Paranormal Pajama Party

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Episode 17: Monster Girls of Greek Mythology

Stephanie Summar

Ulysses And The Sirens
Herbert James Draper, ca. 1909

This week on Paranormal Pajama Party, we’re kicking off a two-part series that pulls the scary rubber mask off of the fascinating and often unsettling world of the monster girl trope, a staple of horror media and anime.

While monster girls aren’t always evil, they are almost always sexy. Sometimes they’re conventionally attractive young women with something a little bit off, like secret telekinesis, and sometimes they’re more obviously monstrous, but still total babes.

When they’re evil, they’re not scary for the same reasons male monsters are, either – it’s almost always related to their sexuality in some way – their sexual organs, their reproductive capability, or, in the cases of hags and evil old women, the fact that they can no longer reproduce.

Whatever form they take, monster girls have long embodied society’s fears and fantasies about women, serving as both enthralling and terrifying symbols throughout history.

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The origin of the monster girl

Our journey begins in ancient Greek mythology, which is chock full of famous stories perpetuating the idea that women, embodying chaos and nature, need to be tamed by heroic men. Figures such as Medusa, the sirens, and Scylla and Charybdis were depicted as dangerous and untamed, posing threats that male heroes had to conquer.

Medusa, with her snake-covered head and petrifying gaze, became the ultimate symbol of female monstrosity. Her story, rooted in themes of beauty, power, and punishment, reflects deep-seated anxieties about women’s autonomy and sexuality.

Similarly, the sirens lured sailors to their doom with their enchanting voices, embodying fears of feminine allure and deception. Scylla and Charybdis, monstrous sea creatures, represented the unpredictable dangers of nature, further emphasising the need for male heroes to restore order.

A lasting impact

These ancient stories have left an indelible mark on our cultural consciousness, influencing how we perceive femininity and power. The portrayal of monster girls in Greek mythology continues to shape modern narratives, reinforcing stereotypes and patriarchal ideals.

In horror media and anime, these figures often embody both the allure and danger associated with female power, perpetuating the notion that women must be controlled or defeated.

But beyond the media we consume, the idea of men as ‘human” and women (and people with disabilities, and people of other races, and people of other genders – I can keep going) as “other” has had lasting and deadly effects. Medical research, for example, is still reckoning with decades of research conducted on male bodies. Turns out they’re different from female bodies. Who knew? It’s not just medicine – this has affected our workplaces, politics – even crash test dummies.

Feminist analysis of the monster girl trope

From a feminist perspective, the monster girl trope offers a rich area for analysis and critique. These characters reveal much about societal attitudes towards women, highlighting our ongoing struggle against misogyny and patriarchal structures. By examining the origins and evolution of monster girls, we can better understand the cultural forces that continue to shape our perceptions of gender and power.

Stay tuned for the second part of this series, where we’ll tackle one of the largest lairs of monster girls – video games. Until then, keep your eyes open for the monstrous and the mysterious, and remember to question the narratives that shape our world.

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