- Question
Are Stephen King's novels sexist?
Stephen King is one of the world's top-paid authors, with over sixty published books and even more films and TV shows based upon these novels. The way he portrays women in these books, unfortunately, is not always the best. Women are constantly subject to abuse, fantasy, and objectification. Are Stephen King's novels sexist, or not?
Yes, Stephen King's novels are sexist
This position holds that Stephen King's novels are sexist. It argues that they fail to treat women with respect — frequently depicting violence against them, hyper-sexualising and objectifying female characters, and portraying mother figures as monsters.
No, Stephen King's novels are not sexist
This position holds that Stephen King's novels are not sexist. It argues that he portrays women as strong and triumphant — frequently building his stories around resilient female protagonists who overcome adversity rather than reducing them to objects or victims.