Feminist Literary Theory

What is Feminism? In the simplest terms, feminism is the theory that women and men should be equal politically, economically, and socially. But are they??

% WOMEN IN THE LABOUR FORCE

% OF WOMEN IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT OCCUPATIONS

Male Dominated Occupations

Some Food for Thought… On average, total income for women was $30,100 in 2008. During the same period, total income for men increased by 7% to $47,000. In 2010, the median weekly earnings of full-time working women was $669, compared to $824 for men. In 2010, the median weekly earnings for women in full-time management, professional, and related occupations was $923, compared to $1,256 for men. Catalyst Research, 2012

The Early Feminist Movement The First Wave of feminism occurred during the late 19th century and mostly featured middle – upper class women pioneering for suffrage and political equality. Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) Women in western Europe, namely Britain, were campaigning for the right to vote and this movement made it’s way to North America.

The Feminist Movement The Second Wave feminism occurred from the 1960s to the 1980s and was concerned with gender inequality in laws and culture. The movement encouraged women to understand aspects of their own personal lives as deeply politicized, and reflective of a sexist and patriarchal structure of power. A motto of this movement was “The Personal is Political”

The Feminist Movement This wave of the feminist movement featured many prominent social and political activists who fought to equalize women’s place in society. A few notable feminists of the latter 20th century include: Gloria Steinem – American journalist and former playboy bunny who founded Ms. Magazine. Betty Friedan – author of The Feminine Mystique, a research novel credited with initiating this second wave of feminism.

Feminist Issues Feminists commonly campaign on issues such as: reproductive rights domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, sexual harassment, sexual assault and discrimination.

Gender as a Social Construction One element of feminist theory is the idea that gender is a social construction and has very little to do with any predetermined biological state.

Feminists argue that in the early 19th-century the rapid move toward commerce and industrialization forced women and men to occupy “separate spheres.”

Separate Spheres Men entered the “public sphere” of politics and business, while women inherited the “private sphere” of domesticity and care-giving.

Division of Labour Women are naturally inclined towards housework and not aggressive or ambitious enough for other pursuits. Really?!

A “Good Wife’s Guide”

So What is Feminist Literary Theory? Feminist literary theory is concerned with the impact of gender on reading and writing. Feminists see Western societies as being patriarchal (male dominated) thus influencing the literary canon.

The Male Canon Until recently literature was almost exclusively works by males focusing on male experiences and tended to stereotype women into traditional gender roles.

Women Subordinate to Men In works written before the 20th century, for example, feminist critics, often discover that women are portrayed in social positions that are subordinate to men.

Stereotyping of Women Women have been stereotyped significantly in Western literature. What are some of female stereotypes that are perpetuated by today’s media.

Vocabulary used in Girl Toy Commercials

Vocabulary used in Boy Toy Commercials

Milk “Does the Body Good”, but what else is it saying?

Stereotyping of Women Female stereotypes are clearly reinforced in today’s media. What do you think the following magazine advertisements are really selling?

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More Sex….

Misogynistic View of Women Misogyny is the hatred of women. According to feminist theory, misogyny can be manifested in a number of ways, including sexual discrimination, violence against women and the sexual objectification of women.

“Evil” Eve

Feminists saw that… While many male authors, such as Dickens Wordsworth, Hawthorne, and Thoreau were “canonized” very few women were seen this way.

Feminists also saw that… In fiction, most women were secondary or insignificant characters.

How Have Feminist Literary Critics Responded?

Changing the Canon Critics reread the works in the traditional canon and examine any hidden sexual bias in the work.

Rediscovering Women Writers Rediscover the women writers who were ignored during their own times.

Resisting Patriarchy Examine literary texts by female authors to show how they consciously and unconsciously resist the patriarchal culture in which they are written.

Important Feminist Novelists and Poets

Virginia Woolf Writers such as Virginia Woolf are associated with the ideas of the first wave of feminism. In her book A Room of One's Own, Woolf "describes how men socially and psychically dominate women". 

Margaret Atwood Important Works The Edible Woman Surfacing Life Before Man The Handmaid's Tale Cat's Eye The Robber Bride

Sylvia Plath Important Works The Colossus Cut Ariel Crossing the Water Winter Trees Daddy Lady Lazarus The Bell Jar

Important Feminist Terms

Essentialism The belief that attributes like gender are inborn features of being (biological determinism) as opposed to social constructions.

Gynocriticism A term coined by feminist critic Elaine Showalter for a woman-centred critical practice that privileges women’s analyses of woman-authored texts.

Patriarchy A system (social, political, economic) dominated and controlled by men, modeled after family structures in which the father rules the household.

Oppression Oppression is a type of injustice; the inequitable use of authority, law, or physical force to prevent others from being free or equal. Men maintain their dominance by oppressing women

Objectification Objectification is being dehumanized by being reduced solely to a sex object.  

Misogyny An ideology similar to racism or anti-Semitism, existing to justify and reproduce the subordination of women by men through oppression and violence.

The “Other” We create the “other” by marginalizing a group, characterizing its differences as flaws, thus making it inferior. Women have frequently been cast as the “other” throughout history. 

Infantilization The process by which women are stereotyped to appear child-like and innocent, condescended by their male counterparts and reduced to an infantile state or condition. Thus, empowering the men.

Sisterhood The notion that women, who live in a patriarchal society, will form bonds with other women to overcome their oppression. They share a common experience and support each other.

Phallocentrism Focusing on men or on a male viewpoint, where difference is determined according to possession of or lack of a phallus.

Questions Feminist Critics Ask about Literature

Feminist Questions How are women’s lives portrayed in the work?

Feminist Questions Do the women in the work accept or reject traditional gender roles?

Feminist Questions Does the work challenge or affirm traditional ideas about women?

Feminist Questions What are the relationships between men and women?

Feminist Questions To what extent are female figures infantilized?

Feminist Questions Does the work reinforce or undermine patriarchal ideology?

To what extent is a character’s life option constrained by gender? Feminist Questions To what extent is a character’s life option constrained by gender?

Feminist Questions Does the work offer the possibility of a sisterhood as a mode of resisting patriarchy?