This month I paid a bit more attention and realized we have a Friday the 13th the same month as Women’s History Month, Women in Horror Month, and the same week as International Women’s History Day! And since everyone is already celebrating Women in Horror Month with women who write horror, I decided to go a little different route.
Feminist horror is a subgenre that uses horror conventions to explore the female experience, focusing on themes like patriarchy, bodily autonomy, societal expectations, and motherhood. It basically makes women seem less like the “damsels” they always try to portray us as and more like the “Monstrous” one, but I don’t exactly feel like that’s a fair name. We only act like that once we’ve been treated badly for so long. So basically, we’re getting our lick back.
One that stood out to my is actually one that I just recently read, Bloodfire Baby by Eirinie Carson. I don’t think I ever would have thought of something like this being considered feminist horror. But it centers“the isolating, “monstrous” realities of new motherhood, postpartum depression, and racialized trauma. It subverts “sanitized” motherhood narratives by centering on body horror, generational curses, and the psychological weight of existing as a Black woman in a white, affluent space.” The part that scared me was the fact that I felt a lot of the things she had being alone with the baby and not getting enough sleep. It really does wear on your like this. I felt so bad for her, but I also was so scared for her and scared for that baby.
There’s a plethora of feminist horror out there that you should pick up if you want to learn more about the subgenre! Here’s a few to add to your TBR!
- The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim- Body Horror. Her mom’s boyfriend has a problem with fetisization and she starts to crave his blue eyes.
- Bloodfire, Baby by Eirinie Carson: Motherhood Horror
- Bunny by Mona Awad: A cult like group of women
- Play Nice by Rachel Harrison: Plays on the hysterical woman trope and also has some generational curses
- The Mean Ones by Tatiana Schlotte-Bonne: Female Rage Cult Book
- Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake: Characters who eat people. Societal pressure on women is also shown.
- A Certain Hunger by Chelsea Summers: A food writer who’s a serial killer.
- Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine: Motherhood Horror. Also known as a modern Rosemary’s Baby.
Have you read any Feminist Horror? Will you pick one of these up? Let me know in the comments!