Monstrous Desire Study

Have you ever wondered why so many of us feel a deep, unexplainable connection to the monsters in our favourite stories?

Ella Gallego, a writer and researcher, has sought to provide answers for this phenomenon. Her work has been featured in magazines such as The Mary Sue and Rue Morgue, as well as numerous acclaimed podcasts, including Come Curious and Sex & Pyschology. Ella obtained her MLitt with honours in Publishing Studies from the University of Stirling, where her academic research explored the structure of the Dark Romance genre and laid the groundwork for an in-depth study of its readership. Ella aims to address one main question: "What is so erotic about the "Other" that appeals to people so much?

The Initial Study

The Monstrous Desire Study was born! It's purpose being to examine media and popular culture's fixation on erotic monsters, and to highlight that their historical presence predates modern times and is not a reflection of sexual deviance.

This study, conducted in the fall of 2022, surveyed 2,202 respondents from diverse backgrounds, all eager to discuss monster eroticism. The findings from the initial study sparked significant interest and underscored the need for a follow-up survey. This next phase seeks to refine and validate the original data.

Second Survey Fundraising

To make this second study a reality, Ella is teaming up with fellow monsterfucker-academic Phoebe Santillan. Together, they plan to conduct a more formal survey with the goal of submitting their findings to scientific journals. However, conducting research outside of academic institutions is a costly endeavor. Expenses such as IRB certification and journal submission fees present significant challenges. To address this, Ella and Phoebe have been fundraising by creating and selling their own monsterfucker sticker sheets! With over 60% of their funding goal met, they're striving to raise the final 40% needed to complete this important work.

Our Collaboration

As part of her fundraising efforts, Ella came up with a super fun idea: a free giveaway competition! She offered her sticker bundle as a prize and asked other monsterfucker creatives, like us, to join in. Of course, we couldn't say no! We've built our whole brand around celebrating monsters that remind us of love, passion, and the beauty of being a little different. This giveaway felt like a perfect way to team up and share the monster love, so we contributed Sticker Drop 02 to their giveaway!

Why This Matters

Monster romance is more than just a niche—it speaks to something deeply human. Whether it's the escapism, the thrill of the forbidden, or the emotional depth of falling for someone other, these stories continue to resonate with readers, viewers, and fans alike.

This study matters because it not only validates our love for the unconventional but also helps us understand it better. For those of us who have always seen the beauty in the beast or the tenderness in the terror, this kind of research is affirming.