What's so 'sexist' and 'religious' about Twilight?

Question: What's so 'sexist' and 'religious' about Twilight!?

I don't get it when people that don't like Twilight say that!.!.
Why!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

People like to find any reason what-so-ever to dislike a certain thing, including Twilight!. Thus, they'll over-analyze it and have the stupidest reasons to dislike it!. Since I don't over-analyze, I find nothing sexist or religious about it!. If Meyer didn't intend it, then it's not there!. You cannot judge what an author intended if you are not the author herself!. Most authors do like it when readers find something beyond what they wrote, but it's usually things with intelligence and depth--not stupid things like, "Oh, Bella got pregnant too young, which means Meyers supports teenage pregnancy!"

La vide es bella--There's a difference between intelligent analysis and stupid analysis!. The reason I listed is stupid analysis!. I dislike Twilight as much as the next anti-Twitter, but I know where to draw my lines!. My published article on Twilight is INTELLIGENT analysis, and the review I have on Visciouswriters!.com is INTELLIGENT analysis!. At least I know why Bella being a damsel-in-distress is wrong; and it's not because it's "sexist!."Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's sexist because Edward has to basically control everything Bella does - he's constantly rescuing her (and the messes she gets into are always her fault), she's got the backbone of a worm and seems to need his approval for every thought she has, etc!. The other female characters are also weak and/or superficial!. (See La vida es bella's post for explanations of this; she's covered it well!.)

Dunno why anyone would call Twilight religious, though!. Abstinence is a common religious belief, sure, but it's certainly not restricted to any religions - people who choose to save sex until marriage come from a variety of faiths!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The sexist part has been answered many times, so I think that the religious part comes from the fact that there are characters who are vampires and werewolves!.

Historically, people have considered them as evil and therefore minions and helpers of the devil!. Don't believe me!? Do a quick search on Satan and Halloween!.!.!.!.

also, no sex before marriage and Bella marries very young (which is common in the Mormon sect of Christianity)!. also, the whole idea of a wedding before having sex!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Unlike Tamara seems to think, myself and countless other people who don't like Twilight are not so pathetic that we have nothing better to do!.

What is pathetic is the way she tries to judge thousands of people before she's met any of them!. It's also pretty rude!.

But back to your question!.!.!.

I personally don't think there is anything religiously wrong with it, but then again I don't know all religions well!. They might have a problem with the pregnancy (if they are really conservative), the blood-drinking, or something else!.

I can see where the people are getting the sexist part of Twilight!. Edward is too controlling, and Bella just sits there like a good little girl and takes it!. She doesn't object to him watching her sleep (before they met), breaking her car, or forbidding her to see her friends!. Some people don't think Bella is a good female role model for young girls, and on this point I agree!. Bella should be stronger!.

If you still don't get it, just leave it alone!. We all see the world in different ways, and if they see things in a way you can't, it's not a big deal!. I hate it when people think that they're right and everyone else's opinions are wrong!. Whether you like Twilight or not, you're still a person, and you deserve respect!.

Well, that's what I think anyway!.
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Sexist: All of the female characters are weak!. Bella is a damsel in distress, constantly needs a man in her life, Rosalie is a *****, she superficial and is bitter because she doesn't have a baby!. Esme does absolutely nothing, Alice is an airhead, she only cares about fashion, superficial!. There are no strong, intelligent women!. Leah is sterile and so on!.
Religious: No sex before marriage
There is nothing wrong with analyzing a novel for themes, so anyone who doesn't want to hear analysis on Twilight is stupid and should stay away from people who think!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think the sexist part has been covered well, so I won't get into that!. I'm not sure if I'd call the books sexist, persay!. I don't think Smeyer intended to have her characters rub off as sexist-- I think she's a hopeless romantic who finds the concept of a man always being there to "save" her absolutely fantastic!. I do get some anti-feminist vibes from the book, but I don't know if that's what Smeyer intended!. How one interprets a work of art is a refection of the interpreter, so that's probably why I feel like the books are anti-feminist to an extent!.

As for the religious stuff-- I definitely get where people get that from!.

