Beyond damsels in distress : female heroism in young adult fantasy fiction and fantasy role-playing video games

Abstract

This thesis argues that an analysis of the fantasy genre through a girls studies lens reveals that diverse representations of girlhoods through female heroes can empower girls despite the genres patriarchal roots. To support this argument, I analyze representations of gender and sexuality in A Court of Thorns and Roses and Dragon Age. The first chapter argues that Maas cultivates many visions of the female hero through Feyre while negotiating issues of identity, agency, and power central to Feyres heroic transformations that empowers certain girlhoods. The second chapter argues that Dragon Age, although catering to the male gaze, becomes more progressive over time in its gendered narratives by educating players about queer identities and cultivating heroism through a sisterhood of side characters. The importance of looking at fantasy media with a girls studies lens is illustrated by the popularity of fantasy media and the increasing focus on girl characters.