Fennell's Wuthering Heights Appeals to Female Audiences While Reinforcing Problematic Manosphere Narratives
Source: Peter Suderman. "Emerald Fennell’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ is a kinky, revisionist fever dream." February 13, 2026. reason.com
The Gist
The author argues that the new Wuthering Heights movie is troubling because it packages toxic ideas about relationships in an appealing romantic fantasy. While it's designed to appeal to women who love romance stories, it actually promotes the harmful idea that women want men who treat them badly.
Conclusion
Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights is problematic because it simultaneously caters to female romantic fantasies while reinforcing harmful manosphere ideologies about male dominance and female desire
Premises
- The film follows manosphere narrative patterns where a low-status male transforms himself to achieve high sexual market value
- Heathcliff's character arc mirrors toxic masculinity tropes - he gains Catherine's desire by treating her badly and ignoring her
- The story reinforces the idea that women prefer dangerous, high-status men over stable, caring partners
- Catherine is driven to obsession by Heathcliff's cruel behavior, including his treatment of another woman 'like a literal leashed dog'
- The film is designed to titillate female viewers while promoting narratives that justify male dominance and emotional manipulation
Assumptions
- Manosphere ideologies are inherently harmful and problematic
- Media that reinforces these patterns contributes to toxic relationship dynamics
- Female audiences consuming this content may internalize harmful relationship expectations
- The film's appeal to romantic fantasy audiences makes its ideological messaging more concerning