Horror Movies and Women's Rights: A Linked History
Since the 1970s, horror movies and women's rights have been closely intertwined, reflecting and influencing societal attitudes towards feminism.
A new book, Scream With Me: Horror Films & the Rise of American Feminism, 1968–1980, by Eleanor Johnson, explores this connection. Johnson, a Columbia professor, was teaching a class on horror history in 2022 when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, highlighting the ongoing relevance of horror films to feminist issues.
The previous day, Johnson had lectured on Rosemary's Baby, a film that exemplifies the link between horror and women's rights.
- Get Out
- Hereditary
- The Babadook
These sophisticated horror films examine social and political issues, including feminism, through a spooky lens, demonstrating that horror has always been a political genre.
Author's summary: Horror movies reflect women's rights issues.