Women in Horror

Czerwinski, M. (2011). 'Female Archetypes Of American Horror Story'.Available: https://thetelevixen.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/female-archetypes-of-american-horror-story/. Last accessed 23rd March 2015.

In regards to the representation of woman in horror, TV series 'American Horror Story' has become a ground breaker in regards to the archetypes of the female gender and why it has such a high level of appeal especially in regards to viewers of the feminine sex. Czerwinski has come to the conclusion that this level of gender appeal within the formations of 'American Horror Story' is a direct formulation of the number of female archetypes presented within the show itself. By presenting a wide variety of identities within the shows construction it allows women to identity with a certain character alongside the 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' which depicts what emotional need is required by an audience member to make them watch a show. By examining the characters within 'AHS' we can see just how individual women find elements of appeal within the shows character construction.

The Scorned Woman: Vivien Harmon/Connie Britton is the woman of great suffering having experienced  miscarriages, affairs and her home at gun point and yet her character is that of a survivor.
The Fatalist: Violet Harmon/Taissa Farmiga an outsider who suffers from depression and regularly succumbs herself to self harming. She feels isolated as a result of  her parents hateful marriage and is isolated further at school causing regular suicide attempts.

Young Moira - Femme Fatale
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The Cougar: Constance/Jessica Lange who is both cruel and charismatic. Attempting to sexually allure young men for her own satisfaction but with a habit of being cruel to those in turn for the same reason. Her character is very much a figure of authority and yet we sympathise with her for struggling with difficulties of child mortality and disability. 
The Innocent: Addie/Jamie Brewer a young girl who has Down Syndrome. She becomes obsessed with the history of the murder house and is seen at the very beginning of the series warning other children that they will die if they enter. The audience feels a heavy amount of sympathy for her as she desires to be beautiful and accepted like the other girls within the neighbourhood but suffers at the rejection caused by her disability.
The Domestic: Moira/Francis Conroy is the older figure of the maid who comes as part of the service with the house. Her character features that of a white cloudy eye and an obsession with cleaning the house which adds a disturbing element to her, however we come to learn that she is actually a rape victim of Constance's husband who is murdered by Constance. Moira is a ghost of the house and remains trapped to Constances services.
The Femme Fatale- Moira/Alexandra Breckenridge is the second form, a young woman in a sexed up version of the classic maids outfit. She is styled much like the 1950's pin ups and uses her sexuality to tempt information and favours out of the male household.