The Exploitation of Women in the Horror Genre
- Jazmin Heckelman
- Apr 17
- 4 min read
For as long as I can remember, starting from even before I was old enough for pre-school, horror has always been a topic I was drawn to. It is a genre in media that has such a wide variety in themes that, even though recently, I no longer feel fear or get jumpscared when engaging in the genre. I continue to find myself indulging in it. However, a common and upsetting feature that’s even in the most popular and defining horror genre media is the exploitation of women. But why is it that so many creators of horror media continue to disproportionately use women and their bodies as a tool to incite shock, even though such a large chunk of their audience is women?
The ‘male gaze’ is a term coined from feminist theory that describes how, in media, women are often depicted from a ‘masculine, heterosexual perspective’ and are subsequently seen as objects of desire for the heterosexual male viewer. It is through this lens that problematic horror movies are seen. They disregard women as actual people, often failing to give their female characters any true depth and instead portray them as objects subject to horrible fates in usually overtly sexual ways. A popular example of this phenomenon would be the cult classic Halloween (1978). While some could argue that this wouldn’t apply to this movie since the protagonist, Laurie Strode, is played by a woman who isn’t directly sexualized or brutalized by the film, her role as the pure ‘Final Girl’ is linked to patriarchal values. To dive deeper into this perspective, Halloween is actually seen through the villain Michael Myers’ eyes, and he becomes a ‘near perfect metaphor for the worst of masculinity and the violence which springs from it,’ (Pagliuca). This is made clear in the movie’s opening scene, in which a six-year-old Myers stabs and kills his nude older sister, a frequent theme in Halloween. The manner in which he kills women can be seen as an almost punishing way for being ‘impure,’ as Myers spies, stalks, attacks, and murders these women; he becomes an uncomfortable metaphor for male violence. I would argue that Halloween popularized this phenomenon in the horror/thriller genre, with the Friday the 13th and Scream franchises being prominent examples that were directly inspired by Halloween, further pushing this potentially dangerous perspective in film.
However, this trope in recent mainstream horror has slowly begun to filter out in recent times, surprisingly with a continuation of the horror movie that popularized the trope. The modern Halloween trilogy may have its rightful criticisms for the last two less exciting films, but what it can be praised for is its portrayal of female characters. Instead of fearful or frivolous victims, the main cast of women are shown to be fighters, especially the now older Laurie Strode, inevitably hardened and prepared for the worst from her traumatic past. While I will avoid spoilers for the modern take and sequel to Halloween, I will say I enjoyed the first movie of the trilogy, and at the very least, recommend that one for a successful revival of Halloween with a more feminist outlook.
Another horror movie I enjoyed with a well-written and fleshed-out woman protagonist was Jordan Peele’s Us. Not only was Lupita Nyong’o’s acting as Adelaide and Red a well-layered and flawless performance, but the concept and story of the movie made it a unique watch that combined the intrigue of slasher films and themes of a complex identity and social inequality. The protagonist Adelaide served as the family’s head, her overly cautious and protective character making her a deserved ‘final girl’ figure in horror. While not necessarily an extremely ‘scary’ movie, it was one of my favorite watches for the tethered concept and unexpected final twist, which left me leaving the theater looking for a more developed explanation that my 11-year-old mind couldn’t conjure. I would recommend the movie to film enthusiasts who like thrillers and social commentary; it’s a movie that is meant to be discussed and thought about rather than a simple slasher or horror filled with jumpscares.
Over all, I believe that the interpretations of women in horror films have long evolved from the male-driven perspective where they were sexualized and lacking depth, to more nuanced, complex portrayals that allow them to be seen as fully developed characters instead of disposable bodies shown for the male viewers’ pleasure. Horror may have its roots in exploiting women, defining examples being Halloween (1978) and Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, modern horror has shifted to increasingly challenge that tradition. The “final girl” has become reimagined in modern horror with emotional depth and nuance rather than a symbol for purity or punishment. While the genre still has more progress to be made, this shift shows horror does not need to rely on female exploitation in order to be effective.
SOURCES:
Cormier, Alline. “The Ongoing Popularity of the ‘Halloween’ Franchise Tells a Dark Story.” Feminist Current, Meghan Murphy, 19 Oct. 2022
https://alexapagliuca.medium.com/michael-myers-the-shape-of-masculinitys-violence-82adc1f2a0b8
https://www.sceneandheardnu.com/female-victimization-in-horror
The real exploitation of women in the horror genre was with Judy Garland in Wizard of Oz
Awesome!