Women and Monsters

For my final, I wanted to explore the connection that can be found between monsters or antagonists and qualities associated with women. Antagonists in media will sometimes share qualities with women or be coded with traits that we negatively associate with women. For example, in Jennifer’s Body, the antagonist is a high school girl that is so attractive that any boy is seduced by her easily, allowing her to eat them.

Werewolves are monsters that have had depictions that relate to the female body. They are viewed as hairy monsters, so there is a connection between body hair and being feminine enough. The moon being full (which happens once a month, kinda like periods) is also a trait commonly associated with women.

The werewolf under the moon

Every month she undergoes changes

The body hair is unfamiliar to humans

And she experiences a new hunger

The full moon also makes me think of the ocean and high tide. Mermaids, which are considered an epitome of the femme fatale and women as monsters, use their singing to lure men to their deaths, since they fall into the water trying to reach the mermaids.

The waves move like clockwork

with the moon every night

there is said to be

mermaids in the depths

who lure helpless men to their depths