Facades of Female Empowerment: An Analysis of Sarah J Maas’ YA Fantasy Series through a Postfeminist Lens
Major
English – Literature
Second Major
Educational Studies
Submission Type
Oral Presentation
Area of Study or Work
English-Literature
Faculty Advisor
Michael Theune
Location
CNS E104
Start Date
4-12-2025 11:15 AM
End Date
4-12-2025 12:15 PM
Abstract
Sarah J Maas is a New York Times bestselling author, and she has had profound success within the Fantasy literary genre in recent years. Her two young adult series, Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, have amassed a wide fanbase, with supporters sharing their love of the characters and narratives through influential social media platforms. Coming from a female writer and written with female characters and heroes at the forefront of her narratives, Maas’ popular series seem to bring an empowerment to female perspectives within the fantasy genre. However, reading her works through a postfeminist lens, I will argue that Maas’ female heroes perpetuate internalized sexism, racist tropes, and female objectification through a facade of female empowerment. In recent years, many have viewed the original goals and objectives of feminism as having been met. However, some scholars, such as Susan J Douglas, argue that the work is not done, and there is a call for continual assessment of what popular media and entertainment is producing of female narratives. From ads, to tv shows, to books, audiences are being fed mere “fantasies of [female] power” (Douglas 5). As art both influences and is influenced by reality, the perpetuation of sexism within popular media serves as a reflection of our reality. Due to the influence of Maas’ books among young, female readers, it is imperative to assess the authenticity of her empowering, female narratives in an effort to continue the progress towards true gender equality.
Facades of Female Empowerment: An Analysis of Sarah J Maas’ YA Fantasy Series through a Postfeminist Lens
CNS E104
Sarah J Maas is a New York Times bestselling author, and she has had profound success within the Fantasy literary genre in recent years. Her two young adult series, Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses, have amassed a wide fanbase, with supporters sharing their love of the characters and narratives through influential social media platforms. Coming from a female writer and written with female characters and heroes at the forefront of her narratives, Maas’ popular series seem to bring an empowerment to female perspectives within the fantasy genre. However, reading her works through a postfeminist lens, I will argue that Maas’ female heroes perpetuate internalized sexism, racist tropes, and female objectification through a facade of female empowerment. In recent years, many have viewed the original goals and objectives of feminism as having been met. However, some scholars, such as Susan J Douglas, argue that the work is not done, and there is a call for continual assessment of what popular media and entertainment is producing of female narratives. From ads, to tv shows, to books, audiences are being fed mere “fantasies of [female] power” (Douglas 5). As art both influences and is influenced by reality, the perpetuation of sexism within popular media serves as a reflection of our reality. Due to the influence of Maas’ books among young, female readers, it is imperative to assess the authenticity of her empowering, female narratives in an effort to continue the progress towards true gender equality.