Gender Stereotypes In Horror Movies

Every since its popularity began to rise back in the early 1900s, the horror genre specifically has always been one of the most gender stereotyped in the categories of film. This can be seen throughout the centuries, how the majority of women in scary movies are “classified” or determined as helpless, weak and defenseless; like the females in Friday the 13th or American Psycho. However, as time has changed (more recently) over the years, we see the same women in similar films who are able to fight back, escape the killer, and survive. This is because, they are breaking down the bonds that use to confine them. Which has, in turn, given female actors or characters the ability to outgrow such previous stereotypes that were once typically portrayed in horror films. For instance, generally in movies as Friday the 13th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, American Psycho and others alike, the killer or bad “guy,” ironically was far too purposefully male, powerful, and merciless. The reason for

Since, in the old days women did little to wiggle out of their bonds as a skilled, overly masculine “creepy” guy barreled down on them. Yet, by the late 1970s to the beginning of the 20th century with the rise of feminism, these female characters are now standing up and fighting back against their aggressive attacker. Representing, not only to audience members but as “to the question of whether all of this sexualized terror, maiming, killing and possessing of young women,” in horror films is exploitative anymore (Younger)? Because truth be told, it’s not. Rather, I feel that horror flicks should not have a gender bias and instead should play on what our expectations of these characters are and what they will do within the story. Which, I believe would be a much more interesting plot twist to the rising horror genre in films