Maybe I see it differently than other people because I am Mormon, as is Stephenie Meyer!. I understand Mormon beliefs and your typical Mormon mindset much better than your average person does, partially because I live in Utah and 95% of the people in my city are Mormon, and partially because it's how I've been raised!. Some of the things in Twilight don't match up with Mormon beliefs whatsoever, but other things are saturated with LDS beliefs!. When I was reading the books, I could tell that Smeyer was a Mormon!.

The best example is the "children" thing!. In the Mormon religion, having kids is a HUGE deal!. Huge!. One of the teachings of the church is that it's important to have kids because it helps further the plan of God; they say that parenthood is basically the best thing you can do on earth!. Women are taught to get an education, but above all else, they are taught that being a mother is what their Divine Purpose is and that being a mother is ultimately the most important thing they will do!. Look at the Twilight characters-- Bella thinks she doesn't want kids, then her life magically becomes perfect and happy after she has one, Leah tortures herself and puts herself down because she can't have kids, Esme wants to be a mom and has to "make do" with adopted children, and Rosalie wants children more than anything!. The desire to have children is certainly not something exclusive to Mormons, but in Twilight, almost every single important female character has the mindset that without children, life will never be complete!. That, in a nutshell, is how many Mormon women feel!.

On the other hand, I don't think Smeyer was trying to promote her religion with her books!. An author's work is always influenced by their own views and beliefs, and I can almost guarantee, based off of Smeyer's religious beliefs and things I have heard her say in interviews, that she thinks motherhood is an extremely important thing!. I don't think she was trying to promote her religion; her own beliefs, which are strongly influenced by her religion, did seep into her work, but that's normal for every author (Plus there's also the fact that Twilight is her fantasy, so since Smeyer likes being a mom, Bella had to be a mom too)!.

I don't think saying Twilight is sexist or religious is a "stupid analysis"!. Smeyer's work doesn't deserve to be analyzed deeply, as that's giving her more credit than she's due, but I think people have good reason to believe those things!. It may just be a book, but books *do* influence people!. The things that happen in books can influence the way you see the world-- that's why a good book can change your life!. I think that's why people call Twilight sexist and religious and promoting unhealthy relationships and the like-- they are worried about how it's going to influence young, impressionable, easily changed readers!. I mean, look at how many teenage girls are drooling to have a relationship like Edward and Bella's, even though their relationship is extremely unhealthy!. Smeyer has them all convinced that being with a controlling, manipulative, overbearing man is okay as long as he "loves" you!. That's one example of how a book can influence a person!. I also think you can tell what an author is trying to tell you with their writing; I think good authors mean to teach you something through their work!. Symbols, imagery, the tone of the writing, and all other sorts of things can help you know what the author is trying to say-- symbols especially!. Literature, to me, isn't something you just guess the meaning of and hope it's what the author wanted you to get; there are plenty of clues to let you know *exactly* what the author is trying to tell you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I don't really think it's sexist or religious!. But I get where they're coming from, I guess!?

Sexist because Bella's very weak while the guys in the book are very strong!? Although that's not at all true, since there's other girls in the book that are strong, and guys that are wimpy!.
Religious!.!.!. I don't think it's religious at all!.
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NOTHING AT ALL! It's not Chronicles of Narnia, where the author shoves Christian values down your throat, or assumes girls cannot fight in battle and should just stay home (look at CS Lewis's crappy treatment of Susan - even JK Rowling acknowledged how sexist Narnia could be)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i hav no freaking clue!. i dont get wats so religious about harry potter!. if u dont like magic then dont read about it, i h8 wen ppk create a molehill out of nothing and rel8 things to God that way!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Twilight was written to match Stephanie Meyer's sexual fantasies!. She can't reach her vagina through all of her fat, so rather than masturbating she had to write them all down and make us suffer!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

I don't know!. It's just a book!. These aren't real people - they're fictional characters!. People really need to get over it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Nothing!. Some people are just so pathetic that they have nothing better to do than bash Twilight!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Nothing!. Though the haters need to make up some excuses for why they hate the booksWww@QuestionHome@Com

NOTHING AT ALL!!! and people who think so are asses!!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com