Könsroller och Härskartekniker i Twilight : (re)produktion av patriarkalgenusstrukturer genom smäktande kärlekshistoria?

This essay aims to describe and problematize gender roles and master suppression techniques in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga. This is done in order to enable me, in my future profession as a teacher, to start an emancipatory discussion in class where pupils can become conscious of different ways of reading the love story. I will use the following two research questions to fulfil the purpose: 1) investigate which gender roles that appears in the book’s main characters Bella and Edward and 2) which master suppression techniques that colours their relationship. To answer the questions gender theory and ideology-critics are used. Gender theory is first and foremost used to analyse gender roles whereas ideology-critics is a method of reading that highlights the importance of taking the society and thereto connected values in to account. Applying these two theories on the book it becomes clear that the main characters follows traditional gender roles for what is seen as typical feminine and masculine behaviour; Bella is caring, passive, sexually loyal, and addicted and Edward is aggressive, physically strong and fast, stubborn, dominant and protective. Further more, it is also evident that these roles are accompanied by a number of master suppression techniques used by Edward, such as: make Bella invisible and silly, keep information from her, and use of violence and threats. By using the knowledge in a pedagogical fashion pupils can be energized to start critically reflecting about these stereotypical roles and thereby emancipate from them. They will realize that Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga is a re-production of patriarchal gender structure through an emotional love story