Horror Movies and Women's Rights: A Longstanding Connection
Since the 1970s, horror movies have been closely tied to women's rights, with many films examining social and political issues through a spooky lens.
A new book, Scream With Me: Horror Films & the Rise of American Feminism, 1968–1980, by Eleanor Johnson, explores this connection.
The Columbia professor notes that horror has always been political.
Johnson's book was inspired by her teaching a class on the history of horror in 2022, coinciding with the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v.
Notably, Johnson had delivered a lecture on Rosemary's Baby the day before the decision, highlighting the ongoing relevance of horror movies to women's rights.
Author's Summary
Eleanor Johnson's book explores the link between horror movies and women's rights since the 1970s.