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Abstract
Even the earliest feminist critics expressed concern about the tendency of popular entertainment to reinforce negative gender stereotypes on impressionable young women. This paper examines the role of media in the construction of gender in todays society through a comparative textual analysis of two similar yet different series targeted to young girlsBuffy the Vampire Slayer and The Twilight Saga. Using feminist theory as a critical framework, this paper identifies a series of shared feminist themes that are prevalent within both narratives, and then analyzes the representation of gender roles inherent within these themes. These representations are further considered within the historical context of the feminist movement to determine whether feminism is currently experiencing a regression or progression in popular culture. This paper is informed by canon feminist literature, as well as recent academic discussion of Buffy and Twilight.