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1 Int'l J. Soc. Sci. Stud. 150 (2013)
Discourse of Masculinity and Femininity in The Hunger Games: "Scarred," "Bloody," and "Stunning"

handle is hein.journals/ijsoctu1 and id is 154 raw text is: International Journal of Social Science Studies Vol. 1, No. 1; April 2013 ISSN 2324-8033 E-ISSN 2324-8041 Published by Redfame Publishing Discourses of Masculinity and Femininity in The Hunger Games: Scarred, Bloody, and Stunning Vera Woloshyn, Nancy Taber', & Laura Lane 'Graduate and Undergraduate Studies in Education, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario Correspondence: Vera Woloshyn, Graduate and Undergraduate Studies in Education, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada. Tel: 1-905-688-5550 ext 4212. E-mail: vwoloshyn@brocku.ca Received: November 29, 2012 Accepted: December 12, 2012 Available online: February 28, 2013 doi: 10. 11114/ijsss.v1il.21 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v1il.21 Abstract This article explores how characters in The Hunger Games trilogy are portrayed relative to Connell's gendered discourses of hegemonic masculinity, marginal masculinity, and emphasized femininity. We briefly review the plot of The Hunger Games trilogy and then discuss the ways in which three of the characters are represented with respect to societal gendered discourses, heteronormativity, and the use of violence. We argue that the ways in which these aspects are portrayed relate to the main characters' performance of discourses of hegemonic masculinity (Gale), marginalized masculinity (Peeta), and a complex amalgamation of the two that also draws somewhat on emphasized femininity (Katniss). Finally, we conclude that, while the trilogy could be read as taking a feminist stance with a strong female protagonist, it nonetheless also constrains Katniss in heteronormative ways. Keywords: hegemonic masculinity, emphasized femininity, marginalized masculinity, children's literature, The Hunger Games 1. Introduction This article explores how characters in The Hunger Games trilogy are portrayed relative to Connell's gendered discourses of hegemonic masculinity, marginal masculinity, and emphasized femininity. We briefly review the plot of The Hunger Games trilogy and then discuss the ways in which three of the characters are represented with respect to societal gendered discourses, heteronormativity, and the use of violence. We argue that the ways in which these aspects are portrayed are related to the main characters' performance of discourses of hegemonic masculinity (Gale), marginalized masculinity (Peeta), and a complex amalgamation of the two that draws somewhat on emphasized femininity (Katniss). We conclude that, while the trilogy could be read as taking a feminist stance with a strong female protagonist, it also constrains Katniss in heteronormative ways. 1.1 Exploring Connell s Notions of Gender Practice as Relates to Children s and YoungAdult Literature Although examples of reversal, contrast, and struggle (Tolmie, 2006, p. 146) are present in all forms of literature, particularly with respect to the agency of female characters, females are still too often represented in traditional ways that focus on their domestic roles, appearance, and subservience while male characters are presented as masculine active heroes, corresponding to Connell's (1987, 2005, 2012; see also, Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005) descriptions of emphasized femininity and hegemonic masculinity, respectively. Although girls may at times be shown to engage in active roles, their femininity too often continues to define them (Taber & Woloshyn, 2011b, Diekman & Mumen, 2004, Jackson & Gee, 2005). For instance, young women in fairy tales typically have been portrayed as beautiful passive victims who need to be rescued by strong males from ugly evil crones (Bacchilega, 1997; Baker-Sperry & Grauerholz, 2003; Parsons, 2004; Trousdale & McMillan, 2003; for discussion of associated complexities see Haase, 2004; Harries, 2001). Heterosexist representations such as these are found in genres as diverse as diary cartoon novels (Taber & Woloshyn, 2011a), horror fiction (Heinecken, 2011), fantastical realism (Waller, 2004), novels about sisterhood (McInally, 2008), and award winning literature (Taber & Woloshyn, 201 1b). While characters sometimes may appear to challenge the notions of emphasized femininity and hegemonic masculinity, heteronormative gendered norms usually are upheld for boys (Chaudri, 2011; Pugh & Wallace, 2008; Wannamaker, 2006) and girls (Taber & Woloshyn, 2011a; Taber & Woloshyn, 2011b; Hager, 2003; McInally, 2008). 150

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