer Stevens Aubrey (PhD, University of Michigan) is an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her broad research interest is youth culture, and in particular, she studies the ways in which media influence young people’s self-perceptions, including sexuality, body image, and gender roles. Her work has been published in a variety of journals, including Journal of Communication, Media Psychology, and Sex Roles.

Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, University of Missouri

Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz (PhD, University of Arizona) is an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She studies media representations of gender and race/ethnicity, and the effects of these portrayals on individuals and society. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Journalism & Mass Commu-nication Quarterly, Media Psychology, and Human Communication Research.

Melissa A. Click, University of Missouri

Communication Assistant Professor

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Published

2010-09-15

Issue

Vol. 5 (2010)

Section

Symposium

License

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