The Evolution of Feminist Criticism in Literature Analysis Catherine Wishart Literacy Coach Copyright © 2009.

What is Feminist Criticism? Women continue to search for their own voice and power base: Women continue to search for their own voice and power base: – Sojourner Truth fought for freeing slaves and then for freeing women. – Suffragettes fought for the right to vote. – After WW II, women fought to continue working once troops came home. – Women continue to fight for and debate specific women’s issues: Should a mother work outside the home? Should a mother work outside the home? Should women have the right to abort? Should women have the right to abort? How can women protect themselves from domestic abuse? How can women protect themselves from domestic abuse? Exploring these issues is often possible when examining literature closely. Exploring these issues is often possible when examining literature closely. Feminist criticism is “concerned… with the status of women” (Lynn 229). Feminist criticism is “concerned… with the status of women” (Lynn 229).

Key Terms in Feminist Theory Canon: “that group of works that are usually reprinted, read, assigned, written about, and taken most seriously” (Lynn 261). Canon: “that group of works that are usually reprinted, read, assigned, written about, and taken most seriously” (Lynn 261). – European male authors over-represented. – Female authors under-represented. Double –voiced: write with two voices so societal norms are not threatened, but other perspectives are explored (Lynn 262). Double –voiced: write with two voices so societal norms are not threatened, but other perspectives are explored (Lynn 262). Sexist: “Pejorative characterizations of women as a group” (Lynn 263). Sexist: “Pejorative characterizations of women as a group” (Lynn 263). Gender: “cultural aspects of sexuality” (Lynn 262). Gender: “cultural aspects of sexuality” (Lynn 262).

What Does Feminist Criticism Examine? Feminist Criticism reads a text closely to determine what is said about: Feminist Criticism reads a text closely to determine what is said about: – Sexual oppression – Personal freedom – Social justice – Stereotyping Includes examining how men are stereotyped Includes examining how men are stereotyped Feminist Criticism wants to pursue: Feminist Criticism wants to pursue: – Equality for women – Reasons for oppressive behaviors – Revealing texts that use double-voice to continue to subjugate women (Lynn 229)

Practicing Feminist Criticism Carefully read the story on the next slide. Carefully read the story on the next slide. Consider the role of Boori Ma in the story. Consider the role of Boori Ma in the story. What questions come to mind about Boori Ma’s situation? What questions come to mind about Boori Ma’s situation? Think about these questions when reading: Think about these questions when reading: – Why is Boori Ma called “the sweeper of the stairwell”? – How does her age play into her situation? – Does her gender add difficulties for her? If so, how?

A Real Durwan Boori Ma, sweeper of the stairwell, had not slept in two nights. So the morning before the third night she shook the mites out of her bedding. She shook the quilts once underneath the letter boxes where she lived, then once again at the mouth of the alley, causing the crows who were feeding on vegetable peels to scatter in several directions. As she started up the four flights to the roof, Boori Ma kept one hand placed over the knee that swelled at the start of every rainy season. That meant that her bucket, quilts and the bundle of reeds which served as her broom all had to be braced under one arm. Lately Boori Ma had been thinking that the stairs were getting steeper; climbing them felt more like climbing a ladder than a staircase. She was sixty- four years old, with hair in a knot no larger than a walnut, and she looked almost as narrow from the front as she did from the side. As she started up the four flights to the roof, Boori Ma kept one hand placed over the knee that swelled at the start of every rainy season. That meant that her bucket, quilts and the bundle of reeds which served as her broom all had to be braced under one arm. Lately Boori Ma had been thinking that the stairs were getting steeper; climbing them felt more like climbing a ladder than a staircase. She was sixty- four years old, with hair in a knot no larger than a walnut, and she looked almost as narrow from the front as she did from the side. Interpreter of Maladies,Jhumpa Lahiri

Evolving Into Post-Feminism Post-feminists generally believe that feminism has done its job – equal rights is occurring in most first world countries. Post-feminists generally believe that feminism has done its job – equal rights is occurring in most first world countries. There are still important issues facing women: There are still important issues facing women: – What are the “distinctive needs” of women? Childrearing, housecleaning still considered “women’s work” Childrearing, housecleaning still considered “women’s work” Why are these duties considered female? How do these duties impede on women’s progress in society? Why are these duties considered female? How do these duties impede on women’s progress in society? (Lynn ).

Practicing Post-Feminist Criticism Many shows of the 50s and 60s portrayed women in particular roles. Many shows of the 50s and 60s portrayed women in particular roles. In the attached clip, the daughter of Donna Reed in The Donna Reed Show, Mary Stone, is looking for her identity. In the attached clip, the daughter of Donna Reed in The Donna Reed Show, Mary Stone, is looking for her identity. What does this search say about women’s roles and needs? What does this search say about women’s roles and needs? Click on the movie camera to view the clip. Click on the movie camera to view the clip.

The Evolution of Women’s Voices in Literature Traditional Canon: women’s voices/rights/needs generally ignored Feminist Criticism: women’s rights and oppression studied closely Post-Feminist Criticism: women’s specific needs examined – move towards diversity, not dualism

References and Suggested Reading Donna Reed Show with Shelly Fabares. You Tube. (referenced). Donna Reed Show with Shelly Fabares. You Tube. (referenced). “Feminist Criticism.” The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. Cambridge: Cambridge U P, 2000 (suggested reading). “Feminist Criticism.” The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. Cambridge: Cambridge U P, 2000 (suggested reading). Gardiner, Anne Barbeau. “Feminist literary criticism: from anti- patriarchy to decadence.” Modern Age 49.4 (Fall 2007): 393(7) (suggested reading). Gardiner, Anne Barbeau. “Feminist literary criticism: from anti- patriarchy to decadence.” Modern Age 49.4 (Fall 2007): 393(7) (suggested reading). Greene, Gayle. Changing the Story: Feminist Fiction and the Tradition. Bloomington, IL, 1991 (suggested reading). Greene, Gayle. Changing the Story: Feminist Fiction and the Tradition. Bloomington, IL, 1991 (suggested reading). Lahiri, Jhumpa. “A Real Durwan. Interpreter of Maladies. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (referenced text). Lahiri, Jhumpa. “A Real Durwan. Interpreter of Maladies. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (referenced text). Lynn, Steven. “Gendering the Text: Feminist Criticism, Post- Feminism, and Queer Theory.” Texts and Contexts: Writing about Literature with Critical Theory. New York: Pearson Longman, (referenced text). Lynn, Steven. “Gendering the Text: Feminist Criticism, Post- Feminism, and Queer Theory.” Texts and Contexts: Writing about Literature with Critical Theory. New York: Pearson Longman, (referenced text).