While I do agree with much of this critique, I think it is important to separate the critique of abstinence in Twilight with abstinence in general. In it and of itself, abstinence is a neutral concept when it comes to feminism. It is the discourse surrounding abstinence, its role in society, and differing expectations viz a viz sexual activity for each gender (a woman who sleeps around is a slut, while a man is a player) that have feminist value - usually negative value.
As for the sex-death connection in Twilight: That’s nothing new. Orgasms were referred to as “petits morts”, little deaths, in French in the Middle Ages. The Bible’s first sex scene occurs just after Adam and Eve are denied immortality. (A fact that was picked up on by the Catholic Church, which often associated sex with mortality in its discourse.) I think these associations are natural: Sexuality, like mortality, is a basic fact of being human. Additionally, because sex can result in birth and new life, it is natural for it to be associated with the opposite of life.
What is more disturbing about Twilight is Bella’s inability to control her sexual needs in contrast to Edward’s self-control. This harkens back to medieval discourse about women being voraciously sexual animals who could tempt men to evil, just as Eve tempted Adam - indeed, throughout the series, “temptress” seems to be Bella’s role - and in tempting Edward sexually, she also tempts him to murder - thus reinforcing the consummation of sexual desire as the act that opens the pathway to sin, a notion that’s been around since the concept of sex as original sin came into being.* Of course, traditional discourse about female sexuality dichotomizes, with woman being both sexual animal unable to control her urges, and being devoid of sexual desires and thus not having a right to making demands in the bedroom, which becomes all about the satisfaction of the man’s sexual desires, since the woman has none.**
Despite all my criticism, I am really curious what shomeret/shomer porn would look like....
*It is interesting that rabbinic literature linked sex and murder way before Meyer - the three sins a Jew should never do even if threatened with death are idol worship, sexual sins, and murder. Furthermore, it is said that idol worship was practiced during the time of the first temple in order to psychologically enable people to engage in murder and sexual misconduct.
** Kudos to Judaism for recognizing a woman’s sexual desires as a healthy part of humanity, and making a man obligated to satisfy his wife’s sexual needs. Failure to do so is grounds for divorce.
http://bitchmagazine.org/article/bite-me-or-dont
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