Portrayals of Masculinity in Contemporary Romantic Vampire Literature

Presenter Information

Amanda Miller, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 202

Start Date

21-4-2008 1:00 PM

End Date

21-4-2008 2:30 PM

Student's Major

Gender and Women's Studies

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Cheryl Radeloff

Mentor's Department

Gender and Women's Studies

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

Masculinity is a socially constructed concept which changes with time and culture. Ideal types of masculinity are often portrayed through the characteristics of physical strength and upper class status. This research examined how masculinity is portrayed in contemporary vampire romances novels. This genre is one of the fastest growing forms of romantic literature written and read by women. Through the use of a qualitative content analysis of five vampire romance novels on the 2007 New York Times Best Sellers list, this analysis examined the authors' representations of masculinity. These portrayals of vampiric characters further the belief that masculinity embodies certain attributes. This research found that the representations of masculinity in these five novels mirrored the white heterosexual and aggressive man, or in this case the vampire.