I've started pondering about how a ton of fiction portrays women as evil, as do modern horror movies. What do you think it is that makes women so scary? Does it tie into the history of men fearing that women are tied closely with nature, which is seen to be evil? It seems the women mostly prey upon men in the horror tales we've been reading. Just something to ponder...
6 comments:
I actually have been pondering this, especially with this week's stories.
It may relate to how women are generally portrayed as the emotional caregivers (especially in the age of the stories we are reading). As such, what is more horrific than someone who is supposed to be full of love, emotion, and care but is actually dark, cruel, and evil.
I think this can also be seen in the legal system today. Women who kill generally have the book thrown at them harder than men.
And lol @ your proof :-P
Hahahaha. I love this, even though I am a woman... Funny.
Ha, we do see so much of this. Let's face it, we fear the unknown. And since men like to dominate things, we have a lot of male writers back in the day that we are reading and a lot of male directors/screenwriters bringing us entertainment. Plus, when you think about it, people have a tendency to stick with what works and what the trends are in order to make something successful, so it continues to be prevalent. But the point is perhaps the origins are that there is a tendency to fear the UNKNOWN, and if males where dominating the fantasy, well, there's not many things more UNKNOWN to a man than a woman. HAHA. (But true.)
Even many women write about their own sex as the violent criminals or subjects of horror. I think it goes back to Pandora, Eve and the Garden of Eden, and other religious references to original sin. Furthermore, as Clute said, these genres are responses to the attitudes of their era. As male dominance is generally the standard(I'm not condoning it, just referring to stereotypes) a response would naturally be to have women kick the asses/scare the hell from the men of the day.
I think it is a combination of what everyone has said thus far, with a heavy emphasis on this idea of original sin and religious-based evil in historical (and current, to a degree) literature. I mean, think to the portrayal of women as witches and temptresses sent by the devil (or some other malevolent force, if you prefer). So perhaps this is a carry-over from all those beliefs and writings.
My theory has always been close to what Ken said at the very beginning, combined with some ideas of stereotypes... For the longest time it was always men who went off to war, who supposedly did all the hard work, etc... and so evil men were nothing new. Evil men ruled world history. It is maybe then surprising or more horrifying for a woman, who is "supposed to" be softer, more loving, gentler, etc., to be the evil force (of whatever kind) in these stories.
Post a Comment