Female Representation

in Horror
Proof of Concept Presentation
30/1/2017
Deanna Crisbacher

Proposed Dissertation Enquiry

For my dissertation Id like to explore female representation in the horror genre and sub-genres
within the horror category (ex. slasher, supernatural, body horror). I would like to look at how
women are sometimes represented as the helpless victims or the sinner that deserves to be
punished. I want to explore why initially prompted, people say women are always the victim in
horror films, despite that being very far from the truth. I then want to briefly address the different
types of female villains within horror - then focusing on the witch category (this could include
ghosts/psychics/possession as well depending on the example). I want to briefly discuss history
and how real life examples of witchcraft accusations could have affected film (ex. Salem Witch
Trials). I also want to look how the binary oppositions associated with gender (for women passive, emotional, connected to nature) has affected film, including how the womans role in
horror changes when these oppositions are reversed. This could be the result of another way of
expressing the fear of the abject, the females body, monstrous feminine - instead of the woman
being punished, she punishes others. The feminist movement empowering female characters
would be an interesting and important point to cover as well, as women in horror films cease to
be the victims and they begin to take control. I think discussing the different waves of feminism is
also an important part of my dissertation to see how it could have affected women in horror films.

Proposed Chapter 3 Case Studies

For my third chapter I want to delve deeper into women represented as ghosts/witches/
supernatural as shown by a selection of films. Currently, Im interested in the idea of exploring films
that represent a woman as supernatural and getting revenge. This could be seen as symbolic as
women getting revenge for being the victims in these, arguably misogynistic, films (specifically
slasher films). Alternatively, it could be seen as the an expression of the fear/confusion towards
women/feminism. I currently think that the film Carrie (1976/2013) is a perfect example as it
represents a young girl becoming a woman, religion restricting the woman, and then use her
supernatural powers to punish those who wronged her. Im also thinking of looking at The Woman in
Black (film, book, and/or play) because as the womans ghost is unrelenting when it comes to
avenging herself and her child she was never allowed to have. The fact that the ghost also is never
satisfied no matter how many victims she claims could also result in an interesting discussion. My
final study I think will be The Witch (2015), as it shows a Puritan family fearing the witch. It shows
how religion makes them turn on their own young daughter who is at the awkward age of being
between a girl and a woman. The use of Puritans and religion in this film could provide an
interesting historical aspect to my dissertation as witch hunts occurred in real life. This could assert
that history and real life fears and confusion is expressed in films and how this has adapted over
time.

Possible other Films/TV Shows/Games

Repulsion

The Exorcist

F.E.A.R.

Rosemarys Baby

Suspiria

Left 4 Dead (The Witch)

The Babadook

The Wicker Man

The Witcher

Scream

Bloodborne

The Conjuring

The Ring

The Evil Dead

Penny Dreadful

Suicide Squad

American Horror Story

47 Ronin

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Books

The Dread of Difference: Gender & The Horror Film - Barry Keith Grant
-discusses many different examples of women in horror including women in slasher films, the
monstrous-feminine, puberty (related to Carrie), women as the monster, and many other
examples/discussions

Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in Modern Horror Film - Carol J.
Clover

discusses feminism and The Final Girl in slasher films, interesting quote(s) from Stephen King,
Carrie is, in its more adult implications, an uneasy masculine shrinking from a future of female
equalityshes also Woman, feeling her powers for the first time., other interesting chapters
about Freud, sex, violence against women including rape, and revenge

The Monstrous-Feminine: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis - Barbara Creed

-discusses abjection and femininity, woman as possessed monster/monstrous womb/witch and
other discussions about psychoanalysis and more

Books

House of Psychotic Women: An Autobiographical Topography of Female

Neuroisis in Horror and Exploitation Films - Kier-La Janisse
-discusses the concept of female neurosis that proliferated in 19th century literature and
extended into 20th century cinema, the feminist movement, is an autobiography about horror
films, different chapters separate into categories ex. Secret Ceremonies, Heal Me with Hatred
each discuss different films

Monstrous Bodies: Feminine Power in Young Adult Horror Fiction - June

Pulliam
-argues young adult horror isnt as sexist as mainstream horror, discusses types of monsters
women can be and how that relates to femininity, other chapters about womens differing roles
with ghosts in horror, and other chapters about sexual politics in horror and magic, gender, and
witchcraft

Other Books

The Penguin Encyclopaedia of Horror and the Supernatural - Jack

Sullivan

Witches - Tracy Borman (May have useful terms for defining a witch in the
introduction)

-Both books above may have useful definitions, terms and other references within them.

Journal Articles

Where Nothing is Off Limits: Genre, Commercial Revitalisation, and the

Teen Slasher Film Posters of 1982-1984 - Richard Nowell
-Discusses slasher films (including different types of slasher films), has a Violence-AgainstWomen Movies section that includes discussion of feminism, misogyny, and American film
culture

The Scarlet Letter: A Feminist Horror Movie - Lawrence Raw

-Discusses The Scarlet Letter (Book & Film), some information about witchcraft, witch hunts,
and how the 1972 adaptation reflected the time period (feminism)

Patriarchy and the Horror of the Monstrous Feminine - Valerie Wee

-compares gender politics between Japanese and American horror, discusses gender
anxieties and feminism being aligned with monstrosity or evil, and how characters in Ringu and
The Ring are binary opposites, the evil spirits are out for revenge

