In a classical sense, Feminism is defined as believing that women should have the same rights, freedoms, choices, privileges, and benefits as men in a civilized society. Under that relatively general definition, I would argue that most rational people, men and women, would classify themselves as feminists. In my eye, the feminist ideal is not one where women constantly make the 'correct' moral and/or professional decisions or choices that further their own independence, but merely that they have the freedom to do so if they so desire. So I ask the question, why exactly is the Twilight Saga inherently anti-feminist? I'm speaking merely to the movies and not the books, but as the series has unfolded, it's primarily been about one thing: Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) relentlessly pursuing a singular goal, to be in a long-term relationship with Edward Cullen, no matter what obstacle or constructive criticism is hurled her way. We may not agree with Bella's choice in men, but as I've written before (here), I'm not entirely sure the films agree with her either. Moreover, if feminism is about having the choice to, as a woman, live your life as you see fit, isn't her dogged pursuit of Mr. Cullen inherently feminist by virtue of it being absolutely Bella's choice?
Bella is not the only female in the Twilight Saga, something which critics of the series would do well to notice when discussing why the series has such a strong female following. Even if we disapprove of Bella's 'throw your life away for a guy' mentality, she is not the only example of womanhood on display. At the very least, we have Bella's school-age friends, who operate as an alternative to what a teenage girl can do with her life after high school. Hell, Anna Kendrick's Jessica openly rebuts Bella's seemingly close-minded choice, both indirectly in her graduation speech in Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and directly in the opening reel of Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part I when she wonders out-loud why an 18-year old girl would get married if she weren't already pregnant. And nearly every human and human/wolf spends pretty much the entirety of the first four films basically telling Bella *not* to run off with that brooding guy she met in her high school biology class (even if Taylor Lautner's Jacob has obviously selfish motivations). Even Edward himself seems to be trying to talk Bella out of it right up to the night before the wedding.
But no matter where the films stand on Bella's choices throughout the Twilight Saga (and New Moon doesn't exactly show Bella at her 'best'), they are absolutely presented as 'her choices.' It is her choice to make a life with Edward, it is her choice to allow herself to be turned into a vampire, it is her choice to refuse to terminate her unborn fetus when it directly threatens her life. Slight digression, but much of the talk regarding the most recent film has discussed its apparent value as anti-abortion propaganda But said pundits missed the fact that being pro-choice isn't about women choosing abortions but merely about women having access to a legal and safe abortion if they so choose. Moreover, during that middle hour of the fourth film, Bella is pretty much the only character in the film who doesn't want to terminate the pregnancy, so if we (the moviegoers) disagree with that decision, we're hardly alone or demonized for our opinions. Moreover, the whole scenario can be read as a young woman rebutting the men in her life who want to tell her what to do about her body. Also of note, the big fear is that this human/vampire hybrid baby will kill her during the pregnancy and um, Bella indeed dies, so those who favor terminating the pregnancy end up having a point.
Regardless of Breaking Dawn's take on abortion, feminism is not about forcing women to choose an independent path but merely giving women the choice to make that informed decision. For example it's no more just to shame women who choose to be stay-at-home mothers as 'betraying themselves' than it is to condemn working mothers as doing some kind of harm to their family unit. We debate back and forth about what is the 'correct' decision for today's women without realizing that feminism is not about the choice that one woman or another makes but merely the fact that she has that choice. Bella Swan is a fully-functional and intelligent young woman who makes a fully-formed decision about her life. We may disagree with that choice and may say that said decision makes her a poor role model for young women (that's a debate for a different day), but why exactly is Bella an anti-feminist character? Feminism is about women having the choice to live their lives as they wish to. And that is exactly what Bella does for nearly every moment of the Twilight Saga. Bella Swan may not be a role model in a conventional sense, but she is arguably a shining example of feminism in its purest, if not idealized, form.
Now you can tell me why I'm wrong. Is a female character inherently anti-feminist because she makes decisions that seem to fit in with the stereotypical patriarchy-approved life style, or is Bella a feminist because she fights for her right to both make her choices and have those choices be respected by her friends, family, and peers? Sound off below.
For other Twilight-essays I have written over the years (it does offer more food for thought than, say, Transformers), go here, here, and here.
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Perhaps this is why the series is so popular with girls. Even at an early age, they see themselves being steered toward a life of serving their corporate masters, and they find it refreshing to imagine a world in which love reigns supreme.
But I'm really confused by your defense of Bella as a, potentially, feminist character. It seems like you want to do two things: 1) you want to tell us that the movies are uncomfortable with Bella's "unfeminist" actions, or often lack of actions, and that's shown by allowing other characters to voice concerns about her choices, 2) you want to say that these actions and choices of Bella's in themselves are NOT anti-feminist, because they're based on choices made freely.
So that sounds like a weird contradiction to me, and not one your piece solved in any way that I could see. Which is it?
You're basing your definition of feminism in the movies on the idea that we should judge the characters' choices, rather than on the"message" of the story. But these are fictional characters, created exactly so that can respond to the story they're participating in. So why create a story of a teenager who ends up at 18 willing to sacrifice her life rather than have an abortion? We can't look away from what the elements of the story add up to; that's as much part of the feminist/anti-feminist debate as any individual choice on Bella's part.
No, because it's strongly implied that her obsession with him is similar to biochemical addiction.
She also pursues him despite abusive behaviour from him towards her.
As for the article, I found it quite interesting. I'm actually surprised at how many people seem to write Bella off as an anti-feminist character. But your point is valid: feminism is about women being able to make the choices they'd like (professional sphere or elsewhere) without restrictions based on their gender. For a feminist to bash childrearing and mothering is rather contradictory in my opinion, and ultimately damaging to the movement itself. So while many people may not like Bella, or even her choices, at least she's made clear those choices are her own (even in the books). Plus, people easily forget Edward's perspective. He consistently remarks how him being around Bella is bad for her and how difficult it is for him (he describes her blood as a chemical/drug addiction), yet somehow critics like to conveniently skip over this bit. So thank you for taking an unpopular stance and putting your view out there.
The Matriarchy.