Contemporary Female Writers

Few women writers until the 18 th century Few women writers until the 18 th century Regard the present as part of history Regard the present as part of history We define what is contemporary culture We define what is contemporary culture Multi-cultural and diverse writers Multi-cultural and diverse writers American women writing from a feminine point of view American women writing from a feminine point of view

Alice Walker 1944 – rural Georgia 1944 – rural Georgia Valedictorian Valedictorian Spellman and Sarah Lawrence Spellman and Sarah Lawrence Single parent Single parent Civil Rights Activist Civil Rights Activist Pulitzer Prize for The Color Purple Pulitzer Prize for The Color Purple Founder of Wild Tree Press Founder of Wild Tree Press

Toni Morrison 1931 – Lorraine, Ohio 1931 – Lorraine, Ohio Howard and Cornell Universities Howard and Cornell Universities Single parent of 2 sons Single parent of 2 sons Editor at Random House for 20 years Editor at Random House for 20 years 1 st book, The Bluest Eyes 1 st book, The Bluest Eyes Pulitzer Prize winner for Beloved – 1988 Pulitzer Prize winner for Beloved – st African American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature – st African American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature – st African American woman to sit on the board of an Ivy League school – Princeton University. 1 st African American woman to sit on the board of an Ivy League school – Princeton University.

Leslie Marmon Silko 1948 – Albuquerque, New Mexico 1948 – Albuquerque, New Mexico Laguna/Pueblo Native American, Mexican and white ethnicity Laguna/Pueblo Native American, Mexican and white ethnicity Ceremony is her most famous work. Ceremony is her most famous work. Most accomplished Native American writer of her generation. Most accomplished Native American writer of her generation.

Sharon Olds 1942 – San Francisco 1942 – San Francisco Stanford – 1964, Ph.D. Columbia University 1972 Stanford – 1964, Ph.D. Columbia University 1972 New York State Poet New York State Poet New York University teacher/director of creative writing program New York University teacher/director of creative writing program Poet, best known work – Father Poet, best known work – Father Writes raw and honest words that may make the reader uncomfortable. Writes raw and honest words that may make the reader uncomfortable.

Maxine Hong Kingston 1939 – San Francisco 1939 – San Francisco Chinese American Chinese American University of California at Berkley – 1962 University of California at Berkley – 1962 Taught in Hawaii for 10 years Taught in Hawaii for 10 years 1 st book, The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts 1 st book, The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts Writes with an appreciation of her ancestry through a modern woman’s perspective. Writes with an appreciation of her ancestry through a modern woman’s perspective.

What Contemporary Writers Have in Common Struggled Use past lessons as a platform for expression Female

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