Journal Articles/Websites

Off|Screen: Gender & Horror - Part 1 & Part 2 - Various Writer

-contains articles written by various authors about gender roles in horror films, discusses a
range of topics such as how horror is so gendered, how it can be seen as misogynistic, and
how it can also be empowering

Websites

Carrie at 40: Why the Horror Genre Remains Important for Women - Noah Berlatsky
@ The Guardian
-argues women make up the majority of horror fans, Carrie representing a witch and menstrual monster, no
male saviour in Carrie (main characters women)

Horror: The Film Genre Where Men Dont Have All the Fun - Anne Billson @ The
Telegraph
-discusses how often people consider women in horror as only being the victim, but also points out that Cat
people, A nightmare on Elm Street, The Others and The Woman in Black the women are in charge, discusses
The Final Girl and identifying with survivor os of horror if its male or female (ex. Alien, Halloween, Scream)

In Horror Film The Witch, Terror Stems From Puritanical Control of Women - Britt
Ashley @ Bitch Magazine/Media
-discusses the film The Witch and about Puritans, fear of womens bodies, girl becoming a woman, Women
making deals with the Devil, origin story of Americathe female form as an embodiment of original sin:
something to be feared, judged, and controlledThe real terror wasnt a witchbut rather the God-fearing
men dutifully deciding the fate of the women around them

Documentaries

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film Andrew Monument
-Covers the evolution of the horror genre within the American Film Industry overall (not just about women)

Bloody Breasts: Women, Feminism and Horror Films - Maude Michaud (web
series)
-Web documentary series, looks at gender roles and stereotypes, interviews with women who enjoy horror
films, overall discussions of feminism and horror in filmmaking

Welcome to My Darkside: Women in Horror - Reyna Young

-interviews with women (actors, filmmakers, journalists) about what horror is, why they like it, womens role
in horror

Pretty Bloody: The Women of Horror - Donna Davies

-TV documentary that looks at the women in horror and their experiences, how they impact the industry/the
genre and why the actresses wish to be part of it

Some Key Images

Fig 1. Carrie (1976)

Fig 2. The Woman in Black

(2012)

Fig 3. The Witch (2015)

Other
Im still searching for more sources but I want to find more that has to do
with Feminism, Abjection (specifically - Powers of Horror by Julia Kristen),
and possibly Psychoanalysis, Binary Oppositions (with gender roles), and
other relating topics/themes that I may find as I look more closely at my
sources. I also am still considering which films to talk about as there are
quite a few that relate to what I wish to write about.

Bibliography
Bloody Breasts: Women, Feminism and Horror Films [Documentary Web-Series] Prod. Michaud. Quirky Films (2011) At: https://
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXNeNBMdzAL9R3SQMyYC-IZpEzA1-QzA0 Accessed on: 26/1/2017
Borman, T. (2013) Witches: A Tale of Sorcery, Scandal and Seduction London: Jonathan Cape.
Clover, C. (1992) Men, Women, and Chainsaws: Gender In The Modern Horror Film Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Creed, B. (1993) The Monstrous-Feminine: Film, Feminism, Psychoanalysis London: Routledge.
Grant, B. (1996) The Dread of Difference: Gender and the Horror Film USA: University of Texas Press.
Janisse, K. (2012) House of Psychotic Women England: FAB Press Ltd.
Nowell, R. (2011) Where nothing is off limits: genre, commercial revitalization, and the teen slasher posters of 1982-1984 In:
Post Script 30 (2) [online] At: go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=AONE&sw=w&u=ucca&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA264173332&it=r&asid=78dfd7e591e601af6b273f63b0058b24 Accessed on:
26/1/2017
Off Screen (2014) Issues of Gender in the Horror Genre, Part 1 At: http://offscreen.com/issues/view/volume-18-issues-6-7
Accessed on: 26/1/2017
Off Screen (2014) Gender and Horror Part 2 At: http://offscreen.com/issues/view/gender-horror-pt2 Accessed on: 26/1/2017

Bibliography
Pulliam, J. (2014) Monstrous Bodies: Feminine Power in Young Adult Horror Fiction North Carolina: McFarland & Company.
Pretty Bloody: The Women of Horror (2009) Directed by Donna Davies [Television Film] Canada: Sorcery Films
Raw, L. (2008) The Scarlet Letter (1972): a feminist horror movie In: Interactions 17 (2) [online] At: go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=AONE&sw=w&u=ucca&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA192001272&it=r&asid=2c847bb660ff162070a4270c9bfb3de5 Accessed on:
26/1/2017
Sullivan, J. (1986) The Penguin Encyclopaedia of Horror and the Supernatural USA: Viking Press.
Wee, V. (2010) Patriarchy and the Horror of the Monstrous Feminine In: Feminist Media Studies 11 (2) [online] At: http://
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14680777.2010.521624 Accessed on: 26/1/2017
Welcome to My Darkside: Women in Horror (2009) Directed by Reyna Young [DVD] USA: Last Doorway Productions
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film (2009) Directed by Andrew Monument [DVD]
USA: Lux Digital Pictures

Illustration List
Figure 1. Carrie (1976) [Film Still] At: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/carrie-1976/images/36455880/title/
carrie-1976-photo Accessed on: 26/1/2017
Figure 2. The Woman in Black (2012) [Film Still] At: http://www.livemint.com/rf/Image-621x414/LiveMint/
Period1/2015/01/03/Photos/M-130_02261_rgb--621x414.jpg Accessed on: 26/1/2017
Figure 3. The Witch (2015) [Film Still] At: http://cdn.bloody-disgusting.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/THEWITCH.jpg Accessed on: 26/1/2017